Perils of the Tolerance of Sin

I Corinth. Chapter 5

Introduction: Indifference to sin can cause many problems, one in this case, was an incestuous relationship between a man and his stepmother. Sin causes divisions in our life and displeases God. Sin grows when our attitude towards it becomes careless. Our grandparents today would be appalled at a lot of things we watch and do this day and time.

They had allowed an awful case of immorality to exist among them, and it was tearing them apart, like many churches today are leaving their denominations over morality issues.

The sin is rebuked (V.1)

1. It was a sin know to all “commonly reported”

2. The man living in sin as with his stepmother. Gentiles did not even tolerate this type of behavior

3. A seared conscious of a Christian can be worse than the unsaved

Indifference of the church to sin caused divisions 

1. Attitude – they were puffed up (V.2)

   1. Proud

   2. Self-willed

   3. We’re not sorry, their consciousness was hardened as ours is today

   4. When sin is accepted, the Holy Ghost is forgotten or ignored

   5. The member should have been removed

2. (V.3) Paul was concerned --- he had the authority to do something about it

3. (V.4) The Lord Jesus Christ is associated with Christian gatherings this could not be tolerated. Thus, Paul directed “…deliver such a one to Satan”

4. (V.5-8) The man was not to be destroyed but afflicted –with God’s approval

   1. Little things left uncorrected grow into big problems

   2. The rot starts and the entire congregation is affected

We live in the world, but are not of it

1. We are not to keep fellowship and company with the unclean, church attendance and Bible study is important.

2. These are sinful days, Christians must keep their guard up