Bible Pathways - November 25, 2005

November 25

Read 1 Corinthians 5

In Today's 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. This was also a violation of the Law which said: 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 the church to immediately excommunicate the offending member: In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . 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).

Our uppermost consideration should be how our lives affect our relationship with God, and 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 influences others to follow their immoral lifestyle.

If we believe what God has said in His Word about sin, we know that there is always 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 (Christian) 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. . . . And such were some of you (5:11-13; 6:11). The key word here is were because all who have truly received Christ as Savior and Lord should have forsaken their sinful conduct.

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 (6:9-10).

Once a person receives Christ as Savior and Lord, he becomes a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17).

Word Studies:

5:11 a railer = one who is verbally abusive, a reviler; 6:9 effeminate = homosexual; abusers of themselves with mankind = sodomites; 7:1 not to touch a woman = not to have sexual relations with a woman outside of marriage; 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other = do not cohabit with or deprive each other of marital rights; 7:12 let him not put her away = let him not leave her or divorce her; 7:32 without carefulness = 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 The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Vincent & Joan Naples · Staff: Mike Moore · Government Officials: Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Jr. (MD), Gov. John Lynch (NY), and Sen. Jack Reed (RI) · Country: Zambia (10 million) in south-central Africa · Major languages: English and 70 indigenous languages · Religious freedom · 30% Roman Catholic; 25% Protestant; 24% ancestor worship, magic, and witchcraft; 19% cults · Prayer Suggestion: Confess your sins to the Lord; He is quick to forgive (Psalm 32:5).

Memory Verse for the Week: James 2:17