Christ is our Passover lamb, covers all our sin. Therefore turn from immorality.
1 Corinthians 5: Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.
4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people---
10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler---not even to eat with such a one.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
13 God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."
1 Corinthians 6: Lawsuits Against Believers
1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?
2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?
3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?
5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,
6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?
7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud---even your own brothers!
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Flee Sexual Immorality
12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.
13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"---and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh."
17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Things to think about…
1. Paul refers to a specific issue of immorality within the church, a man was sleeping with his father’s new wife, 1Cor 5:1. Seems unbelievable, but considering some of the things we see in our own day, it is not outside the realms of possibility. The church is to maintain its identity with Christ. Generally, what happens in churches is that if there is love and grace as well as biblical teaching, people will turn from their immorality and embrace Christ. If this is not the case then these folk generally stay away from the church, but not always. Church membership is one way the church makes sure that a consistent set of values and a biblical belief system is maintained within a church.
2. A little leaven goes right through the whole lump, 1Cor 5:6-8. When sinful behaviour is tolerated within the church, it spreads. Loving accountability and grace stop the influence and effect of certain sins from influencing the church. Paul makes the point that as we are unleavened through Christ as our Passover Lamb, we are to remove all the leaven of the world and its influence upon us. If we don’t do this our freedom in the promised land of Canaan is never fully realised because we are still enslaved with our worldly Egyptian chains.
3. Paul’s point is that the world will always practise sexual immorality and as such the church should not judge or separate from them in society, 1 Cor 5:12. Even though we are not of the world, we are in it. But if someone says they are a Christian and continue in immorality, there needs to be a separation of some sort. Church discipline is sadly necessary at times. Pray that the church elders have the wisdom and grace to know how to appropriately carry it out when required, but to encourage those who are weak in the faith to stand firm.
4. Why shouldn’t we take other Christians to court? Why should we promote peace and harmony within the church? Paul says that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, 1Cor 6:9 and taking fellow believers to court in this context as an unrighteous act. Paul mentions the sins of the world and then says “And such were some of you”, 1 Cor 6:11. This means that we should extend grace to others as a reflection of Christ’s grace upon us. The list given in 1Cor 6:9, 10 are not suggestions. These things keep you out of heaven. Holiness is not an option but an essential character reqauirement. Paul says this because we were washed and sanctified, vs 11, as such we must reflect Christ’s holiness by the way we live.
5. “All things are lawful for me," 1Cor 6:12, praise God, “but not all things are helpful”. Paul’s point is that we have amazing freedom and liberty in Christ, but this should not be abused and taken as a liberty to sin through immorality, 1Cor 6:15-20. We know that online pornography is a scourge of our day and age. If you are a mature Christian, please mentor and get alongside of younger Christians (male and female) and put in place good accountability measures. Never be afraid to ask the tough questions. Note that this is no longer just a young man’s problem, tragically greater numbers of young women are now viewing porn online. The real issue is a lack of security of the soul and a corrupted understanding of identity.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. 6:30pm every Wednesday. 5:30pm prayer.
Young adult Life group – This week – how do we know the bible is God’s word?
Prayer Points
1. Pray for the work we have going on with site development and TMR.
2. Pray for Helen who has badly damaged her meniscus. She is recovering at home.
3. Keep praying for Anna and the PlaygPatch on Fridays, pray for more families to be reached.
4. Pray for Chaplaincy and Kids Hope at Karalee State School. Training happened this week
5. Pray for peace over the US elections
6. The ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.
7. Church finances to continue to grow and expenses to be more than met.
8. Pray for Kids@Church, Life groups. Young Adults.
9. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Wednesday afternoons, 5:30pm at church. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
10. Pray about the possibility and planning of a Farmers Market at Chuwar Baptist Church once a month on Saturdays. Anastasia taking the lead on this. Pray for us as we plan
11. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for all the work done at the working bee on Saturday. Great effort.
2. Praise God for our Bean Redeemed Café team! Serving you every week
3. Reconciliation beginning in some areas in estranged families
4. Worship team did a great job.
5. Praise God for young people stepping up in a number of ministries.
6. New people helping with Playgroup.
7. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Ron Naylor – Creation Ministries International coming to CBC on the 18th Aug 6pm
2. Members meeting 25th Aug after morning tea.
3. Monday and Wednesday evening prayer at church 5:30-6:30pm
4. Life Group Wednesday 6:30pm at church.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for July...
Q. 22. What is Sin? A. Sin is any transgression of the law of God.
Bible References – 1Jn.3:4; Rom.3:20; James 2:9-11
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” Jer 33:3
