Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

I would like to invite you to look with me at 1 Corinthians chapter 5 this morning.

We have taken a few weeks off from our study through this book as we considered the dangers of the message referred to as the prosperity gospel.

The first four chapters of which dealt with the problem of division, and the lack of unity in the church of Corinth, based upon polarizing ministry personalities.

Paul is writing to the assembly of God (the church) in Corinth, and he has been urging them to consider what God has done to bring them together in Christ, and to begin living like that was a reality.

In this passage, we switch gears slightly, as Paul deals with a different problem.

A problem still stemming from their own pride.

And a problem threatening the health and life of this young congregation.

It’s the problem of unchecked, public sin.

This is a problem, because God’s called out ones whom He has gathered together, is “A Holy People.”

I was going to divide this chapter up into at least 2 sermons, but the more time I spent in it, the more I wanted to take it as a whole unit.

So we’ll look at verses 1-13 this morning.

Let’s read our text...

Thursday marked the 502nd anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenburg.

His 95 arguments were against the corruption of the Roman Catholic church, which many believe truly started the Protestant Reformation.

After God further opened Luther’s eyes, his arguments would eventually turn more towards the false gospel that Rome propagated, instead of merely the corrupt political system it had become.

But it was Luther who is credited for saying,““You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.”

That quote connects perfectly with the passage before us, because it was the silence of the Corinthians that was being rebuked.

In our day, individualism has crept into the church and has in many circles, all but taken over.

It’s the idea that I have MY walk with God, and you have yours.

I don’t judge you, you don’t judge me, and we’ll all just get along until the end.

Believers attending the same church can be deeply entrenched in sin, yet the response from others is something like, “It’s not my place to judge.”

Or worse, they use it as an advertisement to others to invite them by saying, “We don’t judge each other at our church.”

Luther led the charge, in danger of his own life, to see the church return to the Word of God it had so long abandoned.

Yet we are far too often afraid to hold each other accountable, because it dangers our comfort.

The church in Corinth was riddled with individualism, leaving them divided and factionalized.

Their own pride and boastfulness over their status led to a blase attitude towards sin within the congregation.

But Paul stresses here, that a local church is to be passionate about its purity, for the glory of God, even to the extent of judging persistent sinning members as unworthy of ongoing Christian fellowship.

And of course, that is what I hope you and I are able to see today as well.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE THE PURITY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

Now, the way Paul goes about teaching this is threefold, and I want to give it to you in sentence form, and take it in 3 points, to help us remember.

Paul teaches us our responsibility to preserve the purity of the church this way:

Church Discipline, helps preserve Church Holiness, among Church Members, for God’s glory.

Now that last point, for God’s glory, will be considered in each of the other 3 points.

So your 3 points this morning begins with...

1. Church Discipline

Church

1 Corinthians 5:

So this is the sin…a man seems to be involved in a sexual way, with his stepmother

Remember the promiscuity and rampant sexual sins we said abounded in Corinth?

Well, even Corinth didn’t approve of this

Both the Law of God, and the Roman Law, condemned this practice

Yet, here is a person listed as a member, as one belonging to the ekklesia, the assembly, the Church of God in Corinth, who is practicing such a thing

The issue Paul takes though, is not first of all with this individual....but with the church’s response to this sin

You have become arrogant.

Shouldn’t you rather have mourned over this sin, so that the one who has done this would be REMOVED from you?

Well now we see Paul’s point clearly, this person must be removed from those who are members of this church.

The Corinthian believer’s fleshly way of living, has caused not only division in their ranks…but it has also caused them to remain puffed up and arrogant when gross and obvious sin is among them.

Notice then, what Paul says next....

In his apostolic authority, Paul tells this young church in Corinth, that he has already passed a judgement upon him.

And he will tell the Corinthian church what to do....but notice, that he doesn’t do it for them.

This local church, is responsible for its own discipline, by God’s grace and the enabling power of the presence of Jesus, or the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit.

