Sin in the Body

1 Corinthians 5:1

1 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.

It is clearly established, through close examination of the scriptures given above that God is supreme, above all, and there is no other God beside Him. In addition, we see the Body of Christ (Christians) who have taken on the very nature of God. So let us consider1 Corinthians 5:1 as it relates to God’s identification of the church and His standard of holiness.

It is reported commonly… Dictionary / C / common -Public; general; frequent; as common report.

• Usual; ordinary; as the common operations of nature; the common forms of conveyance; the common rules of civility This suggests that it is common knowledge and open; everyone was speaking of it. there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles...
• -The Gentiles - All who were not Jews.
• -The Jews were God’s chosen people who were given the laws of God and represent the church. The Gentiles represent sinners or the world.

Romans 2:13 3

-The undertone in Apostle Paul making the comparison stresses the distinct difference between the church and the world.

Romans 2:28 4

- External factors such as nationality, possession and knowledge of the law are not the main identifiable characteristics of the church but rather its ability and willingness to embrace and obey the law (word). In

2 Corinthians 6:17

the Apostle writes, “Wherefore come out from among them,

3 Romans 2:13

13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another;)

4 Romans 2:28

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

that one should have his father’s wife… In the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy 5, we see God’s laws to the Jews concerning fornication and specifically fornication with your father’s wife and the consequences of doing so.

Romans 2:17-206

17 The Jews boasted themselves in knowing the law and were guilty of yoking other non Jews with it.

1 Corinthians 5:2

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. And ye are puffed up... Paul was moved even further in righteous indignation by the church’s apathy towards the sin.

According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance “puff up” From phusis in the primary sense of blowing; to inflate, i.e. (figuratively) make proud (haughty) puff up. - In this account indicates that the church did not take a stand against sin and implies that they were comfortable with the acceptance of this open sin. Paul continues to address the church, ...and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. The unconcern here points to the issue of a double standard being formed in the hearts and minds of this church and their willingness to disregard God’s mandate

5 Leviticus 18:8

8 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness.

Deuteronomy 22:30

“30 A man shall not take his father’s wife so that he will not uncover his father’s skirt.

Deuteronomy 27:20

20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

6 Romans 2:17-23

17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restesth in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

for holiness. ...and have not rather mourned Paul is continuing his rebuke in communicating to these leaders that those who are followers of God have the same emotions and sentiments concerning sin as He does. In other words, you ought to be saddened by the scandal this act has caused to the testimony of Christ. ...that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. In addition, you need to realize and be saddened that your brother has fallen and knowing the severity of God, he will be judged accordingly. Instead, they had accepted this behavior and therefore preferred this man rather than righteousness.

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, ...as absent in body Paul was not physically there with them. ...but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, Paul is saying, even though I am not physically there, I know the mind of Christ concerning this matter and have not hesitated to use that authority to judge in His stead.

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, ...In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ When we hear this phrase, we tend to think about “in the authority” of His name, but let us also consider “in agreement with.” Paul’s judgment is in accordance to that of the Christ within him. when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, Let’s take a closer look at Paul’s terminology here. He is speaking from the perspective of oneness with Christ. Paul is saying in essence the elders who gather together, his own spirit and Christ all have the same judgement because of this oneness. Christ is ultimately the one doing the work or making the decision.

Galatians 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Matthew 18:20

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

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

Again Paul reiterates the posture they have taken towards this sin is very detrimental and allowed it to contaminate and hinder others in their pursuit of God.

KJV Dictionary Definition: LEAVEN, n. lev’n. L. levo, Eng. to lift.

1. A mass of sour dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough or paste, produces fermentation in it and renders it light. During the seven days of the passover, no leaven was permitted to be in the houses of the Jews. Ex. 12.

2. Anything which makes a general change in the mass. It generally means something which corrupts or depraves that with which it is mixed. The bad example of a man of influence can be very harmful and can set the standard of the church. Listen to the righteous indignation of the Lord in this manner.

However, many of us would read this scripture and think Paul was very harsh; in fact, I did for a long time. However, the Lord revealed unto me His stance as it pertains to His body.