The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 5, is dealing with the matter of how carnal Christians are to be treated. In many cases, we find ourselves off the track of God’s will in our generation. There are times we either totally ignore sin in the church, or we kick people out of our fellowship.
As we’ve seen through these last few posts, Paul was not endorsing either of these options. Instead, he tells mature believers to take authority over the situation in the spirit.
Now Paul shows us the way a carnal believer should be treated on a personal level.
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
1 Corinthians 5:9-11
Once someone has been identified as a carnal believer who has no desire for repentance, the work of restoration begins. There must be intercession in the spirit for this person. But that alone is not enough.
It’s the love shown to them that will draw them closer to God. That’s why an understanding of this passage is so vital to church leadership.
The word, associate, in the passage literally means an intimate friendship. It speaks of a mixing together of two lives. It’s not referring to a casual acquaintance.
Paul is not telling us to cut all ties with this person. Instead, we’re to love them back to the cross. We can treat them in a friendly way without being best friends with them. The goal is for them to desire a closer walk with God without their lifestyle or attitudes rubbing off on us.
The subject of eating together also needs to be addressed. In our fast-paced society, meeting someone to discuss business over lunch has no intimate associations at all. When Paul wrote this, eating together was a long process that usually meant a close, intimate friendship.
The key is that we’re not to develop an intimate friendship with carnal believers. This goes right along with what Christ taught concerning those in unrepentant sin. Look at what Christ says to do after repeatedly trying to restore this person.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Matthew 18:17
I’ve seen people who use this verse to kick members out of their church. Let’s understand what Jesus is saying here.
I think that I can sum it up in two simple questions. How did Jesus treat pagans and tax collectors? Did He shun and exclude them or did He spend time with them in order to bring restoration? I think the answers are obvious.
The Pharisees judged people for their sins and had them expelled from the synagogue. Jesus loved people and spent time with them to bring them nearer to God. Would you rather your life imitate Christ or a Pharisee?
It’s time that the church started to deal with sin in a scriptural, Christ-like way. Our goal should be healing and restoration for the body of Christ.
Question: How have you seen scriptural restoration exemplified?
© 2019 Nick Zaccardi
The Spirit and the Word 