1 Corinthians___5

Scripture - What stood out?1 Corinthians 5

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 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. 11 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. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church[b] whom you are to judge? 13 God judges[c] those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” Observation - What does it say?The apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth was having to deal with a member of the church who was sleeping with his father’s wife.  Understanding - What does it mean?My wife and I have had an ongoing conversation about the tolerance of sin in the post Jesus world we live in today. I agree with her in that I felt even as a child growing up there was this “I’m saved, I know I’m a sinner, God saved me from all sin, God loves me...forgive me Lord but I’m about to sin but I know I’m saved” mentality. I would be lying if I said I had not thought that way myself for quite some time.  Lately we have been hit with the genderless revolution here in LA and I’m just fascinated by how in a search to define identity we have lost so much of it.  So it was almost with a breath of fresh air I read this. The apostle Paul makes things quite clear. Does this person claim to be a Christian, yet does a,b,c,d, or e?? They need to go! This is what he says in a previous verse same chapter: 3 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.4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 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 Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church[b] whom you are to judge? 13 God judges[c] those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” But before I do that let me Mathew 7:5 myself, “5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” Lord I don’t want to be lost in a society that has no idea what male, female, right, wrong, or good and evil is. Grant me the wisdom to know what is good as well as evil to You. For my life application today I am going to do a quick soul check and see if my life aligns with You. I want to make sure I am none of these things: sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a reviler, a drunkard, or a swindler. If people label me a party pooper or wet blanket so be it. I would rather be labeled boring by the world than evil by You. In the name of Jesus do I pray. Amen.