Blind eye

In this world there are things that are sinful that we see, and some we may not see, or not want to see, and really not want to address. This morning we are addressing what will sin do to the church.

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Story/Illustration: Special ingredient brownies

Then there is a good O.T. bible illustration found in 1Sam2:12-17.

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Summarize 1Sam2:12-17, and how impacted Eli’s family even 1Sam2:22ff, Eli did not deal with the sin of his son’s he was complacent, and it ended up costing him greatly and his family was going to be cut off because of sin deliberate and the sin of complacency.

Question: Do you ever allow things to go on that are wrong and go uncontested?

As Christians we are called saints (1Cor1:2) and are called to live holy lives (1Pt1:16)

(Transition) Corinthian church was allowing sin to go unchecked and Paul deals with this divisive issue in a very point blank manner.

How the church deals with sin within matters and Paul gives some good, specific instructions.

Don’t be complacent, or turn a blind eye to sin (1Cor5:1-2)

Strong words and instructions (1Cor5:3-5)

Strong warning (1Cor5:6-8)

Judgment addressed (1Cor5:9-10, 11-12)

(Transition) The city of Corinth a very worldly heathen region had no idea about chastity. They even considered sexual immorality can be an act of worship to one of the many god’s. So this church, this body of believers were surrounded by paganism and they were struggling in leaving the old nature behind and being the saints, the new creation they were called to be. So as we look at the passage this morning, don’t turn a blind eye to the real issue here is not the man himself, but sin, indifference and judgment of sin that the church should have.

Don’t turn blind eye to sin

While talking, much less addressing sin within the body is hard to do, we need to see what the scripture says about it.

1 Corinthians 5:1–2 NASB95

1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.

Question: what was reported to Paul? What was the sin(s)?

Sin of immorality

Sin of arrogance, being puffed up, indifference (implied)

This sin of immorality was not even acceptable within the pagan world (considered a form of incest)

It seems that Paul is addressing two things, he is identifying the sinner, the sin and the church problem too. Notice that he only addresses the man so there is a good chance that the woman is not a member of the church and not under consideration by Paul, for he is addressing a church issue.

Instead of mourning the sin, they are puffed up, arrogant to the sin. Paul was shocked at the reporting of the sin, but more shocked at the indifference of the church addressing and dealing with the sin within. They should have been grief stricken

It has been said that “our security against sin lies in our being shocked by it!” -William Barclay

When we stop seeing sin and the severity of sin as it is we are in a very perilous position. IT was for sin that Christ went to the cross! It was for freedom that Christ has set us free, from from sin, not to sin.

Question: The church of Corinth was looking too much like the world and not the church. Can we be guilty of that today, if so, how?

Strong words and instructions

As we look at this next section remember who Paul is addressing, what Paul thinks about them. Then consider why he uses strong words and instructions.

As Christians we are not to judge a persons motives (Mt7:1-5)

We are not to judge another’s ministry (1Cor4:5)

We are to be honest about each others conduct (1Cor5:3-5; Gal6:2)

(Transition) so now, having said that may we glean from the strong words and instructions

1 Corinthians 5:3–4 NASB95

3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

1 Corinthians 5:5 NASB95

5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?

Question: What had Paul already done (v.3)

Paul had judged the the man (the sin of the man)

Question: What was Paul’s authority to judge the man (sin) (v.4)?

The authority is in the name of Jesus and the power of Jesus

Question: What was the purpose of the judgment (v.5)?

For the destruction of the flesh, so the soul(spirit) could be saved

Paul is not judging, Jesus and the word is judging, and whereas church discipline maybe hard, it is never to be destructive or vindictive.

Church discipline is to be

Instructive (1The5:14-15)

1 Thessalonians 5:14–15 NASB95

14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

Corrective (2The3:6, 15:16)

2 Thessalonians 3:6 NASB95

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.

and add to that

2 Thessalonians 3:15–16 NASB95

15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

Done in the power of Christ (1Cor5:4)

Done in the power of Christ as mentioned before 1Cor5:4

(Transition) All of this being done to protect the church (we will get more on this in a minute) and done that the spirit (the soul) of the man would be saved. Some will say once saved always saved or once saved was never saved, but In looking at who Paul is addressing (church, the man) he is addressing believer, and believers not unsaved people, so the ability to step outside of God’s grace is possible.

