1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9: I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
10: I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
11: But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
12: For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
13: But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
Apparently, Paul had written to them previously and told them not to associate with immoral people. He clarified here that he wasn’t talking about unbelievers—those outside the church. It is impossible to live in the world and not associate with unbelievers or immoral people. Instead, he was referring to a “so-called brother.” One who is in the church, confesses faith in Jesus Christ, yet is an immoral person, or sinful as Paul described here. He had told them not to associate with him, or even eat with him.
Paul said he did not judge those outside the church, that was up to God. By asking the question, "What have I to do with judging outsiders?" he indicated that they should have known he was referring to those within the church in his previous letter, not without. This would mean that those within the church cannot behave however they want—in sin—and still maintain a healthy and active place within the church body. By asking, "Don’t you judge those who are within the church?" he implied that they should be doing so. Paul referred to Deuteronomy 13:5 and 34:7 to say to remove the wicked, or purge the evil, from among you, not from among the heathen.
God judges those who are not a part of the church. It’s not our place to try to get an unbeliever to conform to godly behavior. It's our job to preach the gospel to them so they can believe and be saved--so their hearts can be changed, born-again, and they become new creatures in Christ. Rather, every Christian should judge their own heart, and the church should judge its members. This is a safety net, so we all remain pure in His sight. It should be done, not in arrogance or by causing division, but in love and in truth, so when an excommunicated person repents, he has a pathway back to his family of believers.
10: I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
11: But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
12: For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
13: But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
***
Apparently, Paul had written to them previously and told them not to associate with immoral people. He clarified here that he wasn’t talking about unbelievers—those outside the church. It is impossible to live in the world and not associate with unbelievers or immoral people. Instead, he was referring to a “so-called brother.” One who is in the church, confesses faith in Jesus Christ, yet is an immoral person, or sinful as Paul described here. He had told them not to associate with him, or even eat with him.
Paul said he did not judge those outside the church, that was up to God. By asking the question, "What have I to do with judging outsiders?" he indicated that they should have known he was referring to those within the church in his previous letter, not without. This would mean that those within the church cannot behave however they want—in sin—and still maintain a healthy and active place within the church body. By asking, "Don’t you judge those who are within the church?" he implied that they should be doing so. Paul referred to Deuteronomy 13:5 and 34:7 to say to remove the wicked, or purge the evil, from among you, not from among the heathen.
God judges those who are not a part of the church. It’s not our place to try to get an unbeliever to conform to godly behavior. It's our job to preach the gospel to them so they can believe and be saved--so their hearts can be changed, born-again, and they become new creatures in Christ. Rather, every Christian should judge their own heart, and the church should judge its members. This is a safety net, so we all remain pure in His sight. It should be done, not in arrogance or by causing division, but in love and in truth, so when an excommunicated person repents, he has a pathway back to his family of believers.
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