Ep. 307. 1 Corinthians 5-6 | Joined To Chirst

EPISODE 307

JOINED TO CHRIST: 1 CORINTHIANS 5-6

The second section for discussion in the book of First Corinthians is the sexual sin of a man having a sexual relationship with his father's wife. This is the kind of sin "That is not tolerated even among pagans." Typically, in our reading of Paul, we get to the end of a chapter or the end of a subject heading or paragraph and feel as though we've come to the end of the point. However, as we can see, chapters 5-7 follow similarly to the first four chapters. In chapter 5, Paul presents the sinful behavior. In chapter 6, Paul addresses the theology. In chapter 7, Paul then offers a correct perspective.

You will notice that Paul doesn't pull any punches when dealing with the sinful man but says instead, "Don't even eat with such a one as this" and "Purge the evil person from among you." The sexual sin and the church's apparent inability to address it are the topics of discussion in the next chapter.

Paul begins by shaming the Corinthians for daring to take spiritual matters before the unspiritual courts of the world. He queries, "Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between brothers." Indeed, being called "stupid" by Paul is more than just a little unpleasant.

After addressing the way the church people should rightly "judge" a situation, Paul turns his attention to the sexual sin in the church. In the same way that food and the stomach are meant for one another, the body is also meant for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. Our bodies, including the sexual use of them, are meant for the glory of God. When we engage in sexual immorality in any form we, who have been unified by faith to Jesus, join him to our sin. After all, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute?" The young man in this scenario, who claims to follow Christ, has joined Christ to his sexual immorality. Clearly, he has forgotten "That your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you. You were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body."

We have to remember that we are joined to Christ and then, in all things, we must walk in a manner worthy of him.

ADDITIONAL READING: Galatians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Deuteronomy 17:7; Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 21:21; Deuteronomy 22:24; 1 Corinthians 10: 23-33; Genesis 2:24; 1 Peter 1:18-19