Church discipline is not easy and I know for me is not comfortable and there have been times that people have ran back into the world when church discipline happens, others repent, are restored and return (in this care before us, he does and you can read that in 2Cor2:1-11.

Paul instructs the church to meet together with the purpose and the authority of Jesus to judge the man, judge the sin (v.4) - his language in this entire passage is very strong

Strong language regarding sin within

He should be taken away from you (v.2)

He should be delivered to Satan(v.5)

Sin must be purged out (v.7)

Sin must be put away (v.13)

Public sin must be publically judged and condemned and you can see the Lord’s instructions in Mt18:15-20. It cannot, should not be swept under the rug and we will address that in just a minute.

Now there is a safe assumption that this public sin had been privately addressed by leadership prior to the meeting of the church as noted in (v.4).

(Transition) This is operating under the power and the authority of Jesus, not the church of Corinth, for they did not add to the numbers daily, the Lord did, and this is the Lord’s judgment not man’s. It should not be ignored or discounted.

His strong words are not done

Strong warning

God does not just judge, He corrects so there is a repentance, He corrects and gives instructions.

1 Corinthians 5:6–7 NASB95

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.

1 Corinthians 5:8 NASB95

8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Question: What is Paul accusing them of (v.6)?

Paul accuses them of boasting (glorying)

Paul is referencing leaven and maybe you will think back to the Passover where the Jew would search the house prior to the Passover to make sure there is no leaven in the house, leaven spiritually represents sin

Leaven while a little amount will make dough rise, a little sin can defile the whole church if not addressed.

The boasting, the arrogance is sin of indifference, for they were not addressing and dealing with the sin.

Question: Can we be guilty of sin of indifference as the church today?

(transition) Paul goes on and gives some instructions about the leaven (sin)

Question: What are Paul’s instructions (v.7)?

Purge out the old leaven (sin); so as to be new lump

Remember the Corinthians are surrounded by a heathen people whom they were called out from to be holy, to be set apart and yet they have allowed some leaven which can destroy them and it needs to be purged out so they can be the new lump they are to be in Christ Jesus who died for them, and yes, for us too.

Put away the old ways and put on the new!

Question: Paul tells us what the leaven is in (v.8); what is it?

Leaven of malice and wickedness

Question: What is Paul’s desired results (v.8)?

Replace the leaven with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

(Transition) Sin is spiritual leaven, like cancer it can spread throughout the body and it must be dealt with specifically, and drastically, so it can be eradicated. It requires action! As a reminder that Paul is only addressing, judging within the church and now will turn to address that more.

Judgment addressed

The church is responsible for purging the leaven within and replace it with sincerity and truth. Judgment outside of the church needs to be left to God. Paul addresses the Christian and the world and the world and God in this section.

The church and the world (1Cor5:9-10)

1 Corinthians 5:9–10 NASB95

9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.

Question: What is Paul instructing in these verses?

Do not go out of the world (v.10)

The church, the christian cannot impact the world, the immoral, the covetous, the swindler, the idolater if he does not associate with them at all. Remember he is addressing the church to purge out leaven (sin) from within only.

We cannot avoid contact with sinners but we can avoid contamination by sinners, not allowing the church to look like the world but bringing the church to the world and changing the world.

Look again at (v.9) let me put it back up there again.

1 Corinthians 5:9 NASB95

9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;

Question: Who is Paul addressing here?

Immoral people within the church

The church is not to associate with the immoral, covetous, extortioners, idolaters withing the body, they are to be judged and put out so their flesh can be destroyed and soul saved.

Paul does not stop there, we cannot stop there, there is more to say.

1 Corinthians 5:11–12 NASB95

11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?

Question: Who does Paul call for you to associate with (v.11)?

Do not associate with any so called brother . . .

He gives one of those uncomfortable lists and it is hard to believe that these things can be within the church, but they are, and that is what Paul is addressing that these people need to be addressed.

Question: What further instructions does Paul given in (v.12)?

It is implied do not judge outside the church, judge inside only

Question: Why does Paul say do not judge outside the church according to (v.13)?

Those outside God judges

Final question, what is Paul’s final instruction (v.13)? and, who, what is he speaking of?

Put away evil persons from yourself (evil from within)

(Transition/close)

While Paul used some very strong words they were not vindictive, they were to be instructive, corrective and done under power and authority of Jesus. The same holds true today.