The Immoral Brother of I Corinthians chapter 5

In an earlier article, we dealt with the issue of the "carnal" Christian and their plight. Just as many hyper-grace OSAS theologians point to the church of Corinth as evidence that the carnally minded are on their way to a heavenly reward, they also love to use the example of the "immoral brother" in I Corinthians chapter 5. Actually scripture calls him a "wicked person" and unless he repented, he was on the outside-looking in where the kingdom of heaven is concerned. Without further discussion, let's look at this passage in detail.

I Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 5:9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

First of all we are faced with the fact that there is a dirty situation going on in the midst of the church at Corinth. It is not exactly clear as to what the relationship between this man and this woman was, but we can safely assert that it wasn't his real mother. It's possible the father could have been divorced and this was his step-mother, or some other scenario. In any event, it is an act that falls under the condemnation of Almighty God! This was a cancer in the midst of the church at Corinth, and God mandated that they deal with this situation immediately. The attitude that the Corinthians displayed is not too much different than what we see in the modern church. They should have been mourning over the deeds of this man, but instead they were indifferent to the holy demands of God-the KJV actually says they were "puffed up" about the whole affair. What a sad indictment on this church and all who tolerate open sin in the church. I chose my word carefully and that's why I said "open" sin. This was something that apparently everyone in Corinth was well aware of, based on the text. When the church knows that one of it's members is bringing shame to the body of Christ, it has a responsibility to deal with the problem.

Next we come to the issue of church discipline.

I Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Notice that this discipline is to be done in a formal setting, with the church present. We should also note that the power of Jesus is in our midst when we gather together in His name (remember the scripture "where two or three are gathered together in my name"). I wonder if it would influence our behaviors more positively and would cut down on some of the frivolity in church if we would realize that God is there? Now notice this very important verse 5. The church is to excommunicate this guy from the assembly which puts him in the domain of satan (which is "the world"). The intent is not that this man will be destroyed spiritually, but so that he will come to his senses (like the prodigal son who "came to himself") and realize that without Christ and His church he is a miserable wretched human being on his way to hell. Now where those who teach unconditional eternal security say that this man is on his way to heaven regardless of repentance, I see something far different here. Notice it says that his spirit "may" be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. This is a conditional statement. If the man repents of his sin he is to be accepted back into the assembly and he will be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. But if this man continues on in his sin and never returns to the fold, certain judgment awaits according to the scriptures because it states that "whoremongers and adulters God will judge" (Heb 13). Some have speculated that the letter of II Corinthians speaks of this man's restoration and repentance (see II Corinthians 2:4-8). I could not state definitively, but I certainly hope that he indeed did repent and was restored to the fold.

God was concerned that this "leaven" would leaven the whole lump there in Corinth. Whenever we tolerate unrighteousness and preach a cheap grace, we introduce leaven into the holy mixture. If this is not dealt with, the whole loaf of bread will be corrupted. That's why I feel it so necessary to contend against rank heresy in the church. The scriptures state that "judgement must begin at the house of God" (I Peter 4:17) and as such, the Lord expects us to judge immorality and false doctrine.

I Corinthians 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

In essence, Paul was saying the only way to completely get away from sin is to go on to heaven and be with the Lord. God never intended for us to retreat from society as many of the monks did in old times. He wants us to be salt and light in this dark world. That doesn't mean that we are unequally yoked with it, or compromise with the world- but we must work with sinners, and live amongst them. How else are they going to be evangelized? But-and this is a big exception- when the sinful person is a professing Christian, we are not to break bread with them at the dinner table. Instead, we are to rebuke their sinful deeds and warn them of the dangers of apostacy. The church is not responsible for judging the world- they are responsible for judging those within the church. (and by judging, I don't mean ignoring the plank in your eye, to pull out the speck in your Brother's eye- I'm speaking of open sin and false doctrine-there is a difference).

I Corinthians 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Notice again that this individual is called a "wicked person." Does this sound like someone who is on his way to glory without repentance? I am always amazed at the lengths that some will go to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness. But I guess it should not surprise me because we are at the end of the age, and the Lord warned that many false teachers would arise.

Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ

Hopefully you can see from this brief study, that the immoral brother of I Corinthians is not an example of unconditional eternal security, but exactly the opposite. An example of how a church must deal with open immorality lest it become defiled, and lest the individual goes on his course of apostacy unchecked, and end up in hell.

May the Lord bless you as you continue to study His Word!

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