October 3 Daily Discovery - Read 1 Corinthians Chapter 5

This passage below is from the King James Version (ekjv.org).  

Remarks from the Berean Fellowship follow the passage below.

[1] It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
[2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
[3] For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
[4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
[5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
[6] Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
[7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
[8] Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
[9] I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
[10] Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
[11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
[12] For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
[13] But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Purging for Purity

What is the purpose of what people refer to sometimes as "church discipline?" I was discussing this subject with a pastor years ago that was having the same type moral issues within his congregation as paul was citing that with that time was commonly reported for the Corinthian church. Fornication -- sexual sin.

In this instance, Paul is telling them to purge this person from their assembly. They were to disfellowship him. The purpose was to so maintain purity in the church.

Paul said a little leaven will leaven the entire lump. In other words if you don't deal with this it is going to grow. The church is the body of christ and this is not something that is acceptable within his body. We will call and assembly our church meaning that we attended or we are members of it. However, when jesus says, "my church" is because he owns it and he is the head of it.

Because such things like what the Corinthians were experiencing in their assembly is so common today, the church has much trouble and little power.

Jesus Himself told us how to handle these things during His ministry.

Matt. 18:15-19

[15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
[16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
[17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
[18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
[19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

If the church member repents of their sin, you've got purity.

1. Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
2. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
3. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church.
4. But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

If the church member refuses to repent of their sin and you disfellowship them, you've got purity.

1. Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
2. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
3. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church.
4. But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

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Continue Your Search

Do you see any: Commands to Obey, Warnings to Heed, Promises to Claim, Examples to Follow, Vices to Avoid, Praises to Emulate, Prayers to Use, Principles by which to Live, Questions to Ask or Actions to Take?

See: Berean Fellowship Bible Study Method