1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,a b so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Thoughts: This is a call for church discipline, not division. He does not say to divide the church between those who would agree with the sexually immoral man and those who would follow a more biblical stance. Paul does not mind standing up for truth though it means some heartache and tough love. We should never be proud of sexual immorality as it is defined in scripture. We are called to follow and to humble ourselves before Christ. But we are not called to divide.
Some speak of the yeast image as a reason to leave and to be separate. The idea is that we could somehow make ourselves the pure church if we could but divide from the "evil" or "apostate" or "heretical" church. Jesus likewise said, "beware the yeast of the Pharisees" (Mt. 16:11). The idea is that if we purposefully allow sin in it will work itself through the whole dough making it fermented. It is a little like saying one drop of poison can corrupt the whole glass of water. But while we always need to beware corruption and sin, this does not portend or cause a division. Jesus did not encourage a division between his followers in Israel- they were kicked out of the synagogues and persecuted. Jesus did not go out to form another Israel, but sought to Reform the faith to what it should be. Paul did not encourage division either here- only discipline. We need to be able to draw that distinction.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see the need to keep myself pure but still recognize the church on this side of heaven will not be perfect. We are indeed, Lord, a hospital for sinners not a museum for the saints.
Thoughts: This is a call for church discipline, not division. He does not say to divide the church between those who would agree with the sexually immoral man and those who would follow a more biblical stance. Paul does not mind standing up for truth though it means some heartache and tough love. We should never be proud of sexual immorality as it is defined in scripture. We are called to follow and to humble ourselves before Christ. But we are not called to divide.
Some speak of the yeast image as a reason to leave and to be separate. The idea is that we could somehow make ourselves the pure church if we could but divide from the "evil" or "apostate" or "heretical" church. Jesus likewise said, "beware the yeast of the Pharisees" (Mt. 16:11). The idea is that if we purposefully allow sin in it will work itself through the whole dough making it fermented. It is a little like saying one drop of poison can corrupt the whole glass of water. But while we always need to beware corruption and sin, this does not portend or cause a division. Jesus did not encourage a division between his followers in Israel- they were kicked out of the synagogues and persecuted. Jesus did not go out to form another Israel, but sought to Reform the faith to what it should be. Paul did not encourage division either here- only discipline. We need to be able to draw that distinction.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see the need to keep myself pure but still recognize the church on this side of heaven will not be perfect. We are indeed, Lord, a hospital for sinners not a museum for the saints.
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