Rev. David Holwick Y
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
August 5, 1990
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
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I. Roman Catholics excommunicate politicians who advocate abortion.
A. Protestant example.
In 1984 Marian Guinn was disciplined by her church for having
an affair.
She sued for $390,000, saying her private life was none of their
business.
She won the case. Then she sold her story to TV studios.
B. Society considers such actions narrow and even bigoted.
C. What does Bible say?
II. Situation in 1 Corinthians 5.
A. Man is cohabiting with his (probably step-) mother.
1) Strictly forbidden in OT.
a) Same expression used in Lev. 18:7-8 (LXX).
b) "Have" indicates long-term sexual union.
2) Even Roman law forbid it. 5:1
B. Reaction of church: Pride. 5:2
1) Spiritually proud, in spite of sin in their midst?
a) Sexual standards were low in that day.
A Greek philosopher named Demos wrote:
"Mistresses we keep for the sake of pleasure,
concubines for the daily care of the body,
but wives to bear us legitimate children."
b) Before converting, they had lived like this. 6:9-10
1> Apparently they still did. 5:9; 6:12-20; 7:2; 10:8
c) They tolerated sin because they didn't think much of it.
2) Proud they are so liberal and free?
a) "All things are lawful" to spiritually-minded Christians,
in their view. 6:12
III. Proper reaction.
A. Be grieved over sin. 5:2
1) "Grieve" was used of mourning at a funeral.
a) Paul is more upset over church's complacent attitude
than over the sinner himself.
2) Biblical view of holiness of God demands grief for sin. Isa 6
a) Sin got Jesus crucified; it was to free people from sin
that he died.
B. Deal with the sinner.
1) Hand over to Satan. 5:5
a) Flesh destroyed. 5:5
1> Physical death?
A> But in this case he could not repent.
B> Goes against teaching of resurrection.
2> Sinful nature purged.
A> "Flesh" is whole person oriented away from God.
B> Same idea as "crucifying" flesh.
b) The world is Satan's place, the church is God's.
1> Outside, there is danger.
2) The goal is not punishment, but restoration.
a) Spirit saved. 5:5
1> Not that he'll die but go to heaven, but be
restored to church as a brother.
2> Primary purpose of "handing over."
Obscured in NIV, but not in KJV.
b) "Always at the back of punishment and discipline in the
early church there is the conviction that they must
seek not to break, but to make the person who has
sinned." W. Barclay
IV. Practical advice.
A. The wicked man is related to leaven. 5:6
1) Not yeast, which is pure, but leaven, which is fermented.
a) Lump added to other dough to make sourdough bread.
b) Always used of evil influence by Jews.
2) Jews purged all leaven during Feast of Unleavened Bread.
a) Religious festival, just before Passover.
b) Also for health reasons.
1> Origin of spring cleaning?
B. Sin must be cleaned out of the church.
1) Eliminate poison before it spreads.
2) Modern example: 1988 Christmas virus on IBM system.
Duplicated so fast the whole system crashed. #160
C. Sin must be cleaned out of our lives.
V. Application to today.
A. Sin is a serious matter.
1) Overlooking flagrant sin is not gracious but dangerous.
a) Son of major American pastor. (Jack Hyles' son)
Seduced many girls in his youth group.
It was discovered.
Became pastor of a church in another state.
He had affairs with at least a dozen women there.
Eventually he left his wife and married the wife of
another man.
If someone had called him to account, many lives would
have avoided immense pain, including the young pastor.
But no one did until it was too late.
#587
2) Do you grieve over sin?
a) Your own?
b) Those of others?
B. Sin is not just a private matter.
1) Americans lean toward this, but not the Bible.
2) Each person's behavior affects many others.
3) What contribution are you making?
C. Restoration is always ultimate goal.
1) To truly discipline, we must be especially loving and caring.
VI. Communion.
A. Jews searched for leaven with a candle.
B. Search our hearts right now.
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