Unity Through Holiness

1 Corinthians 5

Introduction

This morning we are continuing our themed study through the book of 1 Corinthians on the theme of unity.

Our text this morning is chapter 5 which seems to be not about unity but division.

Yet, I believe when we arrive at our conclusion, we will see that this chapter does indeed show us the path to unity.

Becoming Puffed Up

Pride is an issue throughout this letter (1 Cor. 4:6, 18-19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4).

This word only shows up in this letter and one warning in Colossians.

Much of what Paul deals with in this letter is wrapped up in pride.

They are ignoring obvious sin (1 Cor. 5:1, 3).

We are not talking about fine distinctions or difficult calls to make.

Those have to be made too but often the issue there isn’t one of pride but of wisdom and discernment.

Here we are talking a sin Paul can see a mile away and make judgment from afar.

This is a pride that is harder to see (Lk. 18:9-14; 2 Chron. 19:2).

The pride of the Pharisee toward the tax collector is easier to identify.

But here we have the kind of pride that can be cloaked in or even coupled with righteousness.

Pride does not always look like standing above sin.

Sometimes it looks like sitting comfortably beside it.

Clean out the Leaven

They are called to follow Paul’s own judgment (1 Cor. 5:3-5; 1 Tim. 1:20).

Paul points to the Passover as a pattern (Ex. 12:15)

The Passover shows that if you don’t remove leaven, you will be affected by it — you will partake. (cf. 1 Cor 10:1-12).

It also shows us the thoroughness of what Paul is commanding.

We fail to do this when we fail to understand the gravity of sin (Deut. 13:1-10).

When someone has committed a heinous crime and you hear that their mother or father turned them in, what do you think?

Some wouldn’t turn on a loved one no matter what. But most people have a line.

God says we need to draw the line where He draws it.

Within the Church

All of this applies only within the church (1 Cor. 5:9-13).

This is because that is where we have jurisdiction.

We are talking about regulating membership based on known criteria.

All organizations do this and they all only do it to those who are part of the organization.

Cancel culture isn’t the problem, it is who get’s cancelled, how they go about it, and how to reconcile.

In cancel culture, the whole world is policed by internet busybodies.

They get cancelled by public exposure without the “mouth of two or three witnesses.”

They get cancelled for things that are not only not sin but often for saying true things.

The line for what will get you cancelled is always moving.

There is no reconciliation for the cancelled.

In the case of church discipline:

This is about sin that is proven.

It is those who claim to be of Christ but are living contrary to that claim.

Reconciliation is not only available but it is the point.

Some degree of association with the world is necessary (1 Cor. 5:10; cf. 2 Cor. 6:14-18).

That doesn’t mean you have a pass to be best friends with worldly people.

It just means living and working in this world requires some association together.

We make judgments where we have the responsibility to make judgments (1 Cor. 5:12-13).

This doesn’t mean we make NO judgment about what is happening in the world.

It doesn’t mean that the world isn’t subject to God’s laws.

It is talking about judgment that passes a sentence.

Conclusion

What does this chapter have to do with unity:

Understand the world would tell you that what Corinth was doing was unity. Tolerance, acceptance, affirmation.

But the reality is that no organization goes without drawing lines. One line that might come to be drawn is against the one who calls out the sin.

So the unity here is not about whether or not we will disassociate with people, it is about who will define those terms.

When Theodore Roosevelt was accepting the Nobel Peace Prize he said, “Peace is generally good in itself, but it is never the highest good unless it comes as the handmaid of righteousness.”

You can be at peace with God and with His people this morning by swearing allegiance to Him and therefore becoming an enemy to all that wars against Him.

The life of a Christian is not one of peace with any and everything. It is a life of peace with God. And His peace is accomplished through the strength of His righteousness not through a surrender of any ground to sin and death.

Would you make peace with Him this morning?