TEACHING NOTES Introduction In 1 Cor. 5 Paul began discussing the issue of sexual immorality in the church. Paul begins by addressing the specific situation that a member of the church was sleeping with “his father’s wife” or his stepmother. This was strictly forbidden both in the Torah law (Lev. 20:11) and in Roman law. However, the Corinthian church was proud of their accepting and affirming stance on this immoral behavior. Paul’s instructions are clear: if they will not repent, they must be removed from the church. Now Paul will further explain why sexual immorality is forbidden for those who want to follow Christ. ‌ Problem: The church is accepting/affirming immorality. ‌ Solution: ‌Christians are commanded to practice holy living. ‌ Review of the Context: ‌ 1 Cor. 5 The church is proud of their acceptance of a man sleeping with his stepmother. ‌ 1 Cor. 6:1-8 The church is allowing unbelievers to make decisions for believers. ‌ 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 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. ‌ Unrighteous = Grk. adikoi - unjust, unrighteous. Paul used this term in 1 Cor. 6:1 to refer to unbelievers in contrast to “the saints.” Believers are declared righteous by God because they are faithful to Jesus. ‌ Will not inherit the kingdom of God = The kingdom of God is an already and not yet reality. The kingdom began when Christ came and continues to grow all over the world. When Christ comes again, the whole earth will be cleansed of all evil and a renewed creation will begin. Those who have been faithful to Christ will “inherit” this new creation—the worldwide kingdom of God. Those who have chosen to reject Christ and continue living in sin will not inherit the kingdom. ‌ Do not be deceived = Grk. me planasthe - not led astray. The fact that Paul needed to say “do not be deceived” indicates that the Corinthians were deceived into thinking that you can live in sin and still inherit the kingdom. Paul uses this phrase three times in his letters (1 Cor. 6:9; 15:33; Gal. 6:7). ‌ Note: Everything in the following list of sins refer to those who are living in continual sin and refuse to repent. This is not referring to those who have once committed these sins and then repented. ‌ Sexually immoral = Grk. pornoi - This umbrella term is used in the Bible to refer to any sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage. This includes unmarried cohabitation (fornication), adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, pornography, etc. ‌ Idolaters = Grk. eidololatrai - Those who worship other gods which are depicted by idol statues. In the ancient world, people would create an idol from wood or stone and then perform a ritual to invite a god to dwell in the idol. This idol statue would be placed in a temple where followers would practice ritual worship. In the Old Testament, idolatry often included sexual immorality. In Corinth at the time Paul is writing, many temples to other gods existed and worship often included sexual practices. We could say that sexual immorality is the idolatry of sex. ‌ Adulterers = Grk. moichoi - Those who are unfaithful to their spouse. ‌ Men who practice homosexuality = Grk. malakoi arsenokoitai - Malakoi literally means “yielding to touch” and arsenokoitai literally means “man-bedder.” The word malakoi refers to the passive male partner during homosexual intercourse (the one being penetrated). The word arsenokoitai refers to the active male partner during homosexual intercourse (the one penetrating). Some modern authors argue that Paul is not condemning homosexuality but is referring to men who sexually abuse other men. This argument is nonsense because Paul includes the other party (malakoi) in his list of people who will not inherit the kingdom. Paul’s use of arsenokoitai was not a new word, but comes from the Greek Septuagint of Leviticus 20:13 “If a man lies [koimao] with a male [arsen] as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.” ‌ Thieves = Grk. kleptai - Those who make a practice of stealing. ‌ Greedy = Grk. pleonaktai - Those who desire more than is due. All cultures have an element of greed and our American culture is mostly driven by greed. As followers of Jesus, we thank God for what He has given us and we learn to be content. Being content is the opposite of greed and is the solution to greed. ‌ Drunkards = Grk. methysoi - Those who are drunk habitually. While the Bible does not condemn drinking alcohol, Paul clearly condemns being drunk in Ephesians 5:18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” The Bible also warns us that alcohol can be dangerous in Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” (also