1 Corinthians 5 (5)

Pray Psalm 38.9-12.
Lord, all my desire is before You;
And my sighing is not hidden from You.
My heart pants, my strength fails me;
As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.
My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague,
And my relatives stand afar off.
Those also who seek my life lay snares for me;
Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction,
And plan deception all the day long.

Sing Psalm 38.9-12.
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
You know all my desire, my sighs You know full well.
My strength fails and light’s holy fire my eyes dispel.
My friends and loved ones fail; the wicked do me wrong.
My life they seek, my soul assail the whole day long.

Read 1 Corinthians 5.1-11; meditate on verse 11.

Preparation
1. What did Paul write to the Corinthians?

2. What was his intention in this?

Meditation
Our psalm for today gives us some sense of how God works in believers who are living in sin. To be succinct, He can make our lives miserable, lonely, and sorrowful.

Which is exactly what Paul was hoping would happen in the man for whose excommunication he was calling. Those who call themselves believers but continue to live in sin must be sent away from the Body of Christ until the Lord works conviction of sin in them. Paul is clear, but not exhaustive, concerning the kind of people he has in mind: those who are sexually immoral, as defined by God’s Law; those who covet and lust and are therefore never content with what they have; idolaters of various sorts, who make of things their desire and happiness and god; and revilers, drunkards, and extortioners—those who oppress, abuse, or offend against others.

Remember, these are believers Paul calls us to separate from—“not even to eat with such a person.” That would include not allowing them to take the Lord’s Supper. People who live this way, or who in any way knowingly continue in sin, and call themselves Christians are deceiving themselves. But we must not be deceived into thinking that it’s OK to continue in sin and still insist you are a believer and remain in good standing with your local fellowship.

Not in Paul’s book, friends. That might be what we do these days, but if so, we go beyond what is written into thinking we know better than God how to build His Church. The sooner we face up to this, the sooner we can move on beyond it to get back on the Lord’s agenda rather than ours.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Paul was also warning the people not to be enablers of the guilty party.

If we are still willing to grab a quick lunch or fraternize in any way, we are keeping this person from coming face to face with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.

If we do not remove ourselves from their fellowship, they are having their cake and eating it too. They have lost nothing—they still have their friends who apparently are not the least bit disgusted by their behavior.

And truly, if we think we are showing them “love” by approving of their sin we are grievously mistaken. Enabling sin and delaying repentance is neither loving nor tolerant, but is assuredly hateful and wrong.

“Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” (Prov. 24.11, 12).

We are told, Do not keep company with a Christian who is:
1. Sexually immoral in any way, shape, or form.
2. Covetous and greedy of other’s belongings, human or otherwise.
3. An idolater who worships anything other than God.
4. A reviler—a verbal abuser.
5. A drunkard—who overdoes in any way to lose self-control.
6. An extortioner—who obtains benefit through coercion.
(1 Cor. 5.11)

And, of course, we should not be doing any of those things either.

God gave us His Law as a blessing, because He knows how things run best, and this is it.

Keep the Law, and don’t hang out with anyone in the church that doesn’t keep it.
“He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD” (Prov. 17.15).

We have important work to do, and we dare not allow ourselves to become ensnared in sin, or condone others in theirs. Because as Jesus called Paul, He is also calling us, to those in our Personal Mission Field, be they believers or not: “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26.18).

This is the company that we must keep—Jesus—so we can do the work that He has called us to do.

For reflection
1. Why is it so important that we be careful about the company we keep as Christians?

2. Can we help believers who are mired in sin by continuing to consort with them? Explain.

3. What can you do to make sure you don’t become trapped in sinful ways?

Christians are to avoid familiar converse with all who disgrace the Christian name. Such are only fit companions for their brethren in sin, and to such company they should be left, whenever it is possible to do so. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 1 Corinthians 5.9-13

Pray Psalm 38.17-22.
Wait on the Lord in silence, asking Him to show you any lingering sins. Confess them at once, repent, and set a new course to be more like Jesus. Don’t let unconfessed sin cut off your relationship with the Lord (Ps. 66.18).

Sing Psalm 38.17-22.
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
My sins I now confess; my anxious soul relieve!
Though foes are strong, LORD, heal and bless all who believe!
Forsake me not, O LORD! Repay my foes with wrath.
Stand by me with Your saving Word and guard my path!

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of 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.