1 Corinthians 5:9-13

                                                             1 Corinthians 5:9-13

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

 

The purity of the church must be the priority of believers.  We cannot expect unbelievers to act like believers.  However, we must expect believers to act like believers.  When a brother or sister in Christ is living in a sinful manner, there must be consequences.  We live in a fallen world so there will be sin all around us.  The church is made up of people who have been called out of the world to live in conformity with Christ.  Believers will continue to sin, but their lives should not be characterized as sinful because they repent when they sin.  Paul seeks to establish two principles that should inform our friendships and associations.

 

BELIEVERS MUST ASSOCIATE WITH UNBELIEVING SINNERS: Since we live in a sinful world, it is impossible for us to avoid associating with unbelievers.  We are not called to judge the world or even exercise discipline over the world.  Our association with the world has two different aspects, one incidental and the other intentional.  The first is simply coexistence and is impossible to avoid.  However, the second is missional and should be a vital part of our mission as believers.  We associate with unbelievers for the purpose of pointing and loving them to Christ.  It is truly the reason we have been left on earth after coming to Christ.  Every responsibility we have as believers in areas such as prayer, Bible study, worship and Christian fellowship we would all do much better in heaven.  The only responsibility we have that we will not be able to do in heaven is evangelize.  Eventually God will judge the sin of those who don’t respond to the Gospel.  It is not our place to judge unbelievers.  Jesus spent time eating and associating with sinners for the purpose of calling them to repentance.  We must follow His example.    

 

BELIEVERS MUST NOT ASSOCIATE WITH BELIEVING SINNERS: Just to be clear, all believers sin.  This statement is revering to people who are living a lifestyle marked by sin from which they refuse to repent or even seek help.  When someone who presents themselves as a believer simply assumes a sinful lifestyle without repentance, we are called to disciple that person and not extend hospitality or have fellowship with them except for the purpose of calling them to repent.  We are not just to ignore their sin and leave the work of conviction to the Holy Spirit.  We are to do all we can to make sure that they know we do not approve of their sinful lifestyle and will not be a part of it.  There are certain areas of Christian liberty that we can be flexible.  In Paul’s day these areas included eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols and the observance of certain holidays.  In our day this may include things like the use of alcohol in moderation or enjoying certain forms of entertainment.  We are not talking about these areas.  We are talking about areas of blatant and obvious sin like immorality, drunkenness, greed, idolatry and dishonesty.  We are not talking about isolated intendents but about habitual, unrepented sin.

 

APPLICATION: Be intentional about fostering friendships with unbelievers for the purpose of sharing and showing the love of Christ.  Do not tolerate sinfulness of people who call themselves believers but do not recognize or repent of their sin.