I Corinthians 5:1-13
Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church

Today, 05/01/2023, let us, together in the grace of God, rejoice and reflect on the Word of God in I Corinthians 5:1-13.

1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

[King James Version]

Suggested Questions:

1. Is it true that in reality, sometimes God’s people have a more wicked and sinful lifestyle than those who do not believe in God?

2. What did Paul mean when he said that the Church in Corinth was proud instead of being grieved by the sin within the Church? Does this happen in some local Churches today?

3. In verses 3-5, Paul calls on the people of God in Corinth to join him in spirit, as if he were present, to put an end to the injustice of the sinner. Does this help us understand that spatial distance does not affect the fellowship and unity of God’s people?

4. What does verse 5 mean? Does it mean that the one who is cut off can still be saved on the day when Christ comes?

5. What is leaven? What is unleavened bread?

6. What is the main meaning of verses 9 to 13?

Suggested Applications:

1. Have you ever felt that you are not as good as those who do not believe in God?

2. Have you ever noticed that there are people in the Church who are not as good as those who do not believe in God?

3. If you see any brothers or sisters in the Church committing a sin, what will you do?

4. If the local Church condones those who commit sins, what will you do?