Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 5:9–13
God had Paul explain that as a body of believers, they needed to continue to reach lost people, and as they did, they must associate with lost people to be able to reach lost people with the Gospel of Christ. But in contrast, they should not associate with Christians who willingly live a sinful lifestyle because those Christians are a hindrance to the church. God had Paul write it this way in 1 Corinthians 5:9–13, “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” God wanted the Christians in Corinth to understand that judging lost people was not their job, but it was definitely their responsibility to judge Christians who willingly sinned against the Lord—that is the same for us today. We must expect lost people to act lost and not judge them for their sinful actions, because without Christ, they have no power to overcome sin, but Christians do.
Challenge & Application
How does God want us to reach the lost people within our community?
How does God expect us to treat saved people who are willingly living in blatant sin?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!