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.