1 Corinthians 5:9–10

Memory Verse

I wrote to you in the letter not to keep company with fornicators. And, not to all fornicators of this world, nor the greedy ones, nor ravenous wolves, nor idolaters, since we would then be obligated to go out from the world (1 Corinthians 5:9–10).

We are not of this corrupt organized system we live in (John 15:18–19). The world system is Satan’s design to control the unsaved (1 John 5:19). Jesus did not ask the Father to take us out from the world, but to protect us from Satan as we reside within it (John 17:15). Thus, we are to use the world, but not to its full extent (1 Corinthians 7:31). Since the love of the Father is not in the world, the Christian is not to express love towards the world nor its things (1 John 2:15–16).

Within this world we will encounter and have to deal with people of corrupt mind and conduct. Since we do not participate in their unsaved lifestyle, they will speak bad about us (1 Peter 4:4). However, we are to shine as luminaries among the corrupt generation we live in (Philippians 2:15).

Therefore, we are not to associate with a fellow saint who is a fornicator, covetous, idolater, reviler, drunkard, or extortioner (1 Corinthians 5:11). This type of conduct is not to even be named among the actions of those in the Church (Ephesians 5:3). We have nothing to do with judging those who are outside the Church, but within the assembly we are to love one another (1 Corinthians 5:12). This love will not permit unrighteousness to abide among the saints. Thus, those who continue to participate in this type of conduct are not even to be welcomed at our dinner table.

God judges those who are outside the Church. Within the assembly, we are to put away from us any among us who are practicing in malignant evil, for the benefit of the saints and the one acting in error (1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:15).