June 3, 2012
Evening Service

ICor. 5

 

So far in this letter we have addressed the problem of division, which was caused by preacher religion, and the people being still carnal.

 

So this evening we will look at problem number two.  Fornication.

 

Fornication

FORNICA'TION, n. [L. fornicatio.]

 

1. The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman.

2. Adultery. Mat 5.

3. Incest. 1 Cor 5.

4. Idolatry; a forsaking of the true God, and worshipping of idols. 2 Chr 21. Rev 19.

 

Paul wrote this to the church at Ephesus:

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.  But FORNICATION, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. (Eph_5:1-4)

 

And if we remember Acts 15, the first council meeting; 

Act 15:19-20  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:  (20)  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

 

So now, Paul addresses this problem in the church at Corinth:

1Co 5:1-13  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 

• Paul jumps right on the problem.  Incest.

THIS IS WHAT THE LAW SAID:

• Lev 20:11  And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
• Deu 27:20  Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

 

We are not given whether she is his concubine, or whether he married her that was cast off.

 

And this is a very good example of  rightly dividing the Word.  Even though this was condemned in the law of Moses, and more than likely these people are Greeks, this was one of the things they were instructed not to do as Gentile Christians.  Acts 15.

 

NOTICE THEIR ATTITUDES:

(2)  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 

• Paul quickly denounces this act, and encourages swift punishment.

 

(3)  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed. 

• I thought this was an interesting concept.  Paul saying he was present in spirit.  I believe this to be a problem in translation.   I could be wrong. 
• I could see how he could say, my teachings are with you, and you should remember it.
• When I am gone, I don’t expect you to think my spirit is still here with you, according to Scripture the spirit returns to God who gave it, and my body to dust.
• But I would appreciate you saying, “brother Jerry pointed us to the Word, and where this is taught.”
• I will assure you of one thing, if my spirit is around here when I’m gone, I will share with your Pastor all that is going on on the other side.

 

NOW FOR THE PUNISHMENT:

(4)  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (5)  To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

• EXCOMMUNICATION. 
• 1Ti 1:20  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SPIRIT IN WHICH WE ARE TO DEAL WITH ALL SINNERS.

• Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

(6)  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  (7)  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.

• Again, remove the transgressor, but for the purpose of him, or her turning to God in repentance of the wrong they have done.

For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  (8)  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

• Keep the feast.  This passover feast was replaced by our Communion service, in which Jesus Himself said was His body, and blood.  Our Passover feast.

(9)  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:  (10)  Yet not altogether the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 

• Not to be so buddy, buddy with them.  Or keep daily association with them.

(11)  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother

• Brother, Christian believer.

be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat.  (12)  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 

• It is the church’s leadership’s responsibility to deal with open sin in the church.
• I cannot, and will not be as hard as some groups are.  I believe this Scripture is what speaks to my heart.

Jam 5:19-20  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  (20)  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

(13)  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

MAY GOD QUICKEN TO OUR HEARTS THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS MATTER.