September 6, 1992
The Pharisees were masters at condemning others while tolerating within themselves the very same sins. Paul noted that this toleration of willful, persistent sin within local congregations affected the whole church as well as the watching world. Since Christians are made new in Christ Jesus, we should be distinctive, explains Alistair Begg, but not judgmental and isolated from the world.
6fYour boasting is not good. Do you not know that ga little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Let us therefore celebrate the festival, hnot with the old leaven, ithe leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote to you in my letter jnot to associate with sexually immoral people— 10knot at all meaning lthe sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, msince then you would need to go out of the world. 11But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone nwho bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12For what have I to do with judging ooutsiders? pIs it not those inside the church2 whom you are to judge? 13God judges3 those outside. q“Purge the evil person from among you.”
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