SIN ACCOMODATING CHURCHES-IV—1Cor. 5:1-13
Attention:
The Zika virus is a feared disease that is spread by mosquitoes. The insidious nature of the virus is heartbreaking. It’s damage is most notable in that the infants of infected pregnant women are born with microcephaly. It also causes other severe brain defects in unborn children & may also cause eye defects, hearing loss, & impaired growth.
Now across the street on the west side of the church, there is a city lot which is overgrown & has a building which is unused & in disrepair. Apart from the problem of the building there are some discarded tires in the lot. When it rains(if it ever rains again!) the tires hold water, which mosquitoes need & will use to breed.
Now...Suppose we allow the tires(breeding ground) to remain undisposed of. The Zika virus spreads. Children are deformed. The families of those of childbearing age suffer tremendously & needlessly. Why? Because individuals & the community did not see fit to do its part to remove a problem!
*Dance around rather than taking care of a problem.
Similarly, The Church proper is populated by Christians, all of the same heritage...they are brothers & sisters by the blood of Jesus. None of them are Christian sympathizers, they are actual Christians!
However, the sympathizers are readily invited to witness & be involved with the true Christian work but only to a limited extent...
...Because...
1)The church works so closely with the world, & that...
2)We cannot ultimately determine the reality of anyone’s salvation(only God can per 1Cor. 4-5) & that...
3)We minister with those who consider themselves ‘saved,’ the church can inadvertently & ignorantly become party to worldliness.
4)Our hearts can deceive us so that we think we are doing God service when in fact we are undermining the Kingdom(Jer. 17:9-10; Jn. 16:2-3)!
Such a hodge-podge can invite a label of ‘hypocrisy’ upon the Church among outsiders, who lump all so-called ‘Christians’ together, assuming everyone who claims the name ‘Christian’ is the ‘real-deal’...
Such a hodge-podge can also invite a label of ‘hypocrisy’ upon the Church from insiders, who impose legalism upon the Church in order to ‘weed out’ sympathizers from the ‘real deal’!
Regardless, neither the lost nor the church can afford to submit to such abuse.
Paul admonished(called out) the Corinthian church because they had allowed/accommodated heinous sin in their midst.
The church must not accommodate sin in their midst.
*How can the true church effectively act against sin in their midst?
When does a church accommodate sin?
9 deficiencies of sin accommodating churches.
We had previously visited the fact that,
Sin Accommodating Churches skirt/deny...
1. BASELINES(:1)
2. BROKENNESS(:2)
3. God’s PRESENCE(:3)
4. AVAILABLE ARSENAL/Weaponry(:4)
5—Sin Accommodating churches skirt/deny...
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY(:5)—See #10 :13
Explanation:(:5)
:5—“deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul has a specific purpose in seeking the Church’s corporate expulsion of the unrepentant sinner. His purpose is so the “spirit” of the offender would “be saved” when Christ returns for His own. Our “spirit” is the unique essence of who each of us is as a person, aside from our embodiment in flesh. Though everyone’s “flesh” is inseparably tied to his/her “spirit,” their “flesh’s” “destruction” may bring about a needed change in “spirit,” so that such a person’s “spirit” will not perish in an eternal hell.
See 1Pet. 2:12 regarding the significance of the Church’s witness for the sake of the lost...
1Pet. 2:11-12—“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners & pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
Thus the church is commanded & exhorted to “deliver” the sexual offender “to Satan.” Thru “Satan’s” being given free rein over the the sinner’s “flesh,”(as Satan cannot touch the man’s soul since he is saved) said sinning “flesh” will absolutely suffer “destruction” seeing that “Satan” ever lives to destroy. The Church is thus to completely “deliver” over their so-called ‘brother’ to the devil’s desire(which is limited in Christ).
*Though this is a single historic incidence there is application for all other Christians(“such a one”).
“Paul certainly means expulsion from the church(verse 2) & regarding him as outside of the commonwealth of Israel(Eph 2:11f). But we are not to infer that expulsion from the local church means the damnation of the offender. The willful offenders have to be expelled & not regarded as enemies, but admonished as brothers(2Th 3:14f).”—RWP
Such a scenario may be difficult to envision today, especially for an American audience in the south, where there are many protestant churches within any given town. To turn out a member of one church only gains them entrance into another ‘down the street’ where he/she may receive ample comfort & acceptance of their sin &/or ample blame directed at the ‘hard-heartedness’ of the former church. In such a situation, devilish, satanic behaviors are placated for the sake of indulgence, numbers, & money.
