Purity Among My People

1 Cor 5

Pew Research diagram

Here at the beginning of “Pride Month” in 2024, we come to a passage where Paul addresses the state of the church’s attitude toward sexual sin. Not only will Paul identify the problem, but also what is to be done about it, and he will distinguish between the sphere of the world and the sphere of the church.

<>1 Cor 5

v 1-2

define “sexual immorality” (porneia)

worldly definition of context and purpose for sex

object of pleasure

divorced from investment and consequence

subject only to the definition of the individual’s desire

LGBTQIA2+

Lesbian, Gay, bi-sexual, trans-gendered, Queer (questioning), Intersex, asexual, Two-Spirit, + (anything not already listed)

?coming next? trans-species, interspecies, inanimate objects, minor attracted...

contrast to God’s intended context and purpose for sex

context: one man, one woman, within the covenant of marriage. (e.g.- fire in the fireplace)

purpose: procreation (filling the earth), revelation (community, intimacy) >Genesis 2, Song of Songs

Two Problems:

Sexual immorality (matriphilia) - either a step-mother or a birth mother

Arrogant approval (tolerancecelebrationaffirmation)- Mainline denominational churches who are “inclusive”

Application

The way a church responds to sin within the body says a lot to the generations of the church, and it also says a lot about the church the world around them.

we can respond with moralism or with compassionate grace which seeks the transformation of a life that is ravaged by sin.

What I’m saying today does not apply to people who have been sinned against sexually- you are not the problem.

This also does not apply to the genuinely repentant, but rather the unrepentant.

We are to be witnesses to the saving grace of Jesus, but we are not to condone or ignore behavior that brings Him dishonor.

Not plastic grace

v 3-5 Church Discipline- let him be removed from among you.

“deliver this man to Satan”- excommunication, removed from fellowship

Fellowship Continuum- Fellowship—> Exhort, Admonish —>Correct, Rebuke, Warn —>Disfellowship

“deliver…to Satan”: the world sphere outside of the church

pre-denominational

pre-proliferational

destruction of the flesh… intended to create a sense of HOLY REVULSION for sin, resulting from exclusion from the safety and fellowship of the church.

“... it is difficult to see how handing a man over to Satan would have such a purifying effect; we would expect the reverse, the stimulation of those lusts. Yet the possibility remains that Paul has in mind the effect on the offender of being severed from all that fellowship in the church means. The contrast between a present experience of the things of Satan and the nostalgic recollection of the things of God might cause a revulsion of feeling and conduct, the fleshly lusts being destroyed.- Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 89). InterVarsity Press.

Restoration

2 Corinthians 2:5–11 “Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”

v 6-8 Correlation to Passover: Bedichat Chametz

v 9-13 We are swimming in their pond, not the other way around.

God’s people are expected to love God’s standards and live by His expectations whether the world accepts them or not.

Purity Among My People

Inspiration

Today’s message is mostly principle, chapter 7 will be more pastoral

We live in and for a NOW/NOT YET Kingdom.

Though integral, sexuality is not our exclusive identity (you are more than just sex)

Sexual sin is not the “unforgiveable sin”

The gospel promises great healing and restoration through Christ.

When Christ is the greatest affection of our lives, everything else takes its rightful place. including sexuality.

Action

Compassion toward those far from God

Uphold the Godly standard in your life , home and church

Cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord and a holy revulsion for sin

Run to the arms of Jesus for forgiveness, and Biblical restoration.