1 Corinthians 5:1-5 You Should Be Mourning
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: February 7, 2020 1 Corinthians 5:1-5
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
(Understanding the Text) Paul is now bringing up an issue for church discipline and at the same time telling the Corinthians that they have no cause to boast as long as such sins flourish among them. Evidently, a man was sleeping with and/or married to his stepmother. Paul has two messages here. First, the man should not be part of the church. They should not associate themselves with this man as a fellow believer. Second, with sins like this among them, they should be more concerned with why this sin has found an environment to flourish in rather than arguing about whether a certain teacher is better than others.
(Revelation of God) Paul is saying that the reason for expelling the man is to let him know that he has lost his place with God and maybe, he will repent and return to God and be saved. Thus, it is for the man’s own good to be expelled from the church. God does not want us to participate or support sinful activities, but He does want us to keep loving the sinner. God still wants to draw the sinner out of the sinkhole of evil that he has fallen in, but God also wants to ensure that the sinner does not drag any other church members down into that pit. Thus, it is important to officially separate the person living in open sin from church membership so that other people do not begin to accept such behavior as normal for the people of God. On the other hand, it is still important to hold out God’s hand of forgiveness to the sinner. Paul is not describing shunning. He still wants intercession for the sinner. Instead, Paul is describing separation that leads to treating the man as an unbeliever in need of a Savior.
(understanding the Text) “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife.” Guzik’s commentary makes an interesting point about the woman in this situation. “Apparently, someone was having an on-going sexual relationship (either as married or living together) with his stepmother (his father’s wife). The woman involved must not be a Christian, for she isn’t even addressed. i. The verb to have is a euphemism for an enduring sexual relationship, not just a passing fancy or a ‘one night stand.'” Thus, the woman was not Christian while the man was.
“For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus.” I don’t understand what Paul means by “my spirit is present”.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that if I see something going very wrong with one member, I need to ask myself if it is because we as a group are arrogant and unloving. Did that problem arise because we gave Satan an opening into the congregation through self-centeredness and pride? Only humility and love will provide the necessary environment for our church to flourish. I cannot change others directly or make their choices for them, but I can provide the example of humbleness and love so that they see how they should act. I pray that You will guide me to act and be how I should so that I do not hurt my brothers and sisters, but that instead, I will help them to be the best that they can be.