If you listened to the podcast today, you might be wondering if God’s desire is a person be thrown out like yesterday’s garbage. Of course, that’s not true…He knew we would sin. Otherwise, why would He have sacrificed Christ? But we all know there are natural consequences to our actions.
In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul seems to be suggesting this man be left to the natural consequences of his sin. In this case, that is being excommunicated from his church family. That kind of backlash tends to help all of us re-think our choices.
One might think that Paul is being harsh here, but his biggest concern is the health of the church in Corinth as a whole. In the very next set of verses, he points out that just a little sin can ruin a whole church body. Or said another way, a little leaven can leaven the whole batch.
A Higher Standard
Now, don’t forget that Paul is talking to believers here. Undisciplined believers, to be sure, but believers nonetheless. We couldn’t possibly ascribe to the avoidance of the world he talks about without hindering our telling of the Gospel to all nations. We have to hang out with the world in order to witness to them. But professing believers need to be held to a higher standard and the local church body expunge sin immediately.
What are your thoughts on this chapter. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
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