I preached on the entire 5th chapter and so I am going to offer some basic information regarding it in case you weren’t here or haven’t had a chance to listen to the message online at www.westlakebaptist.org.
The fifth chapter of 1 Corinthians deals with sin within the church. Paul is very specific in verses 9-13 that we have authority over non-believers. However, God did give the church the authority and the call to discipline those within the faith. The main goal of discipline should be restoration of the brother or sister. Our motivation should be love, just as when God disciplines us it is out of love (see Prov. 3:11-12). There are two reasons for church discipline. The first reason is for the sake of the believer who is caught up in sin. The second reason is for the testimony of the church. People are watching how Christians behave, and it has a direct affect on their view of God and the church. Therefore, we must live holy and blameless lives so that we may glorify God and draw others to Him. One of the more memorable lines from the sermon was the question, how much do you have to hate someone to see them going the wrong way, knowing that there are going to be consequences, but still say nothing? If we truly love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will love them enough to tell them the truth. I will not tell you that it is fun or that it is easy, because it is neither. But it is necessary if we are going to be the men and women God has called us and created us to be. Always remember, discipline is not about punishment, it is about restoration of your relationship with God and with the church.
By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him