Day 12: 5:1-13 (Loving Discipline: The Church Called to Holiness)

Corinth was a city famous for its wild, immoral lifestyle. The church there was struggling to define its boundaries. Paul was shocked that a church member was living in a way that even the non-Christian "pagans" found disgusting (v. 1). He was telling the Corinthian believers that being "free in Christ" doesn't mean "freedom to sin." It means freedom to live a new, clean life. He wanted them to realize that the church must be a distinct community, different from the world around it.

1. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
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. 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 whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

2. OBSERVATIONS :

•   What did this passage mean to its original audience? 

Corinth was a cosmopolitan Greco-Roman city known for moral corruption, especially sexual immorality, and the Corinthian church had been shaped by its surrounding culture. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul confronts a case of incest that violated both Jewish law and even common Greco-Roman moral standards, which explains his statement that such sin was “not tolerated even among pagans.”
Paul contrasts the church’s proper response of mourning with their actual response of being “puffed up,” exposing their spiritual pride and misuse of Christian freedom. His command to “remove the wicked person from among you” echoes Old Testament covenant language(cf. Deut 17:7; 24:7), emphasizing the church as a holy community.
This discipline was meant to protect the church’s integrity, call the sinner to repentance, and reaffirm the importance of holiness. Paul also clarifies that believers are not to withdraw from immoral unbelievers in the world, but are responsible for addressing unrepentant sin within the church, teaching that love and holiness must always remain inseparably connected.

What does this passage reveal about God?
- God is holy, and He deeply cares about purity within His people.
- God’s discipline, and His ultimate goal is always restoration and salvation (v.5).
- God is the Judge. Our job is only to keep our own spiritual house clean (v. 13).

• What does this passage reveal about people?
  - Even believers can become desensitized to sin if they are not spiritually vigilant. The Corinthians even tolerated behavior that outsiders would condemn (vv.1-2).
  - Our sin is never private. We are easily influenced. One person’s open sin can spread and influence the whole church if we don't deal with it (v. 6).

 3. APPLICATION: What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions?

•  This passage calls me to love God’s holiness more than social approval. As I read about the Corinthian church’s careless attitude toward sexual sin and their spiritual dullness, I cannot help but see how similar this is to our world today. We live in a sexually permissive culture where moral boundaries are often blurred, and sinful behaviors are explained away as normal or cultural. At times, even believers—including myself—can slowly accept or tolerate these things without realizing it.
  
  
• This passage challenges me to love holiness more than “fitting in.” Sometimes I stay silent about sin because I am afraid of being labeled intolerant, judgmental, or unkind. But my affections need to change. I want to care more about the glory of God’s name and the purity of His church than about my own comfort or reputation. True love means loving my friends enough to speak the truth, even when it feels awkward or uncomfortable. At the same time, I am reminded that God’s correction is never meant to condemn or destroy. I want to speak the truth with love, pointing others back to Christ and always aiming for repentance, restoration, and healing rather than shame or judgment.

4. PRAYER:
Lord, help me to love Your holiness more than fitting in with the world. Give me courage to speak the truth in love and wisdom to guide others toward You. Restore hearts, protect Your church, and help me reflect Your grace in all I do. Amen.