Being God’s Church: A Lesson From Corinth
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1–8 (CSB)
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles—a man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Shouldn’t you be filled with grief and remove from your congregation the one who did this? Even though I am absent in the body, I am present in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who has been doing such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, hand that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1. Introduction
The Church is much more than bricks and mortar. Instead, it is an assembly of believers bound together by a shared faith and commitment to Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2). The body of Christ is both Catholic – encompassing believers worldwide, and local, and represented by individual congregations in towns and cities across the globe. It’s an institution transcending national, ethnic, and cultural boundaries, and deeply rooted in specific local communities.
2. Issues in Corinth
The Church by design is a community of believers, a collective devoted to following Jesus and living by his teachings. However, in 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 the church at Corinth was confronted with a severe issue and stark departure from this ideal. A member was known to be sleeping with his father’s wife, a clear violation of Old Testament laws (Deuteronomy 22:30) and the directives issued by the Jerusalem Council regarding sexual immorality (Acts 15).
This egregious act was not the primary issue but a symptom of a larger problem. The man, in pursuing his illicit desires, was placing personal pleasure above his relationship with God, and the church, in its arrogance and complacency, was allowing this sin to persist without challenge. Both were failing in their duties to be God’s people.
3. Paul’s Call for Correction
Paul’s response to the Corinthians was stern but necessary. He urged them to feel grief for their inaction and the sin festering in their midst. They had wronged God, and this should have incited sorrow in their hearts. Not a sorrow of woe from angering God, but rather, the grief of wronging a dearly loved God. So, Paul emphasized that they needed to realign their focus on being God’s people.
This implied taking decisive action – the offender had to be removed. This was not a call for punitive measures but a step towards purifying the Church, by removing an individual that was actively living against God’s way and bringing its congregation back to the central mission of sincerely following God in truth and sincerity.
4. The Truth for Modern Christians
Paul’s message to the Corinthians holds lessons for us as contemporary Christians. We, too, are called to be God’s Church, a body of believers dedicated to following Jesus in truth and sincerity. To maintain the sanctity and purpose of our congregation, we need to be vigilant in our spiritual journey.
If a church member loses their way, the collective has a responsibility to guide them back onto the path. However, when someone repeatedly and blatantly disregards the teachings of Jesus, a tough decision must be made. To safeguard the Church’s mission and protect the congregation, the offender must be removed.
5. Dealing with Sin
Sin, defined as a transgression of divine purpose or a deviation from God’s desires, is an inescapable reality of human nature. All Christian believers are sanctified and called saints by God (1 Corinthians 1:2). However, this does not render us immune to sin influence as we are still in the process of living up to the title God has already given us.
When a person sins, feels the conviction of wrongdoing, and sincerely repents, the Church should rally behind them, offering support and guidance in their continued pursuit of sanctified living. On the other hand, if someone commits a sin, shows no remorse, and continues living contrary to Jesus’ teaching, the Church has a duty to initiate disciplinary measures. These actions are not punitive but restorative – an attempt to guide the errant individual back to a life focused on faith in following Jesus. However, when all else fails because the person refuses to change, removing the individual from the congregation may be necessary to ensure the Church remains focused on Jesus and His teachings.
6. What Can Every Christian Do to Keep the Church Strong
The strength of the Church depends on the commitment and spiritual health of its individual members. A robust Church is founded on Christians who love Jesus wholeheartedly and prioritize their relationship with Him. Every Christian must strive to understand the Bible’s teachings, as it is the guiding light that outlines the path to following Jesus (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Also, building meaningful relationships within the Church is equally important. We must care about our fellow church members, engage with them, share in their struggles, and support them in their spiritual journeys. By fostering an environment of love, trust, and mutual respect, we encourage each other to remain committed to Jesus and His teachings.
7. Conclusion
Reflecting on the Corinthian Church’s experience, we learn invaluable lessons about maintaining the integrity of our Churches. Each member’s commitment to following Jesus in truth and sincerity is the cornerstone of a strong and vibrant Church. We must deal with sin appropriately, offering support and guidance where needed and taking corrective measures when necessary. Above all, our unwavering focus should be on Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The lessons from Corinth serve as a reminder and an exhortation to strive towards being the Church that God envisions – a congregation of believers living in sincerity, truth, and devotion to Jesus.