Sins that defile God’s people…

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 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.” (1 Corinthians 5:1–13)

This passage seems to focus on only one sin, yet the instructions to rid the church covers more than those involved in sexual sin. The list includes: greed, idolatry, reviler (those who slander others), drunkards, and swindlers. While all of us are sinners, these are particularly evil and harmful to God's people and if any who claim to be Christians are involved in such things, they need to be disciplined rather than tolerated.

We attend a particularly incredible assembly of several hundred believers. I’m aware of only one person guilty of one of the sins included in this passage. I don’t know if he was told to leave but he did. Those related to him have stayed and been comforted and cared for as they hope for repentance.

The church at Corinth thought it was spiritual to forgive their sinner, but there is no mention of repentance or that he quit this particular sin. Instead, they were rebuked for not dealing with him. The last lines say we are to judge those in the church, guarding the purity of Christ’s body. 

However, it also says we are not to judge those outside the body. This isn’t about overlooking the sin in the world but about realizing that those without Christ have no power to be godly. Without Jesus, we were the same — helpless and hopeless. Those who have Christ are not. He has given us new life in Him and we have all we need to do His will and say NO to evil.

Lord Jesus, I know that Your forgiveness and faith in You changes lives. While sin is powerful, and while the enemy is strong with his deception, You tell us that “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) While it is easy to excuse sin, there is no excuse for it. You provide. Enable me and all Your children to say NO to temptation and rely on You to keep us in Your will. Thank You for salvation from sin and the power of the Holy Spirit.

All goodness is a gift

For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 3:19–4:7)

One evening at Bible study I shared how God rebuked me for praising another person. She quoted Scripture that glorified Him instead of taking the praise for herself. I was startled but realized that she knew how God wanted her to think about her skills. She gave Him credit for giving them to her. 

I don’t always do that. While praise feels good for my ego, it does not build my faith. It is better to feel needy and unable than to have confidence in myself. The people in that Bible study did not agree. They thought she was being rude to me, not realizing the importance of humility that knows all good things are a gift from Him. 

I’ve since thought much about human effort apart from relying on the Lord and being filled with the Holy Spirit. The OT says: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) 

Turning to my own way, relying on me instead of the Lord, means I’ve gone astray. The Word calls it ‘iniquity’ which means ‘guilt’ in Hebrew, My thesaurus says it is like: wickedness, sinfulness, immorality, impropriety, vice, evil, sin; villainy, criminality, crime, heinousness, nefariousness, knavery; vileness, foulness, baseness, odiousness, atrociousness, dreadfulness, egregiousness; outrageousness, outrage, monstrousness, obscenity, reprehensibility; ungodliness, godlessness, impiety, devilry, among other nasty words. 

The NT puts it like this: “. . . . . whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23) and this:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

When I think about who God is and what He has done through the power of His Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ His Son, how arrogant to think that I can live without trusting Him and doing it my way.

Lord, this is an important truth that brings unity to Your children. Help each one of us to think rightly about ourselves and one another. No pedestals, no boasting, just serving faithfully without judging others or even ourselves. All goodness comes from You. 

 

Jesus unites enemies…

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:8–13)

God intended that the nation He called to be His people also sing His praises to non-Jews and be a witness to them of His glory. This didn’t happen, however the plan did not change. It happened through one man, Jesus Christ who made the gospel available to everyone. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:8–22)

Uniting Jew and Gentile seemed impossible yet the God of the impossible did it, and most of the world is beginning to persecute all who believe in Jesus, including those who call themselves God’s people and haven’t yet trusted Jesus as their Messiah. It seems that putting faith in Him is a slap in the face to all who would rather do life “my way.”

Jesus, help me hold on to the truth of what You have done and are doing as Your people experience so much hatred and violence. Also remind me of how You respond to these threats. Psalm 2 says, “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.’” (Psalm 2:4–6) I have read the last page of the history book and know that You will not be defeated! As for me, keep me from having any bad attitudes toward those who are outside of God’s family and remember my responsibility to show them Your love.

 


 

Sharing the love of Jesus

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:1–7)

Christians vary in their level of understanding the will of God and in living for Him. Some liken this to climbing a mountain. We are all going the same direction but at different levels. Some are in a steep spot. Others may be sliding on a graveled slope, and others in a grassy glen. 

I’ve noticed how delightful I feel communicating with someone near to the same place as I am. I’m in awe around those who are higher, and a bit impatient with others farther down. But this passage says I should not feel either way about anyone.

Welcoming others is not about levels of understanding; it is about unity and harmony. No matter where someone is in their spiritual journey, we have much in common and can encourage one another. One person may give me hope for future growth and another a reminder of how much God has done for me, yet we can together praise the Lord and love each other. 

This is what it means to welcome other believers. One commentary says that where this grace exists, there is one mind, with mutual love. Yet that one mind does not press us to have the same opinion about all things, only a “similar disposition towards Christ.” 

