I Corinthians 5:6-7
I. Introduction:
A. Sin in our midst will stop us from being victorious in our battle against Satan. Joshua 7:13
1. (Joshua 7:13) "Get up, sanctify the people, and say, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: "There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you." (NKJV)
B. Text: I Corinthians 5:6-7
1 Corinthians
5:6-7 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens
the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump,
since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed
for us. (NKJV)
1. Context:
a. Fornication is going on in this congregation V.1
b. The church is “puffed up” so much that they are not even dealing with this terrible situation within the body of Christ in Corinth because of their arrogance v.2.
i. Notice what Christ told the spiritually apathetic church at Laodicea he would do to them if they were “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:14-22).
c. The brethren in Corinth are not disciplining this brother as Paul knows they need to be doing V.2-3.
d. Paul tells them to deliver this one to Satan v.4-5.
i. Paul lived by His own words (I Timothy 1:19-20).
(1 Timothy 1:19-20) having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (NKJV)
e. Paul tells them to purge the congregation of this leaven, which is wickedness opposed to truth and sincerity as defined in verse 8, v. 6-7.
C. The church at Corinth ignored a situation because of their arrogance. I have been told many times that the church in Butler would never tolerate error.
1. Let me ask, would you know error if it smacked you on the head? Could some here be guilty of being arrogant so much that they miss what is going on around them?
2. There are those among us who view the church as their church and they believe they can make up their own rules. When one comes along and challenges their theology with Scripture, they reject the counsel of God and continue to serve their own bellies (Romans 16:18).
3. What should a local church do when it is infected by these types of people who spread the disease of sin throughout the church? We should purge just as Paul tells the brethren in Corinth to do…
APPLYING LESSONS FROM THE TEXT:
I. SIN IS CONTAGIOUS
A. When we think of leaven we think of the substance that causes dough to rise, or increase in size.
B. The Bible speaks of it in this way as well; for example - (Exodus 12:1-18).
1. The Bible also speaks of leaven as false doctrines (Matthew 16:1-12).
2. In the case at Corinth the leaven was wickedness (I Corinthians 5:8) opposed to truth and sincerity.
C. All it takes is a little leaven to shipwreck the faith of many.
1. II Peter 2:1-3
(2 Peter 2:1-3) But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (NKJV)
2. Acts 20:28-30
(Acts 20:28-30) "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. (NKJV)
3. Jude 3-4
(Jude 1:3-4) Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
A. The church needs to “purge” (remove) those who are openly unfaithful:
1. We are to withdraw ourselves from the disorderly
(2 Thessalonians 3:6) But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
a. But, we are also to admonish them to be faithful.
(2 Thessalonians 3:14-15) And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (NKJV)
2. The divisive we are to mark and avoid.
Romans 16:17-18 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. (NKJV)
NOTICE WHY – THEY WILL DECEIVE OTHERS
3. After the first and second rebuke we are to reject those who will not conform to the truth.
(Titus 3:10) Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, (NKJV)
B. In the context of I Corinthians 5 we learn that we are not even to eat with those brethren that are unfaithful (I Corinthians 5:9-11).
1. Notice the following passages:
a. Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
b. 2 John 1:9-11 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (NKJV)
2. What about those who defend the erring?
(Proverbs 17:15) He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. (NKJV)
(Proverbs 28:4) Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them. (NKJV)
A. We cannot forget that we have been purged from our sins (II Peter 1:9).
1. How?
a. In part - We repented (walked away from our sins) and were baptized (Acts 2:38).
B. The local church can be purged of sin, by purging the sinners. I
Corinthians 5:12-13
Conclusion:
The body of Christ needs to work together (I Corinthians 12:14-27). When the leg starts to kick the other leg, and the arm starts to fail the body no longer functions properly. It is time to remove some parts so that the whole body does not burn in hell.
Matthew 5:29-30 "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (NKJV)
- NAME THE MEMBERS WHO NEED TO REPENT OF DIVISIVENESS OR BE PURGED!!!
Lesson modified from Brian A. Yeager.