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1 Corinthians 5-1-5
In 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 the Apostle Paul addresses the “saints” of the church at Corinth with a very serious matter: sexual immorality. He has received word that someone among them is living a lifestyle in which he “has his father’s wife” (1 Corinthians 5:1, NKJV). Furthermore, the congregation is not addressing this situation in a way that is respectful of God and of their salvation in Christ Jesus. It is believed by many scholars that this man may very well have been of noble standing in the community and/or has contributed to the church in an upstanding way. This, however, does not give free reign to living a sinful life while representing a pillar of the church. This is happening in the early church and the actions of the “saints” should be representative of Christ Jesus, but Satan is ruthless and does not wait around for a better opportunity to release his vengeance against humanity – he takes advantage of every opportunity.
Paul instructs strict judgment on this individual as we learn in 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 declaring, “4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” But what exactly does he mean by, “destruction of the flesh?” Colossians 3:5 (ESV) states, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you; sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” Paul’s idea is that public humiliation of such an individual will help them to realize the magnitude of the sin in which he has been committing and that he will turn from the sinful nature that has it’s grasp on him– that his embarrassment of being kicked-out of the church will help him to come to a state of true repentance. The Bible teaches us in Romans 8:12-13 (NIV), “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” It is not that Paul is instructing that this man be put to death physically but that he put to death in spirit the ways of the sinful nature. We learn in Galatians 5:24 (HCSB), “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
This is a command to put to death the ways of the sinful nature.
It is the sinful nature that is in need of being crucified in our lives. Jesus was crucified for us so that we may live in His righteousness and be forgiven of our sinful nature. It is our duty as Christians to crucify the sinful nature in the decisions that we make each day, and to live by these decisions in our obedience and dedication to Jesus for saving us from the sinful nature and opening the door to righteousness. We have actions to take as children of God; not to earn a salvation that has already been given freely to us for believing in Jesus, but in making personal every-day decisions to follow Him, and to leave the life of sin that we lived before God called us to believe in Jesus. We have a new life now – a new life in Christ Jesus. The old life and the old ways of the sinful nature that we once lived must be put to death so that we may live as Jesus has saved us to be – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
This man that the Apostle Paul teaches us about was living freely in the sinful nature while superficially pronouncing his faith in Jesus. Please help us to see that we cannot do both – we cannot live in the sinful nature and be a Christian at the same time. Our new life in the freedom of the salvation You have called us to is freedom from sin in Christ Jesus. We must leave behind/put to death the old ways of the sinful nature that try their best to cling to us as we enter our new life in Christ Jesus. Please lead us through Your Holy Spirit living within us to show us the things that we need to rid ourselves of so that we may be the people that You have called us to be – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.