“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2. 

The Apostle Paul regarded the entire Corinthian church as contaminated because of the habitual sin of one person.  Unless this person repented of his sin, he was to be expelled from the church and delivered “…unto satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 5:5.

Before everyone begins putting on their sack cloth and throwing ashes in the air, hear me out please.  I would like to discuss “And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away…” .  I want to know who is “ye”.  Is “ye” me? Is “ye” one who believes sinners AND Saints are to be called to repentance for their sin by lifting up the name of Jesus Christ and the weight of the Holy Spirit’s conviction and God’s mercy falling on them like rain?

Or, is “ye” one who calls the sheep in to their fold, coddles them with their love, kindly pats them on the back, gives them the purple kool aid and welcomes them home?  Does this “ye” preach another gospel that condones sin?  “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: ⁷ Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-8.  

If the Lord Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross to give us eternal life and dominion over our sin nature, is not preached behind the pulpit, our faith is not in Him to deliver us from the dominion of our sin nature but in our selves (our self will and self effort) to overcome our sin nature, which cannot be done.  If we could have victory over our sin nature without faith in Jesus and His finished work, Jesus would not have had to go to the Cross.  What we preach is what we believe and what we believe is what we preach. 

Has ye mourned that these may be taken away from among you?  “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a Brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. ¹² For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? ¹³ But them that are without God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:11-13.

If “ye” have not called them to repentance or expelled them from the church, “ye” are puffed up.  But we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, right?  Absolutely!  But some are humbled by God’s grace and repent of theirs sins daily, while others openly flaunt their sins daily in the face of sinners, Saints and babes in Christ Jesus causing them to stumble.  Those who are puffed up have turned our liberty as a Child of God into their license to sin.  These standards do not apply to one who has not professed Jesus as their Lord and Saviour but only to those who do.

“But if any have caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. ⁶ Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. ⁷ So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. ⁸ Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” 2 Corinthians 2:5-8.

You see, the purple kool aid church will not allow a professing Saint who refuses to repent of their sin to be turned over to satan for the destruction of the flesh in hopes their spirit may be saved.  Instead they try to save them by keeping them in their fold and never allowing the power of God through their faith in Jesus to deliver them…they are puffed up.  Once the sinning Saint repents, we are admonished to forgive and comfort him, lest he be swallowed up by the enemy.  Let us not skip over this part lightly.  Once a Saint repents, we are to comfort and love them.  The devil will have us accusing a repentive Saint and condoning a sinning Saint…discern the difference.

Please don’t tell me there is no such thing as a sinning Saint.  Sadly there are many who are in bondage to their sin nature.  They hate their sin as much as they hate others.  However, because they are not preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ for deliverance, faith in His finished work for their continued liberty, but instead preached another gospel (motivational, psychological) causing their faith to be placed in their will and their efforts, they are accursed and remain under bondage.  These people love the Lord Jesus Christ and seek Him daily to strengthen their will, instead of submitting their will to His strength.  They seek Jesus to rehabilitate them instead of regenerate them into a new creature in Christ Jesus.  These Saints are sincere but sincerely wrong in where their faith is placed for their victory over their sin nature.

So, I ask ye – are ye puffed up?  Have ye mourned the loss of the Brethren? Are ye condoning the sinning Saint and rebuking the repentive Saint instead of rebuking the sinning Saint and comforting the repentive?  Prayerfully discern.

-Donna Clark Warren