Some avoid this chapter because some could be offended. I do not mean to offend. I am looking at Paul’s instructions here to understand and thus to have hope, faith, and love to continue in my life.
Paul addresses sexual immorality in the congregation. Incest is specifically mentioned in 1 thru 5. He says that the man doing this should be put out of their fellowship. He equated it to handing the man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. (Lev. 20:11 says put him to death.) Yet, the man would be saved, for we are saved by grace through faith. In 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, Paul said to forgive him, love him, and bring him back into the fellowship because he stopped.
Paul then states that they were not to associate with believers who continually engage in 6 actions. He makes it clear that he is not including unbelievers. The actions are sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, alcoholism, and swindling. I do not believe Paul is introducing the law. Rather, he is giving direction to help the congregation from falling into destructive yeast that would cause them to fall into harmful practices.
Sexual immorality is defined in Leviticus 18, 19:20-22, and 20 as 5 actions. Sexual immorality is defined as incest, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, and during periods.
I am to help people, but only if they want to be helped. I am not and cannot force change on anyone. Forcing someone to stop a bad and even harmful habit when they have no desire to is a common mistake. Some who want change go through a 12-step program, good tool God uses. I know that I continually need to check my motives and actions to see if I am guilty of any of these, for I am tempted to fall into some of these harmful actions from time to time. Resist the devil, and he will flee.
