Daily Devotions in I Corinthians 5

Daily Nugget:
Sin became blatant in the early Corinthian church. A man committed sexual immorality with his father’s wife. It was a well-known fact to those in the ministry.

Instead of being grieved and doing all they could to discourage the sinful activity, they praised (“puffed up”) the immoral practice (I Corinthians 5:2). The iniquity was talked about with joy (“glorying” - I Corinthians 5:6). The members were not broken-hearted (I Corinthians 5:2) over what continued in the church.

Although Paul was not there and did not hear the other side of the story, as is always wise in discerning a situation, the preacher knew it was wrong. He pleaded with the church to discipline the members committing the sin and distance themselves from those committing the iniquity (I Corinthians 5:9). Not only was the sin wrong and a poor testimony to the community, but sin can be contagious. Paul wisely counseled them, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (I Corinthians 5:6).

Leaven is yeast. It takes just a little leaven in a mixture of flour and salt to spread and make the whole lump of bread ingredients to rise. Paul knew how dangerous sin could be and that a “little” iniquity could spread throughout the church like yeast spreads throughout a loaf. He knew that allowing and tolerating any sin soon desensitizes people to its stench, and very soon sin could be rampant elsewhere.

Paul warned them to get far from those that were involved in open sin (I Corinthians 5:9-11). A principle taught throughout the Scriptures is to separate from wrong-doing. The safest remedy for keeping one’s life from being ruined by iniquity’s involvement is to distance oneself far from it. Once sin is observed, tasted, or experienced, it is very hard to cleanse the stain it leaves in a person’s life. The advice given to this budding church is wise advice to every Christian. Keep far away from sin’s grasp.

Today’s Thought: 
“Sin hurts! Once burned; twice learned — hopefully!” — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Extortioners: those that gain money, power, or control by means of threatening
Fornication: Sex, without marriage
Malice: intent to hurt others

Today’s Reading:
I Corinthians 5
1 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.
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.
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,
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 an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
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. 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.
9 ¶ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an 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?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.