1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 6:1-8 Bible Study #15

1 Corinthians 5:9–13 NKJV

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Prayer

Message

Title: Purity, Practice, and Priorities in the Church

—Review of last week’s message

Psalm 119:128 “128 Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.”

-we do not pick and choose what we believe.

-Leaven affects the whole lump.

The leaven used in ancient Palestine was just a piece of fermented dough kept from a previous baking. The lump of leftover dough was either dissolved in water in the kneading-trough before the flour was added, or it was put into the flour and kneaded along with it, as described in one of Jesus’ parables (Matt 13:33). Bread made in this way was distinguished from unleavened bread, which did not rise. Leaven was supposed to be removed from Israelite houses during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (e.g., Exod 12:15, 19; 13:7). It was also forbidden in grain offerings (e.g., Exod 23:18; Lev 2:11).

The figurative uses of leaven in the New Testament sometimes imply that leaven was viewed as a corrupting substance (Matt 16:6). Paul twice says that “a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough” (1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9). However, Jesus uses it once in a positive way, referring to the change caused by the kingdom of heaven (Matt 13:33).

Critical Concern for the Response of the Church

Pride

Patience

Passive

There is a Corrective Action to be taken on the part of the church.

Take a Christ Action to Redeem the Church

We continue tonight in this subject of church discipline.

I. Purity in the Church Community (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

A. Prohibited Association (v. 9-10)

When you read verse 9 & 10, what group is Paul referring to?

Ill. Friend who had to take his truck away from his son.

Let me ask you a question. If the son continued not obeying the dad and saw no disciplinary action, what would that message send to the son?

Paul emphasizes the need for separation from believers involved in habitual sin, while clarifying the balance of interacting with the world.

Look these verses up:

2 Corinthians 6:14 “14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

Ephesians 5:11 “11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

2 Thessalonians 3:6 “6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.”

V. 10-If we did not associate with the unchurched, the unbeliever, how would anyone be evangelized?

Dearly beloved, when we are told to be in the world, but not of the world, there is no way we function daily in the world and not encounter these examples of sin in daily life. What we are not to do is take on that style of life as norm, but abstain from those type actions.

B. Personal Accountability (v. 11)

Paul lists specific sins that should trigger church discipline, urging believers to keep themselves from corruptive influences within the church.

Why do you think Paul would say this?

It will rub off on you.

Church tagged hypocritical. If the church accepts that action and allows it to happen, how effective will the church be?

The believing sinner needs to be sent a message that behavior is unacceptable. If no one responds, do you believe the person will continue and harden to that sin and become desensitized if it appears no one really cares how he or she acts?

Matthew 18:17 “17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

“not keep company”

“not even to eat with such a person.”

C. Proper Judgment (v. 12-13)

The focus here is on internal correction within the church, as opposed to judging those outside, entrusting their judgment to God.

Do You remember when the Pharisees and the Herodians tried to trap Jesus on the subject of paying taxes? Do you remember what Jesus’ response was?

“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.

How would you apply that text to judging the outside world?

Paul is talking about judging the believer, the church member. The one who knows better and is taking a defiant stand.

By the way, is Paul or you and I for that matter the judge? What is the judge? The Bible says....

V. 13-God ultimately judges those on the outside. The world will pay a price for its wrongdoing. What goes around, comes around.

How we should act around those of the outside.

Colossians 4:5“5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”

1 Thessalonians 4:12 “12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

1 Timothy 3:7 “7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Why do you suspect we can be weak when it comes to correcting someone’s actions against the Word of God?

Luke 6:41–42 “41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

How should we respond? Firstly, church disciplines is for redemption and bringing a person back to the fold of the church.

1 Corinthians 6:1 “1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?”

Dearly beloved, if you struggle with my teachings tonight, you struggle with the Word of God.

Acts 5:1–11 NKJV

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

This subject seems so harsh? How about the person that gets put out of the church. The Bible refers to that person as “evil.” Why is everyone concerned about the person?

Should we not be concerned about what God thinks?

Should we not be concerned about how it affects the church at large?

You have to ask the question, why was God so severe in the actions of Ananias and Sapphira?

Take up here next week 10/09/2024

II. Problems in the Courts (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)

1 Corinthians 6:1–8 NKJV

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!

A. The Shame of Secular Judgments (v. 1-3)

Believers should be solving disputes within the church rather than exposing them in public courts, reflecting poorly on the church's witness.

B. The Shame of Division (v. 4-6)

These divisions bring disgrace, demonstrating a lack of wisdom and unity in Christ. The church should raise up members capable of righteous judgment.

C. The Shame of Selfishness (v. 7-8)

Paul exposes the selfishness at the root of lawsuits, challenging believers to rather be wronged than harm the church’s testimony.

III. Priorities of a Transformed Life (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NKJV

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

A. The Peril of Persistent Sin (v. 9-10)

Paul lists behaviors that disqualify people from the kingdom of God, underscoring the importance of moral transformation.

B. The Power of the Gospel (v. 11a)

Emphasizing that believers were once lost but have been sanctified and justified through Christ, reflecting the transformative power of salvation.

C. The Pursuit of Holiness (v. 11b)

The focus is on living in the identity of being washed, sanctified, and justified—encouraging believers to uphold the standards of purity and righteousness.

This outline emphasizes the need for maintaining the purity of the church, resolving disputes internally, and living in alignment with the transformation Christ brings.