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First Corinthians Chapter Five

1. In addition to the divisive issues, Paul’s sources in Corinth also notified him of an arrogance in the local church that tolerated the presence of open sin in their midst (1st Cor. 5:1-8).
   1. A church member was committing incest with his own step-mother (v.1).
   2. The congregation was “arrogant” (v.2) and “boasting” (v.6) about their toleration for such behavior.
   3. They should have mourned instead, removing him from their assembly (v.2b).
   4. Paul surrendered the believer to Satanic affliction (Sin Unto Death) to preserve some blessing for him at the Judgment Seat (v.5).
   5. Removal was also necessary for the preservation of the local church (vv.6b-8).
2. In a previous (non-Scriptural) letter, Paul had warned the Corinthians not to associate with fornicators, coveters, idolaters, revilers, drunkards & swindlers (1st Cor. 5:9).
   1. They thought he was talking about the unbelievers outside the church.
   2. Paul was talking about the professing believers within the church!
   3. Each local church must keep its house in order.

First Corinthians Chapter Six

1. Just as we are not charged with judging outsiders, neither should we turn to outsiders to judge between us (1st Cor. 6:1-8).
2. The dividing line between believers and unbelievers should be clear (1st Cor. 6:9-11).
3. Since “we” are no longer like “them,” “we” should live appropriately—as His possession for His glory (1st Cor. 6:12-20).
   1. Our liberty must be tempered by profitability (v.12a).
      1. Does it profit us?
      2. Does it profit others?
      3. Does it profit Christ?
   2. Our liberty must be tempered by mastery (v.12b).
      1. Does it master us?
      2. Do we master it?
   3. Perhaps the most difficult mastery issue is the mastery of our own bodies.  Our redemption should be a motivation for personal holiness (vv.15-20).

First Corinthians Chapter Seven

1. Beginning with Chapter 7, Paul addresses a number of questions that the Corinthians had written to him about (1st Cor. 7:1).
2. Paul confirmed the Corinthians’ view that celibacy was good—for unmarried people (1st Cor. 7:1).
   1. Married people were not expected to be celibate except for specific periods of time for spiritual purposes (1st Cor. 7:3-6).
   2. Unmarried people are generally not gifted with a capacity for celibacy (1st Cor. 7:7-9; Matt. 19:12), and marriage is provided for the normal human sexual needs (1st Cor. 7:2).
   3. Unmarried people are blessed with the opportunity to have undistracted devotion to the Lord (1st Cor. 7:32-35), but it is not a sin to get married (1st Cor. 7:36-40).
3. Paul offered some specific marriage instructions (1st Cor. 7:10-16), building on the Lord’s teaching concerning marriage & divorce (Matt. 19:1-12).
4. Ultimately, our earthly circumstances (race, freedom, marital status, emotional states, business dealings) are secondary issues to our walk with the Lord (1st Cor. 7:17-31).