Bible League: Living His Word 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.— 1 Corinthians 5:11 NKJV Not everyone in the church of Jesus Christ lives the kind of life that Jesus wants us to live. No one is perfect, but some in the church seem to live lives at odds with what Jesus expects. Some in the church who live this way may not even be Christians. In our verse for today, the Apostle Paul says we should not keep company with such people. Apparently, this did not necessarily mean that they should be forbidden from attending church services, or should be denied the fellowship of communion, but that any association that would seem to sanction their behavior should be avoided. Why? There are at least three reasons. First, it is important to keep the church pure. Although Jesus associated with sinners, He always did so on His own terms. One might say that they associated with Him, rather than that He associated with them. They received the good He had to give them. He did not receive the bad they had to give. It is important for the church to keep it this way so that its message and practice does not degenerate to their level. Second, it is important that there is nothing that implies the church promotes evil behavior. The church should be a beacon of light in a dark world. Association with people that still seem to be walking in darkness will compromise the church's witness, giving people that need the gospel the wrong impression. Third, it is important, because we can't expect to associate with people that still seem to be living in darkness and come out unscathed. When we associate with them on their terms we are opening ourselves up to the spiritual forces of evil that lie behind their actions. In effect, we are inviting them into our lives. If we continue, it won't be long before we begin to do the same things they do. Bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33). So for the protection of the church, the gospel message, and ourselves, we must follow Paul's command. Perhaps the pain of separation will draw them back to the good path. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingProverbs 13, 14 Proverbs 13 -- A wise son listens to his father's instruction, but a scoffer doesn't listen NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Proverbs 14 -- Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 16 1 Corinthians 16 -- Gifts, Requests and Greetings NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do.Insight This is the Good News of the gospel: that forgiveness of sins and freedom from guilt are available through faith in Christ to all people—including you. Challenge Have you received this forgiveness? Are you refreshed by it each day? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Hosea 14:8 From me is thy fruit found.Our fruit is found from our God as to union. The fruit of the branch is directly traceable to the root. Sever the connection, the branch dies, and no fruit is produced. By virtue of our union with Christ we bring forth fruit. Every bunch of grapes has been first in the root, it has passed through the stem, and flowed through the sap vessels, and fashioned itself externally into fruit, but it was first in the stem; so also every good work was first in Christ, and then is brought forth in us. O Christian, prize this precious union to Christ; for it must be the source of all the fruitfulness which thou canst hope to know. If thou wert not joined to Jesus Christ, thou wouldst be a barren bough indeed. Our fruit comes from God as to spiritual providence. When the dew-drops fall from heaven, when the cloud looks down from on high, and is about to distil its liquid treasure, when the bright sun swells the berries of the cluster, each heavenly boon may whisper to the tree and say, "From me is thy fruit found." The fruit owes much to the root--that is essential to fruitfulness--but it owes very much also to external influences. How much we owe to God's grace-providence! in which he provides us constantly with quickening, teaching, consolation, strength, or whatever else we want. To this we owe our all of usefulness or virtue. Our fruit comes from God as to wise husbandry. The gardener's sharp-edged knife promotes the fruitfulness of the tree, by thinning the clusters, and by cutting off superfluous shoots. So is it, Christian, with that pruning which the Lord gives to thee. "My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." Since our God is the author of our spiritual graces, let us give to him all the glory of our salvation. Daily Light on the Daily Path Daniel 5:27 "'TEKEL '-- you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.1 Samuel 2:3 "Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed. Luke 16:15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Galatians 6:7,8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. • For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Matthew 16:26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Philippians 3:7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Psalm 17:3 You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
    |