see Prov. 21:17; 23:29-35). ‌ Revilers = Grk. loidoroi - Those who are verbally abusive, slanderers. This would include gossip as well, because gossip is often slanderous in nature. ‌ Swindlers = Grk. harpages - Those who practice extortion. A swindler devises evil plans to take advantage of others for personal gain. ‌ Such were some of you = Paul is clear that if one is a Christian the practices listed should no longer be practiced. Contrary to modern ideas that Christians can continue practicing sin, Paul says these behaviors must stop. ‌ Washed = Grk. apelousasthe - washed off. Paul is arguing that in Christ our past sins have been washed off. The Corinthians are going back to their old pagan ways (immorality). That is like taking a bath and then jumping in a mud hole. ‌ Sanctified = Grk. hegiasthete (root: hagiazo) - Made holy, set apart from the world to be devoted to God. Living a holy life that is opposed to worldly living is not optional for Christians. Christ did not save us from sin so we could continue to live in sin. We are commanded to be holy/different/devoted lives. ‌ Justified = Grk. edikaiothete (root: dikaioo) - Made righteous. Those who are in Christ (that is, faithful to Christ) are righteous or right with God. ‌ Note: The New Testament gives a list of sins that will keep us out of the kingdom of God several times (Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:8-11; Rev. 21:8; 22:14-15). ‌ 1 Corinthians 6:12–13 12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated 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. ‌ “All things are lawful for me” = This is not Paul’s statement. Paul is quoting from the Corinthian’s letter to him. Paul will quote from their letter again in 1 Cor. 6:13; 7:1; 10:23. Apparently, the Corinthians believed that anything was exestin (authorized, permissible) because God is gracious. This is an abuse of God’s grace. ‌ Not all things are helpful = This is Paul’s response. Paul uses the Greek word sympherei, which means “profitable or beneficial.” ‌ Not dominated by anything = Paul uses the Greek word exousiazo here to say that no behavior should have authority over us. Paul believed that those who practice sexual immorality are allowing their sexual drive to dominate them. Much like a drug addiction, sexual immorality is like a destructive addiction that rules and dominates us. ‌ “Food for the stomach, stomach for food” = This is another quote from the Corinthian’s letter to Paul. This statement is a kind of veiled justification for sexual freedom. It’s as if the Corinthians are saying, “if the stomach is for food, then genitals are for sex. Therefore we can do what we want with our body parts.” ‌ Later in 1 Cor. 8 Paul addresses eating food that had been sacrificed to idols. There was division in the Corinthian church between believers who were arguing over whether Christians should or should not eat food sacrificed to idols. Not only did they think they had sexual freedom, but also freedom of participate in pagan feasts. ‌ God will destroy both = Both food and the stomach are temporary things that will be destroyed in the end. Both the body part and what you use it for will be destroyed, especially if we use our bodies to live in sin. ‌ The body is not meant for sexual immorality = Literally, “the body is for sexual immorality.” God created our bodies to be shared within heterosexual marriage. Any sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage is considered immorality or sin in the Bible. Paul is saying that there are limits and boundaries for what we do with our bodies. ‌ 1 Corinthians 6:14–15 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! ‌ Raise us up by his power = Since God cares about out bodies and will raise our bodies one day, we should also care for our bodies and what we do with them. ‌ Members of Christ = Since the church is the body of Christ, the members of the church are parts of Christ’s body. ‌ Members of a prostitute = Prostitution was common in Corinth and was even part of pagan worship in some of the temples. Corinth was famous in the ancient world for its culture of sexual freedom and promiscuity. Apparently, some in the Corinthian church were struggling to leave that culture behind. Paul is saying that when a believer “unites” with a person to whom they are not married, they are attempting to unite Christ with that sin. Obviously, this is sin and dishonorable to Christ. ‌ 1 Corinthians 6:16–17 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. ‌ One in body = Sex is not merely a physical action between two bodies. Paul is saying that sexual activity is also spiritual