Throw the Evil Person Out!

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual sin among you. I’m told that a man is living with his father’s wife and is having sex with her. Even people who do not know God don’t commit that sin. 2And you are proud! Shouldn’t you be filled with sadness instead? Shouldn’t you have put the man who did that out of your church?

3Even though I am not right there with you, I am with you in spirit. And I have already judged the one who did that, just as if I were there.

4When you come together in the name of our Lord Jesus, I will be with you in spirit. The power of our Lord Jesus will also be with you. 5When you come together like that, hand that man over to Satan. Then his sinful nature will be destroyed. His spirit will be saved on the day the Lord returns.

6Your bragging is not good. It is like yeast. Don’t you know that just a little yeast works its way through the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old yeast. Be like a new batch of dough without yeast. That is what you really are, because Christ has been offered up for us. He is our Passover lamb.

8So let us keep the Feast, but not with the old yeast. I’m talking about yeast that is full of hatred and evil. Let us keep the Feast with bread made without yeast. Let us do it with bread that is honest and true.

9I wrote a letter to you to tell you to stay away from people who commit sexual sins. 10I didn’t mean the people of this world who sin that way or who always want more and more. I didn’t mean those who cheat or who worship statues of gods. In that case you would have to leave this world!

11But here is what I am writing to you. You must stay away from anyone who claims to be a believer but who does those things. Stay away from anyone who commits sexual sins or who always wants more and more things. Stay away from a person who worships statues of gods or who tells lies about others. Stay away from anyone who gets drunk or who cheats. Don’t even eat with a person like that.

12Is it my business to judge those outside the church? Aren’t you supposed to judge those inside the church? 13God will judge those outside. Scripture says, “Get rid of that evil person!” (Deuteronomy 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21, 24; 24:7)

Do Not Take Believers to Court

6 Suppose one of you wants to bring a charge against another believer. Should you take it to the ungodly to be judged? Why not take it to God’s people?

2Don’t you know that God’s people will judge the world? And if you are going to judge the world, aren’t you able to judge small cases? 3Don’t you know that we will judge angels? Then we should be able to judge the things of this life even more!

4So if you want to press charges in matters like that, appoint as judges members of the church who aren’t very important! 5I say this to shame you. Is it possible that no one among you is wise enough to judge matters between believers? 6Instead, one believer goes to court against another. And this happens in front of unbelievers!

7The very fact that you take another believer to court means you have lost the battle already. Why not be treated wrongly? Why not be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong. And you do it to your brothers and sisters.

9Don’t you know that evil people will not receive God’s kingdom? Don’t be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who are prostitutes or who commit homosexual acts. 10Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom.

11Some of you used to do those things. But your sins were washed away. You were made holy. You were made right with God. All of that was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Sexual Sins

12Some of you say, “Everything is permitted for me.” But not everything is good for me. Again some of you say, “Everything is permitted for me.” But I will not be controlled by anything. 13Some of you say, “Food is for the stomach. And the stomach is for food.” But God will destroy both of them.

The body is not meant for sexual sins. The body is meant for the Lord. And the Lord is meant for the body. 14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead. He will also raise us up.

15Don’t you know that your bodies belong to the body of Christ? Should I take what belongs to Christ and join it to a prostitute? Never! 16Don’t you know that when you join yourself to a prostitute, you become one with her in body? Scripture says, “The two will become one.” (Genesis 2:24) 17But anyone who is joined to the Lord becomes one with him in spirit.

18Keep far away from sexual sins. All the other sins a person commits are outside his body. But sexual sins are sins against one’s own body.

19Don’t you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is in you. You have received him from God. You do not belong to yourselves. 20Christ has paid the price for you. So use your bodies in a way that honors God.