Introduction:

A. Text: I Corinthians 5:6-7

1. Context: 

a. Fornication is going on in this congregation V.1
b. The church is “puffed up” so much that they are not even dealing with this terrible situation within the body of Christ in Corinth because of their arrogance v.2.

(i). Notice what Christ told the spiritually apathetic church at Laodicea he would do to them if they were “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:14-22).

c. The brethren in Corinth are not disciplining this brother as Paul knows they need to be doing V.2-3.
d. Paul tells them to deliver this one to Satan v.4-5.

(i). Paul lived by His own words (I Timothy 1:19-20).

e. Paul tells them to purge the congregation of this leaven, which is wickedness opposed to truth and sincerity as defined in verse 8, v. 6-7.

B. The church at Corinth ignored a situation because of their arrogance.  I have been told many times that the church in Butler would never tolerate error. 

1. Let me ask, would you know error if it smacked you on the head?  Could some here be guilty of being arrogant so much that they miss what is going on around them?
2. There are those among us who view the church as their church and they believe they can make up their own rules.  When one comes along and challenges their theology with Scripture, they reject the counsel of God and continue to serve their own bellies (Romans 16:18). 
3. What should a local church do when it is infected by these types of people who spread the disease of sin throughout the church?  We should purge just as Paul tells the brethren in Corinth to do… 

I. Know ye not that A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (SIN IS CONTAGIOUS)

A. When we think of leaven we think of the substance that causes dough to rise, or increase in size.  The Bible speaks of it in this way as well; for example - (Exodus 12:1-18).

1. The Bible also speaks of leaven as false doctrines (Matthew 16:1-12).
2. In the case at Corinth the leaven was wickedness (I Corinthians 5:8) opposed to truth and sincerity.

B. All it takes is a little leaven to shipwreck the faith of many. 

1. II Peter 2:1-3 
2. Acts 20:28-30 
3. Jude 3-4 

A. The church needs to “purge” (remove) those who are openly unfaithful:

1. We are to withdraw ourselves from the disorderly II Thessalonians 3:6 

a. But, we are also to admonish them to be faithful.  II Thessalonians 3:14-15 

2. The divisive we are to mark and avoid.  Romans 16:17-18 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”  NOTICE WHY – THEY WILL DECEIVE OTHERS 

3. After the first and second rebuke we are to reject those who will not conform to the truth.  Titus 3:10

B. In the context of I Corinthians 5 we learn that we are not even to eat with those brethren that are unfaithful (I Corinthians 5:9-11).

1. Notice the following passages:

a. Ephesians 5:11
b. II John 9-11

2. What about those who defend the erring?  - Proverbs 17:15; 28:4

A. We cannot forget that we have been purged from our sins (II Peter 1:9).

1. How?

a. In part - We repented (walked away from our sins) and were baptized (Acts 2:38).
B. The local church can be purged of sin, by purging the sinners.  I Corinthians 5:12-13 

2002 by Brian Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.