9I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
Thoughts: Here Paul is making a clear distinction. It is one thing to be immoral when we do not know better. It is another to be immoral when we profess the faith but keep on being immoral. To continue to live selfishly and in ways that are an afront to God yet claim to be good ruins the fellowship. On the other hand, those who mess up- in greed, idolatry, slandering, getting drunk, or stealing- but repent, there is more than room in the church for them. For people continue to sin after they go to church or profess their faith. What is important is the attitude of the heart- that we are trying to please God and get it right.
At the same time, we are to seek to know people who are outside the fellowship. Jesus ate and drank with sinners. Yet the Pharisees, in the church, who thought they were not sinners, he rebuked.
Prayer: Lord, give me a heart for sinners. Help me to know how to show your love by both fellowship and rebuke.
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