The seventh chapter contains Paul’s concluding remarks on biblical sexuality and it begins by addressing the Christian’s duty in marriage. This teaching runs counter-cultural considering the state of sex and sexuality in the city of Corinth, with its imposing temple to Venus. It’s no surprise this epistle resonates with so many Christians today and offends the sensibilities of the New Rome.
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Paul closes the sixth chapter with a glimpse of upcoming topics. From Christian liberty to marriage, from the Church as Chris’s body to the resurrection of the dead, Paul’s argument throughout is to flee immorality. This command can only be achieved through constant, continual growth in Scripture and submitting to the abiding presence of Christ the King. With accountability in mind, Paul enumerates the characteristics of those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Two themes overshadow this list: sexual immorality and disregard of others. It’s clear that any and all sins, whether small or great in our eyes, are all infractions against the holiness of God. Thanks be to God that the remedy has also been given. Though some in the church in Corinth displayed these traits of wickedness, now, in Christ, they are new creations. This is the greatest gift God offers to mankind! Instead of judging morally, the Corinthian church boasts in their open tolerance of sinful lifestyles. Paul condemns their unwillingness to condemn sin and equips them with the necessary tools for doing so. It’s clear from Scripture that Christian morality and ethics have to be in the center of the marketplace of ideas. This begins in the church with elders holding flocks accountable to the Word of God. Elders are not only overseers in the church, they are judges, truly “ruling” elders. The problem with the Corinthian Christians is their willingness to go to legal courts to resolve matters yet they were unwilling to judge the immorality within their midst! After rebuking the individual in the Church in Corinth for his sexual immorality, Paul then shifts his attention to the Church as a whole. Specially for their tolerance of such sinful behavior. For the sake of purity and unity in the church, Christian assemblies are encouraged to clean out the old leaven of sinfulness. This begins individually, each one of us should clear out the leaven of our natural, sinful self. This command also expands to the church. Sadly, too many churches today are like the Corinthians before Paul’s letter, tolerating and accepting sinful behavior. This is how the world thinks and that thinking has no place within the body of Christ, which has already been called out from the world. This requires a level of spiritual discernment that the world will call bigoted judgmentalism. Yet, the Biblical mandate is clear, “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” |
About the SeriesPaul’s First Epistle to the church in Corinth is a letter full of love and sorrow. Love for God’s Word and His Church is present on every page and sorrow for a church that has given over to the divisive wantonness of a real-world “Vanity Fair.” Categories
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