Immorality Defiles

Cut It Out!

1 Corinthians 5:1–13 ESV

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Deal with issues within the church quickly. Do not tolerate it.

Tell story of Eindhoven

Bragging about your sin is evil (not good).

Sin = Bad

Sin is not something to brag about or to be proud of.

Do you understand why Paul said, “Your boasting is not good.”

How much yeast does it take to make bread? Not very much. In fact it continues to grow as long as there is food for it. It will infest the whole loaf and not just a little bit.

These people were allowing this immoral act, sleeping with his step mom, and dod nothing about it.

Are you aware that is not allowed in scripture?

Leviticus 18:8 ESV

You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness.

There are a lot of reasons for this, incest produces genetic issues, but it also destroys the moral fabric of society. There are many reasons.

The church at Corinth was allowing this and the news was spreading to other churches and the local community. It was giving the church a bad name.

I have seen so many things that have destroyed churches. It all boils down to sin and allowing it to go on. From immorality, to self will, to the color of the carpet, all of it needs to be squashed.

Do you know why this is an elder led church?

Explain elder led versus congregational led churches.

Does correction need to come from a pastor?

No, because sin is bad and you as a believer are called to call sin out.

Cut It Out!

What’s my favorite question?

Why?

Thank you for asking. Here is why.

Jesus died for your sins, but we are not to put him into overtime.

What do you mean Cory?

1 Corinthians 5:7–8 ESV

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Take out the garbage. The old man is dead, keep him in the grave.

What’s the problem with a living sacrifice?

It keeps on getting up off the alter, but that is what we are called to.

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

HOLY and ACCEPTABLE to God!

Your sin, even a little bit, is bad and can destroy the whole church.

Your sin can destroy the whole church.

That’s why you should never tolerate it in the church. Sexual immorality is the one sin that has destroyed nations and, at one time, the earth.

You do realize that is one of the reasons for the flood.

Genesis 6:5 ESV

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Sin is bad, cut it out. Or, God may be the one to cut it out. It is much better coming from you or I. God’s judgement is final. Our judgement can lead to healing and growth.

Cut It Out!

Why?

Because, a little tolerance can lead to the destruction of everything you are doing.

In the office, a little slacking leads to a poor job and ultimately the loss of your job.

Your loss of a job can lead to no money, no house, no car, no food, no clothes, nothing. This can lead to no wife, no children, no friends, and ultimately, no life (death).

Do you see how that spirals?

It’s one thing to deal with those in the world who are living in intentional sin, it is completely another to deal with that with fellow christian’s.

Read this with me, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11

1 Corinthians 5:9–11 ESV

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

DO NOT TOLERATE IT IN A CHRISTIAN! Period…

Why?

Again, because it will destroy the church. What we tolerate will become part of the fabric of that church. Others who are watching will think it’s ok, because you, in your actions, say its ok.

What about the rest of the world?

You leave them alone.

They are not accountable like you are. A believer has committed to not doing those things. A person in the world has not. They may know instinctively that they are doing wrong, but they have not given their lives to Christ.

If you are close to me and I have led you to Christ, maybe even baptized you, you should not be shocked when I call you out for bad behavior. I don’t do it because I am so much better than you. In fact, I know I am not, but I never want to see you fall. I call you out because I love you. Because it breaks my heart to see you do things I know hurt the heart of Christ and the example you set is hurting the body of Christ. I love you and I want the best for you. I want you to grow and be better, not for me, for you.

That does not excuse legalism and make you feel bad over everything you get wrong. It is to help you stay on track.

Let me tell you what that means for me.

If I am wrong, Call me out!

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. What does that mean. Literally it means what is good for the female is good for the male, but in our colloquial language it means what applies to you, applies to me. If am doing something wrong and don’t stop and repent, you are responsible for calling me out.

You as a believer have that responsibility!

1 Corinthians 5:1–13 ESV

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

If you have a friend that claims to be a believer and they know they are wrong and refuse to repent, do the right thing, be right, then you cut them off.

IF THEY ARE A BELIEVER

Not a Believer = Does not apply

You are to judge those who use Jesus name. Christian means little Christ, like Christ. If you are a believer you should reflect Christ, not the world. If your friend is a heathen, a pagan, not a believer, this cutting them off does not apply.

WHY

A believer should know and act better. A non-believer acts like what they are part of.

The world says, “follow your heart.”

Jesus says, your heart is wicked/evil and who can know it.”

Don’t follow your heart, you will walk the wrong path. Follow Christ, he will lead you to being right with God/righteousness.

If you hear someone say, God told me it was ok. and the bible says otherwise, who do you listen to?

If you say something is ok and God says don’t do it, you are wrong, period, full stop, don’t go any further.

If that person refuses to hear, you cut them off. Don’t even go out to eat with them.

Does it sound harsh?

Yes, but I would rather be judged by a panel of men and women than judged by the very one who can destroy my soul or put me in hell where I am separated from God and all the people I love for eternity.

There is something to be said for no pain, no gain. I will suffer someone not liking me now to have an eternity where everything is perfect. A little pain and scorn now and happiness, peace, perfection forever.

What would you choose?

Immorality defiles everything it touches. Cut it out, stop it, get right with God.

The pain of doing the right thing now will by far be worth the future.