How can we balance 1 Corinthians 5:9 with Jesus' example of loving sinners? The Tension We Feel • 1 Corinthians 5:9 says, “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.” • Jesus freely ate and conversed with “tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 5:30-32). • Scripture never contradicts itself; it complements itself. The apparent clash invites us to look closer at context, audience, and purpose. Grasping Paul’s Point in 1 Corinthians 5 • Paul addresses discipline inside the church, not social contact with unbelievers. • 1 Corinthians 5:10-13 clarifies that the command targets anyone “who claims to be a brother” yet persists in open, unrepentant sin. • The goal is protection of the church’s purity (Ephesians 5:27) and the sinner’s restoration (1 Corinthians 5:5). Seeing Jesus’ Pattern with Sinners • Luke 5:30-32 – He dined with tax collectors, calling them to repentance. • John 8:10-11 – He spared the adulterous woman from condemnation, then said, “Go and sin no more.” • Luke 19:10 – “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” • Jesus never affirmed sin; He lovingly confronted it while remaining accessible. Two Audiences, Two Postures 1. Unbelievers • Engage, befriend, share the gospel (Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 3:15). • Model grace without watering down truth. 2. Professing Believers in Ongoing, Defiant Sin • Practice loving discipline: – Private reproof (Matthew 18:15). – Small-group confirmation (Matthew 18:16). – Church involvement if still unrepentant (Matthew 18:17). • If hardness continues, “do not even eat” (1 Corinthians 5:11), signaling the seriousness of rebellion. • Aim for restoration, not humiliation (Galatians 6:1). Balancing Love and Separation • Love expresses itself differently depending on receptivity. • With unbelievers: hospitality, conversation, service, gospel witness. • With unrepentant insiders: clear boundaries, persistent prayer, open door for repentance. • Both stances flow from the same love that seeks eternal good. Practical Church Steps • Teach holiness regularly so discipline is not shocking when needed. • Follow biblical due process; avoid hasty judgments. • Keep communication open, explaining the purpose is repentance and restoration. • When repentance occurs, warmly welcome the brother or sister back (2 Corinthians 2:6-8). Practical Personal Steps • Maintain friendships with unbelievers; let your life provoke gospel conversations. • If a Christian friend drifts into public sin, speak privately first. • Should the church need to step in, support the process, refusing gossip. • Keep a soft heart; remember you too depend on grace (1 Corinthians 10:12). Pitfalls to Avoid • Compromise: blurring sin’s seriousness in the name of “love.” • Harshness: wielding discipline as punishment rather than remedy. • Isolationism: withdrawing from the world instead of shining light. • Pride: forgetting that restoration, not self-righteousness, is the goal. Encouragement for Today The same Lord who welcomed Zacchaeus commands church discipline. He calls us to walk in both mercy and purity, trusting that His design—engaging the lost while guarding the flock—honors Him and draws people to saving repentance. |
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