Paul is saying, “Although I’m not there physically, I’m with you spiritually.

And remember this also, the Lord Jesus and His power is with you as well.”

What could he mean by that?

Well, he seems to certainly be drawing from some OT imagery for one

But to me, there is no clearer of a cross reference to what Paul is saying, outside of the words of Jesus Himself, in

Verses 18-20, is quoted and applied in many ways that often have nothing to do with church discipline.

But Jesus is saying, when you gather as a church to excommune one....to send one out of the church....I’m with you.

You are not acting in your own name or authority, the Lord of the church rules and reigns upon the earth through the church, by His Word.

Paul is telling this young congregation the same thing.

That when they are assembled, when the whole church comes together for the gathering, to make this tough decision about this professing Christian persisting in open sinfulness, they are to do so knowing that the Lord Jesus is with them.

And then...

There are a few interpretations for this verse, but I think it’s most fitting with the context, especially the manner in which Paul has been using the term “flesh,” to see this as saying, “Excommunicate this sinning member, so that prayerfully, when he’s turned away from the church’s protection, and Satan has free reign upon him, that it will bring sense back to him, his fleshly nature will be destroyed, and he will come back in order to receive the salvation in “the day of the Lord.”

(Day of the Lord being the day when He returns to bring His judgement upon the earth)

This seems to be the way in which he is using this phrase in his letter to Timothy

1 Timothy 2:20

In other words, excommunication is not a way to punish....but a way to work towards reconciliation and restoration to the church.

So, Paul says to the Corinthians, you ought to be broken hearted over the sin in this congregation.

And you ought to be removing the sinning member from your number.

Apply

What you and I must realize as well, is that we have the same responsibility here.

And…we must also realize, that church discipline doesn’t begin with, excommunication.

Church discipline is what is taking place when you call a brother to see why they missed church and ask if they’re ok.

Church discipline is what is taking place when you stay after service to talk with a sister who is struggling in her spiritual disciplines.

Church discipline is what is taking place when young people are being warned about the dangers of pornography and the wickedness abounding in the world they currently live.

But never forget dear Christian, that you are responsible to give....and receive, church discipline.

For those of you who are members of this church, let me remind you of this line in our church covenant with one another:

“We will be devoted to one another in brotherly love, with humility and gentleness we will patiently bear with each other, forgiving, encouraging and building one another up, exercising watchfulness over each other and admonishing one another when necessary.”

That is our Lord’s commands for His church…that’s what we must be.

For the sake of His reputation in our area, for HIS glory…we must practice healthy church discipline.

2. Church Holiness

2. Church Holiness

Church discipline is not arbitrary and it’s not aimless.

It’s not based upon traditions of men elevated to the status of the commands of God, whereby individuals become police officers for the church.

We are to practice church discipline, because the church belongs to a holy God, and we are to be a HOLY people.

Leaven, is similar to yeast in its causing bread to rise.

It is that which was rolled up and left to ferment so that it could be used in bread.

Feast of Unleavened Bread

Here, Paul begins to draw their attention back to the OT, and a festival known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

A seven day feast connected with the Passover.

Paul is saying that was an illustration as to how sin needs to be removed from the church.

during which time Israel would eat unleavened bread only.

All leaven would be removed from the house, the breads, etc.

The Passover Lamb was sacrificed, and then Israel would spend a week eating unleavened bread only.

All leaven would be removed from the house, the breads, etc.

It was a reminder of their bitterness in Egypt, as well as the deliverance God worked when the destroyer (death Angel) passed over the places where the blood of the lamb was applied, yet killed the firstborn of every other home.

This illustration of a little leaven, spreading throughout the whole lump, or the whole loaf, making it now a “leavened lump,” is one that Paul uses elsewhere

Jesus also tells His disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees, by which He meant their teaching.

Leaven is an illustration for sin or wickedness in general