...living and worshiping in the truth...

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?

3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgement 4 in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord” 1 Corinthians 5:1-5.

Here Paul speaks of something horrible; the church in Corinth was openly tolerating a situation that no self-respecting pagan would have permitted.

A man was living with his own step-mother, presumably his father’s second wife. But the church leaders seemed to be OK about it, convinced that they had now passed beyond “good and evil” into a world where absolutely anything could be done.

What kind of discipline is appropriate in cases of severe sexual misbehavior? What Paul says is so sharp and striking that we need to stand back, take a deep breath, and see what’s going on. Paul says that the church is “so arrogant!” Paul simply says that the church should have removed this person from the church because this behavior is threatening the very life and witness of the church. Ejection from the community is Paul’s choice for the church.

Paul says, “4 In the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing…5 you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”

At the very least, this incident calls all of us to check our own sexual life. Are we living faithfully in Christ in our human sexual lives? So today, bring to prayer your own sexual life, praying that your actions — not your words of promise — will be your private and your public witness. Look in the mirror! This is what Paul is demanding of us all!

Remember also, how Jesus treated the Samaritan woman at the well who was prostituting herself. Jesus forgave her and told her that “true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” John 4:23-24.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Today’s Prayer

Oh Lord, We all need You to live our sexual lives in conformity with Your will.

We cannot do this without Your help, without Your grace.

May I live faithfully in Your presence, never deviating from

behavior that mimics and follows Your life here on earth.

Let me do this, rather than speak eloquently about my sexual life.

May I not live arrogantly, but truthfully and faithfully.

In your Holy Name I pray, amen.