Sin In The Camp

Temple Baptist Church - 9-10-2025

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  The Book of 1 Corinthians serves as an open rebuke to a carnal church. The Apostle Paul addresses many issues across these 16 chapters. Chapter 5 focuses on disciplined sin. Churches often contain individuals with personal shortcomings who need to be admonished, reproved, and rebuked.

 

B.  However, some sins in the church require a direct and strict response. In chapter 5, Paul confronts a believer who is openly living in sin without either remorse or a positive response from the church congregation.

 

C.  Sin in the camp!  As the Corinthian Church continued to grow in both numbers and spirituality, the Apostle Paul introduced them to something new: Church Discipline.

 

D.  Church discipline is vital for the health of the local church, and although it is unpleasant, it is necessary for both the church’s outward testimony and internal spiritual growth. Such discipline was also practiced in the Old Testament when sin was brought into the camp of Israel through Achan.

 

E.  Church discipline is a biblical command that is often ignored in today’s churches.

 

1.  In today’s “numbers-oriented churches.” Church discipline cannot be implemented because so many in their congregations are of the world, and discipline would run them off.  Today, it is all about numbers!  However, the world is not to be in the local church, as it is a called-out assembly of believers to worship God, not a “fishing hole for sinners.”

 

2.  We are to be in the world but not of the world.  We are not to love the world, and we are not to be conformed to the world, but to be a holy, separate people.  Not all sinfulness comes under the heading of Church Discipline.  That is what the “reproving and rebuking” from the pulpit is for, but there are sins that must be dealt with. 

 

3.  In Church discipline, either reconciliation or dismissal is involved. Here, the Corinthian church faced a case of fornication that required discipline. Church discipline is essential to keep the local church pure and as separate from the world as possible. 

 

F.  Now, let us look at the context.

 

1.  The Problem - vs. 1-2 

 

a.  The Description Of Sin In The Church

 

                    1)  The Sin – Everybody knew what was going on as it was “commonly reported.” 

 

a)  The First Sin – Fornication– 1 Thessalonians 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

 

1 Corinthians 6:18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

 

b)  The Second Sin – Pride (they were puffed up) - Proverbs 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

 

Proverbs 29:23  A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

 

2)  The Shame – The openness of the sin became the “Elephant in the Living Room.”  Everyone knew it was there, but only turned their heads, so they didn't have to look at it.

 

a)  The Sin Was Uncovered - Ephesians 5:3  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

 

b)  The Sin Was Unrebuked - 1 Timothy 5:20  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

 

Galatians 2:14  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

 

b.  The Deception Of Sin In The Church

 

1)  They Failed To See The Seriousness Of The Sin - 1 Corinthians 5:6  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

 

2)  They Failed To See The Subtlety Of The Sin - Luke 13:21  It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

 

2.  The Proceeding - vs. 3-5

 

a.  A Desire To Restore - Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

1)  Restoration By The Right People – “spiritual” - 1 Corinthians 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

 

1 Corinthians 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

 

2)  Restoration By The Right Procedure – “meekness” - James 3:13  Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

 

1 Corinthians 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

 

          b.  A Directive To Reprimand

 

1)  It Was To Be Done Promptly - 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

 

2)  It Was To Be Done Publicly - 1 Timothy 5:20  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

 

3)  Private sin is dealt with privately.  Public sin is dealt with publicly. 

 

3.  The Power - vs. vs. 5

 

a.  The Power Of Deliverance - 1 Corinthians 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

b.  The Power Of Destruction - 1 Timothy 1:20  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

 

4.  The Purpose - vs. 5-8

 

a.  The Chastening Of The Culprit - Hebrews 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

 

Hebrews 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

 

b.  The Cleansing Of The Church - 2 Corinthians 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 

Purging differs from pruning. Pruning involves cutting back or removing dead branches to help a plant thrive and produce fruit. Purging, which means to cleanse, means removing a plant that harms the health of the garden or orchard. Purging is done to allow other plants to flourish by controlling the environment.

 

In John chapter 15, we find that “purging” is done by the washing of the water of God’s Word, and its intended result is that the plant to be purged is revitalized and bears the right kind of fruit.  When the plant does not respond by restoration and fruit bearing, it is broken off, cast forth to be destroyed outside of the church.

 

John 15:2, 6  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 … (John 15:6)  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

 

Ephesians 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

c.  The Corruption Of The Congregation – Matthew 13:33  Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

 

5.  The Partitioning - vs. 9-13

 

a.  We Are Not To Company With Them - Psalms 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 

Proverbs 9:6  Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

 

b.  We Are Not To Eat With Them - 2 Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

 

1 Corinthians 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.