This week we're focusing on 1 Corinthians chapters 5, 6 and 7. The sermon will mostly deal with chapters 5 and 6 but I've given some notes about chapter 7 at the end of these notes.

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HOLINESS
Reminder of the "mega-theme" of 1 Corinthians. They've been called to be God's holy people.

1 Corinthians 1:2 - To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

Check out these verses and realize how strongly they communicate the theme of being a holy people.
- 5:6-8
- 6:1-6 - The church will judge the world and angels. How set apart must we be in order to do this?
- 6:11 - notice the word "sanctified" used in this verse. It's a call back from 1:2.
- 6:19 - The church is the people full of the Holy Spirit. Could it be any more obvious that we are to be holy?

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THE MAIN PROBLEM IN CHAPTERS 5-7
5:1-2a – It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud!

Sexual Immorality
Greek term = porneia
Used as a catch all term for any type of sex outside of heterosexual marriage.

The bible gives one vision for the place of sex. Within a marriage. Everything else is "porneia".
Imagine how long the list Paul would have to write if he had to condemn every kind of sexual idea our minds could think of!

Questions to ponder:
Is there such a thing as sexual immorality?
Who defines what that is?

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WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE SEXUALLY IMMORAL PERSON? (5:2-13)

Verses 5:2-5:13 give instructions on what to do with the sexually immoral person. They are blunt and harsh.
"hand this man over to Satan" - the idea being that he'll repent
"Expel the wicked person from among you." - which is some Old Testament language found repeated in Deuteronomy

Important details to remember as we consider how to apply these verses:
- Paul instructs us to judge those inside the church
- From Jesus' teaching we know not to judge the heart, but we can judge actions
- These are not instructions for people who are struggling and desiring to change. They are for those who are "proud" and "boastful".

Questions to Ponder:
- Does it feel wrong to judge those inside the church?
- How should we apply this teaching?

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LAWSUITS AMOUNG BELIEVERS (6:1-8)

If you read these verses by themselves they feel like a separate argument. But they very much fit into the flow of what Paul is saying.

6:1-5 - Paul is saying they need to be able to just right from wrong in the church. Because one day they'll judge the world and angels. This is why he shames them for dragging each other into court. Why would they need the courts to judge? They are the holy people of God!

6:6-8 - Notice Paul's concern, "and this in front of unbelievers!" Paul is concerned about the witness of the church. Imagine people looking at them thinking, "These people can't get along with each other, and they drag each other into court just like everybody else."

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NOT YOUR OWN, BOUGHT WITH A PRICE (6:9-20)

This section flows from all that Paul has said thus far. It doesn't easily break into these neat sections like I have it in these notes. But if I had to make a break, I'd make one at verse 9.

6:9-10 - Paul makes it clear that there is right and wrong. Freedom in Christ does not mean we are free to live however we want.

6:11 - "what some of you were". - Paul is calling them back to who they are now in Christ.

6:12 - Paul seems to be referencing the letter the Corinthians sent to him here. They have these slogans or sayings the first one being, "I have the right to do anything". Apparently they thought they were free to do whatever they wanted!

6:13-17 - The second slogan being “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The idea here being, shouldn't we just use our body parts as though they will one day be destroyed and won't matter? To this, Paul will point out several truths: 1) The body is not meant for "porneia" but for God, 2) We will one day have resurrected bodies, hence our bodies matter, 3) Sex unites our body to whoever we have sex with. 4) Those who follow Jesus are united with him in spirit. **Notice the use of body in #3 and spirit in #4. Paul is pointing out how fractured your life will be.

6:18-20 - This is like Paul's big conclusion.

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CHAPTER 7

Let's be honest. Parts of this chapter are just weird to our ears.

A couple of things to keep in mind as you read it.
1. Remember, Paul is concerned about their sexual purity. Their holiness. So he's trying to help them work out complex real life situations.
2. Notice in 7:1, "matters you wrote about" - He's answering questions they asked.
3. This chapter carries on the same themes as 5-6. Particularly, "You are not your own, you were bought at a price." Have that verse ringing in your ears as you read chapter 7.
4. Realize that sex is nothing for Paul compared to faithfulness and devotion to Jesus (ex. verse 35).
5. Paul believes "the time is short" (verse 29), and "this world in its present form is passing away."
6. Notice in verses 10 and 12 Paul makes note that the commands are from the Lord. And then in verse 25 he makes it clear that these are his thoughts.