Introduction: The Imperfect Church and the Perfect Savior
As a church we did a chapter and verse study 1 Corinthians at this point in the study, we’ve seen Paul deal with the deep struggles of a real church — not a perfect one, but a redeemed one.
He’s addressed division where believers are claiming to be of individual leaders (“I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas”), and he’s exposed spiritual immaturity rooted in worldly wisdom and pride.
Now, as we come to chapter 5, Paul confronts an issue that humanity has wrestled with since the beginning — sexual impurity — and how the Corinthian church had grown tolerant, even boastful, about it.
It’s easy to read about the Corinthians and think, “Wow, they really needed to get it together.” But the truth is, there is no perfect church. Every congregation is a work in progress, learning to walk in grace and truth under the leadership of Jesus Christ.
This chapter is a call to purity — not a finger pointed in condemnation, but a gentle and firm reminder that holiness matters. Whether you’ve walked in victory, are struggling in the fight, or are learning what purity truly means, this word is for all of us.
I. The Problem of Tolerated Sin (vv. 1–2)
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned…” — 1 Corinthians 5:1–2
Paul addresses a shocking reality in the Corinthian church — a man involved with his stepmother, and a congregation so tolerant that they were even proud of their “grace.”
Even pagan Greece where Corinth was located as a Roman colony, with all its moral looseness, wouldn’t have approved of such behavior. Yet this was being accepted in a church that bore the name of Jesus.
Application: Sin Left Unchecked Corrupts the Body of Christ
Sin is desensitizing. Over time, we begin to think, “It’s not that bad.” But unchecked sin dulls our hearts and distorts our understanding of holiness.
While it’s true that all sin separates us from God, Scripture also shows that some sins carry deeper consequences (John 19:11; Mark 3:29). The issue is not simply the “severity” of the sin but the tolerance of it — the gradual erosion of conviction that leaves us numb to the Holy Spirit’s correction.
Conviction is not condemnation. The Holy Spirit convicts us to restore holiness from within, not to shame us.
Reflect: Are we desensitized to sin in our own lives or church?Don’t be afraid to bring it before God. He is good, faithful, and ready to restore.
II. The Call to Confront Sin (vv. 3–5)
“For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged… In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… 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.” — 1 Corinthians 5:3–5
Paul instructs the church to act — not to destroy, but to redeem. “Delivering to Satan” doesn’t mean eternal rejection; it means allowing someone to face the natural consequences of their sin outside the covering of fellowship — in hopes that they will return repentant and renewed.
Key Concept: Church Discipline Is About Restoration, Not Rejection
Judgment in the church is often misunderstood. The goal is never condemnation, but correction and healing.
We are not called to hunt for sin in others’ lives. Most often, our first and best response is prayer and intercession. But for serious, unrepentant sin, the church’s leadership has the responsibility to act for the good of the body and the soul in question.
Application: Pray for those you know who struggle with sin.
Seek freedom and humility in your own walk. When given influence in someone’s life, ask: Am I condemning, or am I aiming for restoration?
III. The Danger of Corruption (vv. 6–8)
“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven… For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” — 1 Corinthians 5:6–8
Paul compares sin to leaven (yeast) — a small thing that spreads quickly. During Passover, the Israelites would remove all leaven from their homes as a sign of purity. In the same way, the church — Christ’s house — must not allow sin to spread unchecked.
Key Concept: A Little Compromise Leads to Spiritual Decay
We are called to live as an unleavened people, purified by the sacrifice of Jesus. Holiness in this sense isn’t about perfection — it’s about honesty, sincerity, and truth.
Application: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal “small compromises” that have crept into your life.
Remember: Christ has made you new and has empowered you to walk in freedom.IV. The Boundaries of Judgment (vv. 9–13)
“I wrote to you… not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral… For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges.” — 1 Corinthians 5:9–13
Paul draws an important distinction:
The church is called to hold its own members accountable, not to condemn unbelievers. The world doesn’t need our judgment — it needs our witness of grace and truth.
Key Concept: Accountability Within, Grace Without
We must hold one another to the standard of Christ while extending to the world the same grace that brought us home.
Conclusion: A Church Set Apart
Holiness is not legalism — it is a response to grace. When Jesus saves us, He doesn’t just forgive our past; He transforms our present. Paul’s message to Corinth is the same message to us: Don’t tolerate sin in your life or your church. Don’t confuse grace with passivity. Pursue holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Do an inward reflection:
Are we tolerating sin personally or corporately?
Have we grown numb to what the Spirit wants to cleanse?
Let’s be a church that walks in purity, truth, and love — set apart for Christ, yet full of grace for the world.
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