Happy first Friday in August. Boasting is something that people do in fun or in arrogance. We will find a lot of boasting at sports games about a favored team. Die hard sports fan will even boast about their failing team that may never reach a championship playoff. While this type of boasting is comical and playful, Paul was concerned about the church boasting about immoral behavior and he was not amused. Yesterday, we talked about a son carrying on incestuous relationship with his stepmother where he continued to portray himself as a Christian and the church knew his sinful and boastful act was wrong, but wouldn’t call for correction. Today, we will continue in 1 Corinthians chapter five. Enjoy your reading, your day and your weekend.
“6 Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. 8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread[h] of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread[i] of sincerity and truth. 9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer[j] yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”[k]” – 1 Corinthians 4:6-13 NLT
A little yeast permeates a whole batch of dough is basically stating a little sin in one person or in the church begins to spread to groups or throughout the church as acceptable practices. It doesn’t seem likely that Paul would remove a person who lived in sin and later repented for their acts. However, Paul is pointing out that an individual who has no regard for living a Christian life, who is unwilling to separate from their sins and continues to boast about their sin and the church ignores discipline or corrective guidance is just as guilty.
Sisters and brothers, are you still struggling with sin? _________ If so, God already knows and that is why he sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. Our Father wants a pure and undefiled relationship with you and the only way is through Jesus Christ. If you are willing to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior he is faithful to forgive all of your sins, even the ones you committed today. Are you willing to repent and turn away from those sins?_________
Father God, thank you for the opportunity to worship you in sincerity and truth. Lord, forgive us of our sins (known and unknown). Lord, we thank you for forgiveness, grace and mercy. We thank you for making us right in the eyes of God, for reconciling us to him. Lord, give us the strength to turn away from our sins and lean into you as we continue on the journey in our Christian faith. Help us when we struggle and fight against our flesh. Strengthen the church and help the church to discern how to minister, provide support and correct those who are in sin and desire to turn away from it. Lord, keep us humble and sincere in your truth. Lord, remove our boastfulness and remind us that we were once lost in the world until you came for us. Lord, help us to be genuine in our love for you and others as you continue to work in us and transform us to be more like you. In Jesus name, amen.
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