Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 83

March 23;        I Corinthians 5:12;          138/260;        ‘Withdraw Fellowship’

1 Corinthians 5:12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?

The Lord is always a God of restoration.  If a Christian is involved in blatant sin and continues in this manner, regardless of corrective counsel, the only recourse is to administer corrective discipline.  In this case, Paul advises the church that because of the refusal of the individual to discontinue the immorality, that the church should withdraw fellowship from this man.  In essence he would not be allowed to attend that church.  This withdrawal of fellowship is hopefully not permanent.   Hopefully the conviction of the Holy Spirit will be such that the believer will come to their senses and repent of the sinful behavior.  This is the case.  In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul exhorts the church in Corinth to restore the man, forgive him and treat him kindly and with the love of God.  The church did, reaffirming their love for him.  The church judges and administers corrective discipline in the church. Paul teaches in this same chapter that the church does not judge the world concerning sin, God judges the world.  The morality of Christianity is never imposed successfully on the world nor is this an area the church becomes involved in.  The Lord desires us to live holy lives, free from sin.  He does this knowing the damaging results of sin for the person sinning and potentially others.  The confrontation of sinful behavior should be enough that the guilty party should repent and turn from that sin.  Additional correction, such as withdrawing fellowship may be needed.  The goal is freedom from sin for the person involved.  Love is always the motive.