Epistles – 1 Corinthians 5-6

As we continue to read the first epistle by Paul to the Corinthians, we will realize that Paul’s tone is getting harsher, for through his epistles, we can see the problems within the Corinthian church at that time. I believe Paul was very heart broken when he came to realize what the believers had done. These warnings are very important for us even today, for there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 5-6

1Co 5:1

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles–that a man has his father’s wife!

A bad, in fact very bad report has reached the ears of Paul, and I’m sure this report had also reached many ears of both Christians and Gentiles at that time. As Christians, our every move is being observed. People will quickly notice a wrong done by Christians. I assume all Christians know why. Apart from the protective eyes of our loving God, there are other eyes that will be watching. Be it eyes with an attitude of admiring and learning Christian virtues, or eyes with the attitude to pick and pin point the wrongs that Christians have committed, we have to know that we are being watched. For Christians preach the love and righteousness of God to the Gentile world, so all eyes is focused on the Christians, to see if Christians actually do what they preach. Are we careful in our ways as Christians? Are we truly sanctified in our hearts to do righteousness taught by the Word of God?

1Co 5:11

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner–not even to eat with such a person.

Here is a heavy and serious advice that I hope we would not have a chance to apply in the True Church. So as the Body of Christ, we have to be of ONE in the Spirit, loving others as loving ourselves, holding each others’ hands to walk this narrow path of life.

1Co 6:12

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Christians are freed from the bondage of sins through the Blood of Jesus, and therefore, we have the liberty in Christ. But we must not misuse this liberty for our own desires or lusts, for if we do so, we have gone back to be bonded again by the sins of our flesh. We can and have the liberty to do all things, but we must bear in mind that we are totally responsible for the consequences of our actions. So if anything that does not bring glory to God and benefits to man, these we must not do, lest we incur the wrath of God and cage ourselves back into sins again.

1Co 6:18 – 19

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

It is truly amazing and wonderful to know that our Supreme God and Father desires to live in us (John 14: 17 – 18). God wants our bodies to be the temple of the Holy Spirit; such honor has not been bestowed upon anyone except the children of the True God. Then if we the children of God do sin the sin of immorality, are we not grieving our Father who never stops pouring His love upon us? Therefore we have to run away, even literally, from sexual immorality for our own sake and for the sake of our Heavenly Father.