12 “For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore ‘put away from yourselves the evil person.'”
5:12
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside?
Those on the “outside” are non-Christians. Christians or churches have no authority over non-Christians.
Co 4:5, Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
1 Th 4:12, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
Do you not judge those who are inside?
Those on the “inside” are Christians in the local church. The local church receives members and has the responsibility to expel them.
5:13
But those who are outside God judges.
God will judge unbelievers at the Great White Throne judgment.
Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
Paul alludes to Deuteronomy 17:7; 24:7 in this sentence. He says that the local church is responsible for making judgments about believers’ moral behavior.
When they conclude that a believer is intransigent about sin, they are to expel that believer from fellowship in the local church. “Put away” is a command, so this action has no option.
There are times when we must undergo surgery to cut out the cancer. Sometimes, we must take drastic measures to avoid further damage to the church. It is always wonderful news when someone comes back to the Lord.
PRINCIPLE:
Making an issue out of sin rather than the solution to sin displaces the proclamation of the gospel with self-righteousness.
APPLICATION:
It is the local church’s responsibility to judge a believer’s intransigence regarding extant social sin. If there is no repentance, then it is the church’s responsibility to judge the Christian’s sinful behavior. The purpose of this judgment is not punishment but remediation so that the sinning Christian returns to fellowship with God.
It is bad business for the Christian to try to reform non-Christians before they experience regeneration. Reformation without regeneration is mere religion without Christ. All we do is make non-Christians respectable, all the while bypassing the need for the gospel. Many wives try to reform their husbands by creating an issue out of their drinking or other overt behavior. They give the impression that “If you get off the bottle, you will be a Christian.” This action is a mistake (1 Peter 3:1-6) because it will drive him from the Lord. They will choose the bottle if they must choose between the bottle and the Lord.
Thx for the commentary. It was always in the back of my mind and I never got the chance to take a real nice look at it. Now I understand. Thx and God bless.
Thank you for the blessing Alex.
Is 1 Corinthians 5:12 just for a local church or the whole Christian worldwide community as it is often used as a basis for judging other believers anywhere?
Nola, this verse is for believers everywhere. However, the Corinthian church refused to discipline the believer then when they finally did they carried the judgment to the opposite extreme. Paul had to reprimand them for not allow this believer back into fellowship of the church after he repented.
Just caught this scripture.
Mind blowing; so, we can never judge the lost on any level, even righteously? How do we call them out? How do we share the Gospel and tell them their wrong, headed for hell and need a Savior, as we were?
I get they’re not subjected to the law of God and can’t expect them to act like Christians. I work with lost people and had to “correct” them morally based on Scripture without mentioning the Bible.
I hope this makes sense.
Please, help my understanding and thank you for always being patient and answering my questions.
– Donnie
Donnie, the issue in 1 Co 5 is dealing with the local church, with Paul’s authority over the local church. He is saying that he did not have the authority, for example, to go to the city council of Corinth and make a judgment on their decisions. He says nothing about the Christian witness pointing out to the non-Christian that he is a sinner and stands in need of a Savior in this passage.
Thank you for that. What is your response when a non-Christian says, “only God can judge me” or “don’t judge me until your perfect”….?