In this final section of 1 Corinthians 5, Paul clarifies the local church’s role in encouraging people to live and grow in the gospel. He writes:
“When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. 12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Question 1. According to 1 Corinthians 5, how should the local church respond to the sin of those outside the church versus those inside the church?
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Here Paul elevates the holiness of God, showing that those who claim His Name must put sin out of their lives and, in this case, out of their local fellowship.
We remember that early in His public ministry, Jesus expelled the money changers from the temple. "He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, 'Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!'" (John 2:15-16).
In Jesus' cleansing of the temple and in Paul instructing the Corinthians to expel the immoral believer, we see what Jesus did on the cross, which was to remove sin. Jesus died as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world, to purify His temple (all believers) so that God could dwell in our midst.
The rituals on the Day of Atonement, illustrate this truth:
“He will lay both of his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of the people of Israel. In this way, he will transfer the people’s sins to the head of the goat. Then a man specially chosen for the task will drive the goat into the wilderness. 22 As the goat goes into the wilderness, it will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land.”
Leviticus 16:21-22
As we see this goat, symbolically loaded down with the sins of the people, being driven away from the people to a solitary wilderness, we see the complete removal of the people's sins at the cross of Jesus.
All of these examples show us the earnestness with which God desires to remove sin, that He might dwell with His people. We cooperate with Him when we pursue the purity of the local fellowship. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul is not referring to casting out people of the world, but rather people of the Word, who profess faith in Jesus' atoning work of the cross. It is necessary to remove sin for the local body to live and grow in the gospel.
Most scholars believe that the Corinthians followed Paul's instructions, removed the immoral man, who subsequently became repentant, and in 2 Corinthians 2:5-8, Paul wrote the following about this formerly immoral man: “I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. 6 Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. 7 Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overcome by discouragement. 8 So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.”
As eagerly as the church seeks to remove one boasting in sin from the body, we should even more readily be quick to forgive, restore, comfort, and reaffirm love to one who repents. After all, the cross of Christ is not merely about the removal of sin; it is also about the restoration of sinners and how God “reaffirmed His love for us” on Calvary’s hill!
Question 2. How does 2 Corinthians 2:7-8 illustrate the message of the cross?
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