activity. This is why sex creates a bond that is difficult to break. This is also why God limited sexual activity to marriage. The only person we should have that kind of bond with is our spouse. ‌ “The two will become one flesh” = Paul is quoting Genesis 2:24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This is the basis for Paul’s theology and teaching on marriage. One and one woman being married for life is God’s will. Anything other than that and any deviation/perversion of that is sinful and destructive. ‌ Joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him = Since believers are “joined to the Lord as one spirit” sexual immorality is not simply between two humans. As Christians who have God’s Spirit within us, anything we do includes Jesus in the mix. When we commit sexual immorality we are involving Jesus in it. ‌ 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 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. ‌ Flee from sexual immorality = Grk. pheugete ten porneian - escape quickly to safety. Paul is clear that Christians must run away and stay far away from sexual immorality. In other words, we should have nothing do with this sin. This is why this sin was not tolerated in the ancient church. In the modern church, sexual immorality if often silently allowed. Couples are allowed to live together unmarried without correction. A man leaves his wife for another woman and a pastor performs the wedding for the new ungodly union. Pornography is barely mentioned or not at all. Ancient Christians would be shocked and would not believe our churches are authentic. ‌ Every other sin is outside the body = Paul seems to be saying that there is something unique about sexual sin. All other sins are “outside the body” or do not affect the body in the same way. ‌ Sexually immoral person sins against his own body = Sexual sin has unique consequences because of the unique unity that sex provides. In a literal sense, sexual promiscuity is dangerous to the body and can lead to medical problems. However, Paul is going beyond physical consequences to focus on a spiritual reality. ‌ Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit = While there can be many physical dangers of sexual sin, the real issue is defiling God’s temple—which is the body of the believer. In the Old Testament temple, sin was never allowed to be brought into God’s presence. God’s presence is dangerous to sinners who do not repent. In the same way, God’s presence resides in our bodies. We are flirting with danger when we use God’s temple for sexual sin. ‌ You are not your own = When we are in Christ, we are no longer our own. Life is no longer about our desires. We are called and commanded to live for Christ and to live like Christ. ‌ You were bought with a price = This is language of slavery. Just as a master would buy a slave from another owner, Christ has redeemed us from sin/satan and taken us as His own. This does not mean that Jesus paid satan off to buy us back. Jesus, like Yahweh in the Exodus, defeated satan and took us back. ‌ To live in sexual sin is to be enslaved again to sin. This is Paul’s Gospel response to the Corinthian problem. We have been saved FROM sexual immorality, not saved to have sexual freedom. ‌ Glorify God in your body = Since the body of the believer is the temple of God, we are commanded to bring God glory/honor in all that we do with the body. The entire purpose of the Christian life is to know God closely and bring Him glory. ‌ Why This Matters: ‌ If people living in unrepentant sin will not inherit the kingdom of God, then teaching and requiring repentance is not optional. ‌ If people living in unrepentant sin will not inherit the kingdom of God, and we refuse to teach repentance, we are complicit in their condemnation and prove that we do not love them. ‌ Current Problems: ‌- Some churches are avoiding this issue entirely. ‌- Some churches elevate certain sexual sins above other sexual sins. ‌- Some churches are affirming of sexual sin. ‌ Why are churches changing their stance? ‌- Recent cultural pressure ‌- Fear of criticism ‌- Fear of losing people & money ‌- Lack of solid Bible teaching ‌ 2 Timothy 4:3–4 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ‌ Conclusion In our church we will not be pressured by a godless culture to change what we teach or lie about what the Bible says. What God calls sin, we will call sin. When God commands repentance, we will command repentance. Why? Because we fear God more than people who hate God. We fear God more than people who want to change God’s Word. We will be faithful to the One who is faithful to us. ‌ Next Week: 1 Corinthians 7 ‌