Something must be said here regarding the danger of ‘requirements’ for those in the church—Do’s & dont’s...Rules & regulations...Measurements of behavior. There is a very great difference between ‘occasional sin’(which we all do as part of the human condition)—versus—open & continual harbor, excuse & maintenance of blatant sin in one’s life! So we must be very seriously & solemnly careful as to how we approach such a definitive situation. such is not to be considered lightly in any direction. We don’t want the church to be regarded as heartless or ‘holier than thou’ but we do want the church to be noted for their adherence to God’s will.
**The Corinthian church’s scenario is very similar to the American church’s current struggles with homosexuality.
See 2Cor. 2:1-11; regarding restoration of this person!
2Cor. 2:1-11—“But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction & anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you. But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent--not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive & comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
There is a future “day” which is specifically associated with & belongs to the “Lord Jesus.” That “day” is one in which God’s judgment will be meted out. Or it may be the “day” which will initiate the end-time tribulation upon all mankind, & thus refer to His return to retrieve(rapture) His Church.
Jn. 5:20-30—“For the Father loves the Son, & shows Him all things that He Himself does; & He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. “For as the Father raises the dead & gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word & believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, & shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, & now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; & those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, & has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice & come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, & those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; & My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Jn. 3:34-36—“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, & has given all things into His hand. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; & he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Mat. 28:18-20—“And Jesus came & spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven & on earth. “Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; & lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
“The final salvation of the man[who has his father’s wife] in the day of Christ is the goal & this is to be attained not by condoning his sin.”(RWP), but rather in turning him out from the fellowship of believers so that his lack of association with them is openly recognized. Thus his aberrant perverse behavior will be seen by the world as that which is unacceptable in the church as representative of God’s kingdom.
Argumentation:
Job 2:3-10—“Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless & upright man, one who fears God & shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” So Satan answered the LORD & said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, & touch his bone & his flesh, & he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, & struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God & die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, & shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
2Cor. 10:3-6—”For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments & every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, & being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
1Tim. 1:18-20—“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith & a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus & Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
**Gal. 5:25-6:10—“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, & so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, & then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, & not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
**2Thess. 3:10-16—“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command & exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness & eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person & do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
Js. 5:19, 20—“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, & someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death & cover a multitude of sins.”
**Mat. 18:15-20—“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go & tell him his fault between you & him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen & a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, & whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Illustration:
**There is/was actually a website where married people can go to find a partner for an adulterous relationship!/Where is the CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
‘Slum Lords’—Corporate apartment owners who rent to low income individuals & families/Corporations care little or nothing for the plight of people/Such a Corporation has two major concerns—
1)That those who rent from them ‘keep up’ or maintain the rented property.
2)—That those who rent from them ‘keep up’ or maintain a steady rental payment.
Admitted I would never want to rent anything to anyone because there are people who will walk all over you(rob, destroy) if they are given half a chance!
BUT, IDEALLY.....What’s their true Responsibility?—To ensure the minimal creature comfort of a home to those who cannot afford one!/CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Credit Card Companies/Introductory interest rates’/BUT the debtor gets slammed with ~20% interest after the initial time-period is over!/They are built upon greed & covetousness & taking advantage of our own greed & covetousness/Without government regulation, there is no ‘love’ for the debtor/And then we have the nerve to say that the government is too heavy-handed(which it is!)/Without Jesus there is no CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Application:
?Your Church Skirt its CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY?
?Does Your Church Accommodate Sin?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Our citizen's & town's Zika virus responsibilities.
Action:
Sin Accommodating churches skirt/deny...
5. CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY(:5)—See #10 :13
1. BASELINES(:1)
2. BROKENNESS(:2)
3. God’s PRESENCE(:3)
4. AVAILABLE ARSENAL/Weaponry(:4)
Pts. 5-only! Presented 08/28/2016pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave SE(Ave A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
