1 Corinthians 5:1-5 

¹It 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. ²And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? ³For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. ⁴So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Midlife Crisis

            Have you ever wondered about “Midlife Crisis?” What’s “Midlife Crisis?” The term “Midlife Crisis” is associated with struggles and concerns that may affect marital and family life. And who could be affected by midlife crisis? Anyone who is 35 to 65 years old may possibly experience midlife crisis accordingly.

            Experts suggest many factors that may trigger midlife crisis. But there’s no particular study that can accurately define the cause and effect of midlife crisis to people. Nevertheless, if midlife crisis bothers the relationship of husband and wife, the entire family (children included) will be affected. What do you think?

            Are you concerned about the possibility of struggle caused by midlife crisis? What can we do? You may search online what experts suggest. But first of all, it is better to seek guidance from the Lord and inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that you may discern which study or suggestion will benefit you practically.

            Midlife crisis exposes practically that whatever stage of life we belong, we may face possible challenges that may affect behavior. We trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Can he save us from crisis and provide solution for problems? By faith, we believe he can. It says in Colossians 1:9-10, ⁹Continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

            How strong do you trust that life pleasing to God is the best life we can ever have? If you’re not sure, pray that in every circumstance the Holy Spirit inspires you to grow in the knowledge of God and please him in all good works you do.

            The church of Corinth had problem of division. And they cannot agree on what they should do to someone who was engaged in sexual immorality. Some of the church attendees followed leaders who tolerated sexual immorality. Sexual immorality in the church of Corinth was terribly vile that even pagans condemn.

1.  Pagan

¹It 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. ²And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 

            The man who was reported to have committed sexual immorality may have been very influential leader, and some members in the Corinthian church have tolerated him. His parents may have divorced or his biological mother may have died, and his father married a young seductive woman, and so he was attracted to his step-mother. It’s possible that his father can’t physical confront or reprimand him because he was very old, maybe very sickly and weak or whatever reason.

            Apostle Paul described that the man sleeping with his father’s wife was a kind of sexual sin that is not tolerated even by pagans. Meaning, it is abominable. So, he decreed destruction of the flesh as verdict. How did Apostle Paul come up with such verdict? Did the Holy Spirit remind him of the time when King David was very old, and his son Adonijah wanted to marry Abishag? Who was Abishag?

Adonijah

            When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put cover on him. They searched for a young virgin to serve, take care and keep David warm. It narrated in 1 Kings 1:4-6, ⁴Abishag was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.

⁵Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. ⁶His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.

            Adonijah took advantage of the frailty of the old King David, but his smart plan to become king failed. Why? It was not within the will of God. King Solomon was chosen and anointed by the Lord as successor of King David. Adonijah tried another deception; he pressured Bathsheba the mother of King Solomon. So, she went and told King Solomon the request of Adonijah. 1 Kings 2:20-23 narrates: ²⁰“I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.” ²¹So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”

²²King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother—yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!” ²³Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request!” 

Abishag was concubine of King David. They slept together but no sexual relation.

So, why did King Solomon punish Adonijah with death for his request?

The Lord anointed Solomon as king of Israel, and he gave him wisdom to decide for the good of Israel. If the narrative is chronologically accurate, the death of Adonijah was the very first decision of Solomon as king of Israel. And that may have inspired what he advised in Proverbs 25:4-5, ⁴Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; ⁵remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.

            Can you agree that for the good of Israel, God inspired King Solomon to remove a wicked official? This principle to remove dross from silver and remove wicked official, relative or not, may have inspired Apostle Paul when he decreed that the man who committed terrible sexual sin must be ex-communicated.

            If even pagans cannot tolerate such wickedness will the church disregard it? Christ is the head of the church. We are crucial parts of Christ’s body—the church.

2.  Part

³For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this.

