1 Corinthians 5:9-13 “Inside Outside”

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 “Inside Outside”

Last time we talked about the immorality in the church. Paul continues his teaching about how the church deals with sinfulness with in the church. Notice in verse 11 these judgements are for those who bear the name “brother”, they claim to be a follower of Jesus and are a member of the church. So today we will look at sin inside the church and outside the church.

Paul says in verse 12 we do not judge those outside the church. To the world outside the church we are to be a lighthouse, showing the way to forgiveness and grace. God judges them and we call them to repent and be forgiven. Once you have responded to God’s call to forgiveness (salvation), then you are called to transformation. Romans 8:29&30 predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, and be glorified. God’s call is to both forgiveness and transformation, a new life and a new ways of living.

A lighthouse is only a lighthouse while it’s light shines in the darkness. If the people of the church are not transformed, they are no longer a light in the darkness, it’s just more darkness.

The sin Paul started talking about was sexual, now he includes all sin. This is not the occasional sin; this is sin that defines a person’s life. Immoral, greedy, swindler, reviler, drunkard, these are terms that describe a life style. We all sin and are surrounded by sinners, but these people have made sin a part of their way of living. They are not repenting, struggling to stop their sinful actions, they embrace them.

The command here is to remove them from the church, to not even eat with them. Do not let them associate the church or the name of Jesus with their sinful actions.

Known sinful life style, not gossip or inferred, but known. The victim of disaster.

How do we do this and still be a place of grace?

1.       Call yourself to transformation. Clean up your own house and fight your own sin battles.

2.       Preach and teach the expectation of transformation.

3.       Call each of us to self-evaluation.

4.       Prayer for wisdom and guidance.

5.       Make a way back.

I call you today to honestly look at your life and see if there is sinful part of your life that your two comfortable with, where you have not been transformed. Psalm 139:23&24 says “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any grievous (sinful) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Will you make this your prayer today?

The world outside the church is looking for a light from us to shine out in the darkness. Let each of us be transformed from the darkness of the world into the light of God, to show the way back home to them.