Your Identity in Christ
1 Corinthians 5:11-13
…But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” ~ Apostle Paul
I am a disciple of Christ willing to be held to the standard of God’s Word by my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Pondering Point
Yesterday we saw that Christians are expected to be in assocation with people “of this world” as Jesus was (and is!) – without a judgmental or condemnatory tone.
But as we read in the verses above, Paul (and God who inspired his words) does speak of a group of people that we are supposed to judge, calling out their sinful actions.
Who are they? The ones who identify themselves as followers of Jesus yet persist in lives God identifies as sexually immoral, greedy, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards and/or swindlers. Here we are told specifically to expel (i.e. judge) this wicked-but-claiming-to-be-a-disciple-of-Jesus type.
As with Matthew 18:15-18, the goal in calling out such sin is not condemnation or separation but fitting confession and continued connection.
Matthew 18:15-18
Dealing With Sin in the Church
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Prayer
Father God, I am Your disciple. By Your Spirit, let me rise to the calling to live a holy life. You say this is possible because You have given me the faith to do so (2 Peter 1:3). When I fall, pick me up through my brothers or sisters. And when my brothers or sisters fall, use me to help pick them up – with humility and gentleness (Galatians 6:1). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 103:1-6
- Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. - Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits— - who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases, - who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion, - who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. - The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
Read the verses of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask Him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
2 Timothy 2:8-9
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
The Promise
James 5:15
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Gratitude Time
Make a list of the sins for which God has forgiven you. Then write thanks for each one being forgiven in Jesus.