Lesson 4783

 (Lesson 4783) (03-10-25) 1st Corinthians 5:9-13 

   I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 

 

In today’s quote, Paul clarified that in a previous letter, he had instructed the Corinthians not to associate with sexually immoral people. However, he explained that he did not mean unbelievers in the world, as avoiding them completely would be impossible. Instead, he referred to those who claimed to be believers but lived in unrepentant sin, including the sexually immoral, greedy, idolaters, revilers, drunkards, and extortioners. Paul commanded the church not to associate themselves with such individuals. He emphasized that it was not their responsibility to judge those outside the church, as God would judge them, but that they were to hold accountable those within the church. He concluded by instructing them to remove the wicked person from among them. ~