COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM

There is a mindset I really want us to discuss. We must receive the Word of God as it is; not as we would like it to be. All scriptures are profitable for learning. They have purpose in our development and are the oracles of God. They are laws we must live by none should be ignored.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Here we are admonished to purify our hearts. We are to put away all malice and all forms of wickedness. As Christ is pure, likewise, we must also be pure in thought, word and deed.

Paul will now give instruction as to how to deal with those in our territorial sphere of influence.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

11 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 idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

First, Paul instructs us not to keep company with fornicators, idolaters and extortioners of the world. He warns that it is necessary for us to come out of the world. Therefore, it is not expedient for us to fraternize with sinners. But contrary to popular opinion Paul goes a bit further and instructs the sons of God not to keep company with those in the Body of Christ who insist upon being fornicators, idolaters, drunkards or extortioners. He insists that we are not to eat with them. Many in the church today think that this is a cruel and unjust disposition to take towards those who are brothers and sisters in the Lord. But these are the instructions given to us from the Scriptures.

What are we to do with them? Simply ignore them and pretend that they do not exist? There is a reason for these instructions. And that reason is given in the previous passages. “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" This truly is a warning. The apostle is clearly concerned that the promiscuous lifestyle of some can corrupt all. Therefore, God has placed the responsibility of purging the body of sinners on the shoulders of its leaders. Why is this so hard for us to do? Why do we think it to be so harsh? The answer is simple. The church does not regard sin for the evil that it is. Neither does it regard holiness as an absolute uncompromising disposition of God. In the sixth chapter of the same book Paul gives another warning.

2 Corinthians 6:17

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,…

The Lord has called us to be separated from sinners, those in the Body of Christ and those who are without. Those who would be holy and walk in the righteousness of God must separate themselves from the unrighteousness of others. Does this really need a whole lot of explanation or is it quite clear? God is calling for a holy people. There will be a Body of Christ that is righteous and holy upon the earth. This will be a Body of baptized believers walking in the Spirit of God. These righteous sons of God are to live separate and apart from those who would profane the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

The Lord wants us to be separated so we might be identified. He also insists that the world is looking upon the church and passing judgment. Secondarily, how can God judge the world when His church lives the same as the world? This means that the world has been robbed of hope. As long as the sons of God cannot be identified as a holy and separated people the world cannot see the standard, which is Christ. The world must see Christ manifested in the flesh so that it might know that the Word of God is truth. This is our purpose. This is why we were subjected to these vain bodies.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

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 judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

The instructions are specific. We must put away the profane from among us. They cannot be members of our churches nor can they participate in our activities. They cannot hold offices nor work on auxiliaries. We are not to socialize with them. What are we going to do with these instructions? Continue to ignore them or will we decide to obey? These instructions are only hard when we view them from the position of the flesh. But when we walk in the Spirit we see as God sees. It is then that sin becomes exceedingly sinful. It is then and only then that we experience the righteous indignation of our Father.

We must understand that the promiscuity of sin creates a mindset in those who observe that which we allow. Therefore, the righteous can be persuaded by that which we allow in the household of faith. Passiveness in leaders regarding sin opens the mind of the congregation to be deceived. Even as the Master will purge His house so, too, must we purge ourselves to remain in the Body of Christ. To obey is to prosper in the Lord. Walk in the Spirit and this will not be a grievous matter.