Evil Company Corrupts Good Morals

The Corinthian church was dealing with a morality issue that Paul had to stop. He found that the people were tolerating sexual immorality of a kind that was even rare amongst the gentiles. (1 Cor. 5:1) Instead of accepting it they should’ve mourned over this sin, they should’ve felt shame that would lead them to repentance and make the right choices to deal with this sin.

Paul told them in 1Cor. 5:9 "In the letter that I wrote you I told you not to associate with immoral people (in the church)." Ignoring this command of Paul’s created an unhealthy congregation. As when a human body is infected with gangrene which spreads, the mortified part must be cut out and removed in order to save the body, and that is exactly what Paul commanded them to do. "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves!" 1 Cor. 5:13.

This is delivering someone over to Satan, out of the church and back into the world with the hope they will one day come to their senses and repent

after having wallowed in the pigpen for a while. But this wasn’t the only thing they tolerated amongst themselves, in Paul’s teaching on the resurrection we see they put up with the false teaching that there was no resurrection from the dead. That led Paul to say, "Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.'" Meaning; false teachers are evil company just like the immoral brother.

The solution? Expel them! They should have been noble minded and searched the scriptures like the Bereans, testing the spirits rather than being worldly, arrogant and tolerant. Paul told them, "Become sober minded as you aught and stop sinning, for some have no knowledge of God, I speak this to your shame." (15:34). They could’ve known the power of God and the resurrection by having a proper attitude, by prayer, study and obedience to Paul’s commands.

Strive to have the Berean mindset. — Jim