            Apostle Paul considered the Corinthians as his spiritual children; he sensed his parental obligation to admonish them not to tolerate in the church such sexual sin that even pagans cannot tolerate. When he said, “For my part,” he asserted that his decree against the accused man should not be disregarded.

Apostle Paul declared that he was spiritually present among them, although absent physically; he asserted that he was still significant part of their decision making. He decreed that for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus, the accused man must be put out and excluded from their congregational fellowship. Why?

It is sad reality that they tolerated the man who committed sexual sin; he was assumed to be one of the leaders in the Corinthian church. Meaning: he was very influential that no one dared to rebuke or admonish him; even preachers did not rebuke him. Nobody had the courage to reprimand him. Think about it!

If influential leaders tolerate immorality, ordinary believers may assume that it is acceptable as Christian behavior. When the majority do or follow similar behavior, it may become acceptable practice for everyone. What do you think?

Christ had exposed the things that may defile people in Matthew 15:19-20: ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰These are what defile a person.

The term “defile” is translated as polluted or contaminated. Before using a vessel, make sure it’s clean or sanitized. Drink purified water; don’t drink polluted water. The term “defile” can be properly interpreted also as “common.” Common people are defiled; they are not holy, sacred, consecrated or set apart for Christ.

 Brand new

            Have you heard this story? During special occasions, they buy new dress; after the special occasion, they return it for refund. Who knows if the brand new dress you bought was returned without being washed? Make sure you wash new dress before using it or you will be contaminated by underarm parasites. Huh!

            It teaches in 2 Timothy 2:20-22 ²⁰In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. ²¹Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. ²²Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Christ declares that evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander defile or contaminate a person. To clean the church from spiritual contamination, the man accused of sexual sin was excluded from church fellowship. Do you sense the presence of Christ during church assembly?

3.  Present

⁴So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

            Think of it! Christ is the head of the church; the church is the body of Christ.

So when we have fellowship as a church, the Holy Spirit of Christ is present. Christ inspires and empowers us to make decision and have activities glorifying to him.

Christ is with us; God is with us every moment of our life. That is amazing, right?

            Sadly, it was not understood and internalized by the Corinthians; and they tolerated a man who committed a kind of sin that even pagans could not accept.

Paul instructed the Corinthians to hand over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh of the accused man. How could that be? How can they deliver to Satan? Paul instructed them to exclude the guilty man from church fellowship. When they decided to remove the man from their church assembly, the Lord Jesus is present also; meaning, Christ approved their decision as congregation.

Many prominent Christians are reported to have fallen into the trap of sexual sin. Be prayerful! The human flesh is very weak to resist sexual immorality.

            Together, let’s reflect on what it declares in Colossians 1:21-22, ²¹Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ²²But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

            Without blemish and free from accusation is great experience in life. There is sense of peace when nobody accuses us of wrongdoings. Peaceful life is a result of active practice of faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit produces joyful peace in us. Praise and thank God for his grace and mercy. He gave us faith to believe Jesus Christ.

Beautiful Scenery

            Do you like watching videos of beautiful places? You’ve got to be physically healthy if you visit beautiful sceneries somewhere. To enjoy the surroundings, it requires extended hours of walking. The frail and sickly can’t walk for long hours. Travelling alone can be scary, if there’s no peace. There’s no peace in the church of Corinth; there was quarrel and division because they tolerated immorality.

Let’s reflect on what it declares in Ephesians 5:25-27, ²⁵Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 

            The celebration of the Lord’s Supper reminds that Christ loved us. He died sacrificially on the cross; he resurrected, returned and prepared heaven for you and me. By faith in Christ, believers become perfect without stain, wrinkle, blemish, but holy and blameless before God. Can you strongly believe that?

When Christ returns and we meet him face to face, will you be ready?

Pray for stronger faith in Christ to sincerely internalize that we are made perfect without stain, wrinkle, blemish, but holy and blameless before God. Amen?

And may the peace of God prevail among us as we fellowship with him.

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