Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 5:2
The believers in Corinth had not dealt with the sexual immorality within their church. God guided Paul to write this to the believers in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 5:2: “You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.” God had Paul rebuke the believers in Corinth for becoming proud and arrogant! God also had Paul tell them that instead of feeling proud, they should have been ashamed for allowing such a sin to go on. They should have been broken because they had not dealt with the Christian who was blatantly sinning. God even had Paul tell the Corinthian Christians that the man who was willingly committing sexual immorality with his stepmother should have already been removed from their church if he was unwilling to repent of his sin. God tells us in Galatians 6:1–2, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” So, if another believer is caught in a sin, those who are godly should gently and humbly help lead them to repent and get back into right fellowship with Christ, but the godly must walk guarded so they do not fall into the same temptation or any other temptation. The problem was that the believers in Corinth had not done this at all.
Challenge & Application
What happens when we, as Christians, do not follow God’s commands each day? Why is this not healthy?
What happens when we do not love each other enough to help hold each other accountable?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!