In Today's Scripture Reading:
Immorality and other sins condemned; guidelines for marriage and Christian conduct
It was reported to Paul that one member of the church in Corinth was committing fornication or adultery with his father's wife (I Corinthians 5:1), which seems to mean that he had an ongoing sexual relationship with his stepmother, which was also a violation of the Law for the nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover (Leviticus 18:8). Whether his father was still alive is not indicated. Paul admonished them to immediately excommunicate the offending member: In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (I Corinthians 5:4-5).
Of great concern is not only how our lives affect our relationship with God but also, equally important, how they affect our church, families, and Christian friends.
When leaders of a church body allow obvious ongoing sin among its members it encourages a sinner to excuse his own sin, as well as continue to influence others to follow his immoral lifestyle.
If we believe what God has said in His Word about sin, there is accountability for it. Consequently, the decision to say or do nothing, merely in the interest of “harmony,” is in opposition to what the Holy Spirit led Paul to write: I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer (reviler), or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. . . . put away from among yourselves that wicked person (5:11-13). And such were some of you.The key word here is WERE because all who have truly received Christ as Savior and Lord should have forsaken their sins and been washed . . . sanctified and justified (6:11).
Because of the inevitable results of sin, Paul warned: Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-10).
Word Studies:
5:11 a railer =b> one who is verbally abusive, a reviler; 6:9 effeminate =b> homosexual; abusers of themselves with mankind =b> sodomites; 7:1 not to touch a woman =b> not to have sexual relations with a woman outside of marriage; 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other =b> Do not deprive each other of marital rights except by mutual consent; 7:12 let him not put her away =b> let him not leave her or divorce her; 7:32 without carefulness =b> free from anxieties.
Cross References:
For I Corinthians 6:16: See Genesis 2:24. I Corinthians 9:9: See Deuteronomy 25:4.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Government Officials: Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. (MD) and Gov. John Lynch (NH) • Country: Sierra Leone (5 million) in western Africa • Major language: English • Increasing restrictions on Christian work in some areas • 50% belief in river spirits, medicine men, and witchcraft; 39% Muslim; 7% Protestant; 2% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Praise the Lord for His love (Psalm 63:3).
Memory Verse for the Week: Titus 2:14