1. Corinthians Chapter 5. 1-8 Arrogance and sexual sin.

1. Corinthians Chapter 5. 1-8 Arrogance and sexual sin.

Paul last week wrote:” Do you wish I shall come with a rod, or with love in a spirt of gentleness?” Today he starts and continues to address arrogance in the fellowship: There is sexual sin in your fellowship, that is not even tolerated by the pagans. Paul explains the case a son has his fathers’ wife. (In Roman law the person should be banished form the city to an Island – Jewish law – they would be stoned). The main issue is that the Corinthians are proud/arrogant puffed up about this. We are divers and tolerant look at us. We are even more progressive that our culture.  (Do that sound like today?)

2 Paul is not impressed and calls out their arrogance, - stop being arrogant – and morn instead. You were not saved so you could or should sin (so you could sin more), but to be cleansed from sin, in Jesus Christ.

Paul writes: Do at least the same as the Romas would do, removed the man from your fellowship. (The woman not mentioned, - it would be speculation to why – but could be she is not a part of the fellowship – a none believer).

3 Paul stating clearly, he has passed judgment on the person, even if he is not there, in person, but he leads by his spirt and calls them to assemble in the Lord Jesus name, and with Paul’s spirt present with the power of the Lord Jesus, - and hand the man over to Satan, - for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirtmay be saved – in the day of the Lord Jesus -when he comes. It is amazing how Paul again and again affirms that the Corinthians are in Christ Jesus, -he does not say this person is not in Christ, - he dose not do that – I do that all the time, when someone that say they are a Christian do something that does not seem be like Christ.  (But the grace is for all also us, Paul does not speculate on this mans, salvation in Christ, but he also knows his behavior and sin has can cause havork in the fellowship and hurts the man and the woman and the fellowship). One preacher said, it is likely not good to say, Christians don’t do this or that, Christians do all kinds of sin and wrong things – if the person is in Christ there is hope for repentance, in the person being removed from the fellowship and given over to Satan. (For their good – and for the good of the fellowship and to give God glory in Jesus Christ – by the Holy Spirt).

Oh on, that is old fashion – (something mean people did in the medial times) we can’t remove someone from the fellowship. That sounds like the mantra of culture/the world is to exclude no one, - but that statement is only on the suffice – most fellowships are very exclusive, and if you don’t follow the rules you will be kicked out. Political parties, NGO’s, sports clubs, garden societies, LBTQ organizations - they all have rules for participation and execution. (Lies of the world. The world is not inclusive it just pretends to be…)

Unrepentant sin – will affect the fellowship, and will teach others what is okay. In some churches sex outside marriage between one man and one woman, is now seen as acceptable behavior and not a sin, to be repented from because it was not addressed as sin. But as oh we don’t what people to leave, or judge people. The same goes for other sins like gossip, talking about each other and not to each other. When not dealt with it becomes part of the fellowship culture and it is very destructive. And Paul knows this, Paul likely loved this man more that anyone that read this text today and say that Paul is unloving. – Wrong!!! Reading Corinthians there is nothing that incantate that (Paul does the opposite he affirms he’s love again and again. Just last week: “my beloved Children” also that man), - Paul does what is best for the man and the fellowship and the woman.  

(When Church discipline comes up who do we really love, God the person our ourself?)

The greatest misunderstanding of the good news of Jesus Christ, it that God has misunderstood you, and don’t know what is good for you. If you want you sin, - you have misunderstood the good news of Jesus Christ that came to free us from our sin, cleans us an make us new. Not to give us our idols, and sin so we can keep self-destructing and hurting others in the process. Sin leads to death (Hebrews).   

6 Paul again points out that there are boasting in the wrong things, - instead of letting an infection/sin spread in the church like leaven in dough – stop it and remove it. – Cleanse the fellowship from sin, not indorse it and boast about it. – Paul again shows them Jesus and call them to remember they are in Christ and they are cleansed, because of Jesus who is the Christ – the true Passover lamb, that was sacrificed, that they and we can have our sins forgiven and not die for them. And in humbleness can turn from our sin to Jesus instead of defending and wanting our sin or calling sin, freedoms or toleration.  

What is Jesus’ view on sex and marriage? The same as Paul’s PPT Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6 Ephesians 5: 31-33.

What is marriage? Accorging to Jesus and our fellowship? It is a gift and high calling that is not for everyone (the disciples were shocked at Jesus words), it is not the only way to live your life sexually pure. But the only one where you practice sex. Jesus has a very high view of Marriage not because all should be married but because of what it is and does and what it represents as Paul will write a mystery is shows God and the church.

Article 2: MARRIAGE A. Definition of Marriage: “Marriage has been instituted by God. This church defines marriage as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. B. Legitimate Sexual Relations Legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities outside of marriage are incompatible with the Biblical witness.

The good news is as Paul and his team has been writing is that Jesus lived died, for our sins, so we could be cleansed from then and stand clean, and not only that we get Jesus works as ours so we can stand justified and righteous before God, - that is the great news! The world would say, - do as you want you be you, follow your heart and desires they are always good, - if god is good, he will give you your sin and idols…. That is not good news that is a prison, death and destruction will follow, as we destroy our self and the people around us.

Correction by God is a great grace, to get us back on the road walking with Jesus, - that is also why correction and rebuke is a very good thing – done in love for God and the person, as we saw Paul do in the letter.  

(And we know this we see it all the time with children – we might not like see our self that way – but that is a great grace to be children of God).

Do we trust God is good also when he say we cant have our idols? Do we trust he is leading us to life in Christ?

How do we respond to correction? – Only a true friend in Christ will risk and love someone to correct in love – we are called to do it. Also in our yearly commitment.  

We will all sin and fail, but will we receive correction? Will we trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and grace, - will we love God, worship Jesus, by the Holy Spirt – love people. Because God loved us first and send Jesus Christ to save us, that the whole world would know that God loves the world.