WHEN THE WATER GETS IN THE SHIP
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
Bro. Rodney A. Fry
Introduction
A. Here is an old saying, “As long as the ship is in the water, every thing is alright. When the water gets in the ship, there is big trouble. “
B. We might say, “the church must be in the world until Jesus comes. When the world gets into the church, there is big trouble.”
C. Paul tells the Corinthians that they are letting the world into the church.
I. The Attitudes Toward Sin (vv. 1-5).
A. This was a shocking sexual sin. It was repulsive even to pagans.
1. Leviticus 18:8 forbids this sin.
2. The woman evidently was not a Christian. No judgment is pronounced on her.
3. Paul seems shocked at their attitude (v. 2).
B. Our attitude toward sin is important (2 Peter 2:20-22).
1. “Hand this man over to Satan” (v. 5).
2. This discipline was designed to make the man see that he was headed for Hell.
C. Paul says he is with them in this (v. 4) just as Jesus is with them in their assembly (Matthew 18:20).
II. The Nature of Sin (vv. 6-8).
A. Sin will affect the whole church like yeast placed in dough.
B. Yeast seems to be symbolic of sin. Before Jewish families ate the passover, they were to get all yeast out of the home. Christ is our passover and we are to get sin out of the church and our lives.
III. Our Attitude Toward the Sinner (vv. 9-13).
A. How were they to “hand this man over to Satan?”
1. They were to put him out of the church (v. 13).
2. This man had made this sin a lifestyle.
B. Now Paul deals with another sin problem in verses 9 and 10.
1. They would not associate with non-Christians who were sinful. Paul says it is necessary to do so.
2. They had been associating with a Christian who was sinful. Paul told them not to do it.
C. Love will always discipline. Parents who love their children discipline them so that they will do right.
Illustration
The NFL team, the New Orleans Saints, lost several games in a row during the 1980 pro football season. Their fans came to the stadium wearing brown bags over their heads. Many of the bags had “AINTS” written on them. When the “AINTS” finally won a game they had a bag burning ceremony.
The Corinthians hadn’t been acting like Saints.