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:1–8)

Our example is the attitude of Jesus Christ who puts the needs of others above all else to humbly serve our needs. He died for everyone.

Needs is a key word too. This isn’t about wearing out myself to fill the wants of others. They may want to go to a movie or order pizza, but I must make a meal for my family. Love can invite them to eat with us. Life offers many examples of how to look out for others, and welcome them.

Lord, Your Word makes it clear that this welcome attitude is important to Christian unity. It is not merely in kind words or in outward association in activities, but motivated by a spirit of love that simply shares my grateful adoration of You with others who also love You.

 

Be careful little heart what you do…

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. (Romans 14:10–15)

I had a Christian friend visit when our young granddaughter was with us. As I prepared a meal, this little one asked my friend to play a card game with her. She refused and suggested another activity that didn’t include cards. She later explained that she grew up in a gambling family. For her, playing cards involved greed, unkindness, loss of grocery money, and a whole lot of unpleasantness. For her, card playing was sin. I understood. 

This passage says that if I had insisted it was okay and she should do what the child asked, I would be putting a stumbling block in front of her. Not only that, it would be an unloving thing to do. The card game was not sin in itself (It was “Go Fish”) but for her, it was a cause of grief because of her family history.

Drinking wine could be another sin for some and not others. I heard of a man that had been hooked on a sport and it messed up his family life. When he became a Christian, he considered even watching a game was a sin. 

The Bible may have no ground for such convictions. It may be a “weaker faith”, but to judge or put down someone for their ‘weakness’ is a sin too. Just because   I feel free to play cards, have a little wine, or watch sports does not mean I can speak of another person as being in error or wrong about their ideas of what is sinful.

I suppose on the other hand such a person could call me a sinner for my freedoms and certainly for being judgmental. More verses tell me not to let my freedoms be spoken of as evil. Instead, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) Instead, this is the way:

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (Romans 14:20–22)

I’m not to show off my freedom in Christ at the expense of someone’s peace of heart. The final criteria is this: “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

Jesus, whatever You say is okay and I trust You is not a problem. But if You say YES and I say NO, or if You say NO and I say YES, my life is a stumbling block for someone else. Enable obedience from a willing heart, and that I am aware of those who may be watching and prone to stumbling!

 

Pray for. . . .

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (Romans 13:1–7)

In those days as well as these days, governing authorities can be evil, corrupt, only interested in power and wealth. What then? How can a sincere and godly person support such leaders?

But the passage does not say I need to vote for them or stick up for their evil ways. It says to be subject to them or in other words, obey civil laws. Pay my taxes, stay under the speeding limits, do not steal, do not deface the property of others, do not riot or break any other laws. Keep my life free from crime.

How can I give respect or honor to someone who rules but is corrupt and taking personal advantage of their position? I need to remember this:

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (1 Timothy 1:8–11)

This means the law of God, which includes the Romans passage. He says this and I cannot excuse it because those in authority over me are breaking it. I must honor God by obeying Him. Also, this helps:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1–2)

God isn’t promising to change the people I pray for; but He will give me peace and quiet so I can be godly and dignified no matter what those in authority are doing. He has taught me that prayer for others always changes me, even if those I pray for remain the same. For one thing, I cannot hate them any longer. Wanting the best for others, even enemies, defines the love God has for me, and “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10) 

Jesus, another issue is who are those in authority over me? Read the roster. It is not the leaders of other nations any more than it is my bossy neighbors. Yet love still wants Your best for all people. That best is eternal life in a saving relationship with You. Enable me to deeply desire that for everyone. Love like that will make me more like You and this is Your goal for my life as well as the lives of all people. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Avoiding: Garbage in = garbage out

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)

God saved me “by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5) and a big part of this renewal is to live by a renewed mind. That is, what I think about is vital to how I live. The NT says this:

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:8–10)

Renewed in knowledge means knowing what God has done for me, thinking about it, letting it govern how I talk and act. This is because “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person…” (Matthew 15:18–20)

The psalmist wrote, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9) and the NT says, “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” (Philippians 3:15) It also gives the standards of how to think:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

God says He will put His laws on my heart, and write them on my mind (Hebrews 10:16) but how do they get there? Usually not from reading or watching the news, from fiction books, listening to podcasts, etc. but this way:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

Most excuses for time spent in Scripture involve being too busy and not enough time, yet if I evaluate what I do have time for, how will that affect my mind if I trade it for godly thinking that helps me not only to know Jesus better, but have thoughts that are not sin-producing but sharable with others who do not know Him?

Jesus, I’m so thankful for the habit of having daily devotions that began even before You renewed my heart, and for the love of reading and studying Your Word. It is my protection from evil, a faith-builder, and encouragement to give to others. It is how to know You better and the best way to think Your thoughts.