1 Corinthians 5 (4)

Pray Psalm 71.1-3.
In You, O LORD, I put my trust;
Let me never be put to shame.
Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape;
Incline Your ear to me, and save me.
Be my strong refuge,
To which I may resort continually;
You have given the commandment to save me,
For You are my rock and my fortress.

Sing Psalm 71.1-3.
(Solid Rock: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less)
In You, O LORD, I refuge claim; O let me never be ashamed.
In righteousness deliver me; incline Your ear and hear my plea.
Refrain v. 3
A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
my Rock and Fortress ever be!

Read 1 Corinthians 5.1-10; meditate on verses 9, 10.

Preparation
1. What had Paul instructed the Corinthians to do?

2. What did he mean by that?

Meditation
Paul is probably here referencing his previous instruction (v. 9; cf. vv. 4, 5). Some think this may refer to an earlier letter, but I don’t think that’s likely, nor does the context require it. Paul had written that they must have nothing to do with the “old leaven” but should cast it out to become a “new lump.” I think he is here referring to that instruction to clarify it.

Paul was not calling the Corinthians “out of the world”. Jesus has sent us into the world, just as He was sent (Jn. 20.21). Each of us has a Personal Mission Field where we work to realize more of the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God. We are constantly involved with people in the world who do not know the Lord. It would be the height of folly to try to avoid them or to “circle the wagons” of our churches against having any contact with worldly people.

Jesus came to the world as the Light of the world, and He sends us in precisely the same way (Matt. 5.13-16). God brings grace to the world every day, even to those who deny and despise Him (Matt. 5.43-48). We must do the same. We do not hide the Light of Jesus under the bushel of fear or indifference. Rather, calling on the Lord to give us love for our neighbors, we work to show Jesus to them and to tell them the Good News about His love.

We must be careful, of course, to keep ourselves untainted by worldly ways or aspirations. This we do, as Paul has been saying throughout this epistle, by keep our eye on Jesus, looking and clinging to Him to bring His grace and truth to the world through us, His chosen vessels (2 Cor. 4.15).

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2.9-12).

This message from Peter is not to our unsaved neighbors, or to Disney, or Bud Light, or our local courthouse that won’t put out a nativity or post the Law of God in their hallway. Nor is it to Planned Parenthood or any other place we might be thinking of boycotting.

It is directed straight at us. Those who bear the Name of Christ. God’s people. Church people.
We are so confused about whose behavior we should be monitoring.
First and foremost, it is not the world. It is, however, us.

The Law was given to God’s people.
We are the ones we should be monitoring.
We are the ones who should be keeping the Law.
If we are keen for a nativity at Christmas, put one up in your own yard.
If we want the Law of God nailed up somewhere prominent, put it on your own house.
Write it on your own heart, live it in your own life.

The “beloved” that Peter was pleading with to abstain from fleshly lusts were the Christians.
The people he was telling to do good works and obey the Law were God’s people.
Those he was encouraging to be good so that others would glorify God, yup, Christians.
We are the ones called out of darkness into the marvelous light of our Savior.
We are the ones who have obtained mercy and forgiveness for our sins.
We are the ones commanded to love and live by the Law of God.

We are called to boycott; but the focus is the sin in our own lives, and in the lives of fellow believers.
Cancel that. First. Then boycott whatever else you may choose.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (Jms. 4.7, 8).
A promise given to us. Not to our unbelieving neighbors. But to us.
Yes, God expects a lot; but He gives us everything we need, so that we can do it (Lk. 11.13).

We are the ones called to live according to God’s Law.
We are the ones who must trust and obey.
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!” (Ps. 34.8, 9).

Us. Not them.

For reflection
1. Can you recite the Ten Commandments from memory?

2. According to Jesus, Matthew 22.34-40, what is the primary purpose of the Law of God?

3. What can you do to bring more meditation on God’s Law into your walk with the Lord?

Immoral unbelievers cannot harm the church, but immoral believers corrupt it from within, which is why they must be avoided and expelled. Origen (185-254), Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 193

Pray Psalm 71.14-18.
Pray about the day ahead, that the Light of Jesus will shine through you to everyone in your Personal Mission Field.

Sing Psalm 71.14-18.
(Solid Rock: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less)
But as for me my voice I raise to sing in hope and constant praise!
With saving grace my voice will swell Your never-ending grace to tell.
Refrain v. 3
A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
my Rock and Fortress ever be!

O LORD, I praise Your righteousness Who me from youth have taught and blessed.
Forsake me not when I am old, ‘til I Your mercies all have told!
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth needed revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today needs revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.