1 COR. 5:1-13
Confronting immorality
I. Intro: “Ed” died of cancer
A. Hidden, found, exploding, death.
B. Sin is like that. We have to confront it.
II. The need
1. A man is sleeping with his mother-in-law, and it is declared immoral.
2. The way it is stated shows that it is shocking that this is going on.
3. There are lesser immoralities. What is sexual immorality?
4. Immorality is the Greek porneia, from which we get pornography, and refers to any illicit (not sanctioned or authorized) sexual activity. In Scripture licit sexual activity is that between a man and his wife. This is clear from the idea that union between a man and woman unites them as one flesh in a way that creates a family bond.
5. We don’t have time to discuss all the possible activities which are clearly sexual in nature, but where there is no physical union. So we’ll just mention this brief test question. “If I engage in this activity, am I less or more likely to lust, and proceed toward union?” If you are more likely then you need to flee that temptation, not indulge it.
6. They were proud of this!? WHY? They later protest that “all things are permissible.” Likely they saw this as a proof of their living in freedom and grace. But freedom in Christ is to be free from guilt, free from the controlling nature of sin, and thus free to become all we were meant to be; to be unleashed for God, not for sin.
7. 1 Jn1:6, 2:4,6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 4The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
8. The yeast effect of sin is that it grows and creeps through all of our life. We need to weed it out, not just get rid of some, so that we can feel ok about indulging in others.
9. We are new creations without sin yeast. We can’t let in a little sin without concern. It grows throughout like a cancer.
10. Passover festival was celebrated without yeast in bread to signify separated, holy, for God. We need to celebrate our new life without the yeast of pet sins.
11. A church that does not mourn over sin, especially sin within its own fellowship, is on the edge of spiritual disaster. When we cease to be shocked by sin we lose a strong defense against it.
12. Do we mourn sin in our midst? Is it like death among us?
III. The Method
1. Normal would have been to put him out of fellowship.
2. Discipline is consistent with love. God disciplines those he loves, and parents that love their children discipline them. Amy as example.
3. Paul was decided in his spirit.
4. When 2 or 3 agree as to what Jesus’ will would be, they can act in his authority, name or power. As a power-of-attorney can.
5. “Handing over to Satan” is the same as putting out of the church. and, Satan is allowed to be the ruler of this world, except for the Kingdom of God. That makes the church, when functioning properly, our protection from the world and our enemy. Have any of you experienced positive change since you started attaching yourself to this community? Does any of that change seem to come from or be amplified by the simple fact of hanging with other followers of Jesus?
6. The flesh, sarx, is destroyed. This can mean flesh as opposed to muscle and bone, the body as opposed to the spirit, or the sinful cravings that stem from man’s physical nature, or the old man as opposed to the new man submitted to God.
7. The action needed should be done by the church, not individuals. Individuals seek to quietly restore, and then quietly involve another, before a public church event.
8. Mt 18:15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
IV. The limits
1. The application of this varies depending on whether we are talking personal sin, another believer’s sin, or an unbeliever’s sin.
2. We must deal with our own. We must work the steps with believers, and with unbelievers we must not judge but love and warn.
3. You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is: sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.
4. Why “so-called” brother? Some in patterns of sin, are believers in need of restoration, while others are false followers.
5. Those to be disciplined are described with nouns. What is the difference between someone who tells a lie and a liar? It’s a pattern of behavior significant enough to characterize that person.
6. How many failures are we to permit a repentant follower? Unlimited.
7. Rail, revile, slander = persistent, insulting, abusive speech.
8. Outsiders are to be loved, warned and served; but not judged, harangued, or belittled.
V.invite:
A. Would you like to live in real holiness, as an individual and church?
B. Are you afraid to try as it might just be too much to hope for? Casting Crowns sings of this in “Voice of Truth.” The giant obstacles say can’t, but the voice of truth says can.
