March 10, 2022
Church Discipline: UGH
1 Corinthians 5
Todd Anders
Central Truth
God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6), and so does His church. That is not a popular message, but it is God's command. This is for the good of all His people, especially those who are being corrected.
Key Verse | 1 Corinthians 5:12
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
1 Corinthians 5
Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church
1 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. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
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. 1 5:5 Some manuscripts add Jesus
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 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. 8 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.
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 2 5:12 Greek those inside whom you are to judge? 13 God judges 3 5:13 Or will judge those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | 1 Corinthians 5
When I was a kid, there was nothing I hated more than being corrected by my parents. They loved me and wanted the best for me, yet it was hard for me to believe that. I didn't like being caught doing something wrong, told it was wrong, or held responsible for what I had done. They never disciplined me out of anger or a vindictive spirit, but out of love and with a desire to restore broken trust and relationship (Hebrews 12:11).
God and His church are no different (Hebrews 12:6). The goal of correction/discipline is to lovingly shepherd ones who are being corrected to repentance and restore their relationships with God, His church, and His people.
In this chapter, Paul discusses some of the reasons a church should discipline believers who are under its care. They include those that are sexually immoral, greedy, swindlers, revilers, drunkards, or idolaters (1 Corinthians 5:10-11)—a list of sins that ALL of us have violated at some point in our lives.
So does this mean that all of us should be disciplined by the church? No, because most of us never reach that point. We have friends who lovingly help us see our sin and repent. Occasionally, when we are unable or unwilling to see our sin, then the circle needs to be widened (Matthew 18:15-20).
This chapter addresses continual, unrepentant sin in the life of believers. Only after the church has cared for them by spending time with them, confronting them with their sin, and calling them to repentance (Matthew 18:15-20) and a believer still shows no interest in repenting, should the church pursue church discipline. And even in those circumstances, it is critical to remember that the ultimate goal is to bring the believer to repentance and restore the relationship (1 Corinthians 5:5-8).
God loves His children and desires for them to be in healthy, God-honoring relationships with Him, His church and His people. It is always about restoration and never about punishment. But the reality is that repentance is hard.
Discussion Questions
1. Are you soft-hearted and teachable when receiving correction/discipline? (Proverbs 12:1)
2. Are you quick to acknowledge your part and repent? (Proverbs 28:13)
3. When, how and why does the Bible suggest we correct others? (Hebrews 3:13; Galatians 6:1; Proverbs 19:11; 1 Peter 4:8)