I Corinthians 5:1,2
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud? Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?
This is a sad report. They have drifted far from scripture and its boundaries. This is what happens when we don’t have a high view of God’s Word. It’s as if a ship has a faulty compass. They are confidently sailing in the wrong direction and they are completely unaware of the error.
There are some that I know that are close to coming to Christ. However, they are politically left. I fear that if that do make the decision for God they would join with a church that is left and doesn’t look to the bible for direction. Which might mean that they are on shaky ground in their faith.
Another problem that the corinthians had was that they kept the offender in their church. They should have confronted him with his error. If he chose not to repent, then he should have been asked to leave.
I did this with a brother in the faith who chose to go in the direction against scripture. Sad, but necessary for him and for those he may seek to influence. He attempted to recruit me with his arguments.
What’s paramount is to fear God and to believe His Word. When we disfellowship someone, the idea is produce Godly sorrow in the individual. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” Which leads to I Corinthians 3:15, “If it is burned up (one’s life’s sum) he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.”
Lord, thank You for Your Word. Help us to cling to it. Help us to have the courage to share with those who oppose it. Help us to snatch those from the fire who are in danger of apostasy.