1 Corinthians 5

In today’s culture, tolerance is often celebrated as a supreme virtue. The world promotes the idea that all lifestyles, beliefs, and philosophies should be embraced and accepted without judgment. To suggest otherwise is to be labeled narrow-minded, bigoted, or intolerant. But what happens when this idea of tolerance creeps into the church? Is there a biblical form of tolerance that differs from the world’s standards?

In 1 Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul directly addresses a situation where the church in Corinth was tolerating gross sexual immorality. Instead of grieving over the sin, they were arrogant, boasting about their newfound “enlightened” tolerance. Paul, however, makes it clear that the church’s response was not only wrong but dangerous.

Paul doesn’t merely rebuke the man involved in the sin—he calls out the entire church for allowing it to go unchecked. His point is simple but profound: sin, like a little leaven, spreads through the whole batch of dough. If tolerated, it will infect and destroy the entire community. It’s a warning not just for Corinth but for every church that is tempted to excuse or overlook sin in the name of “acceptance” or “progressiveness.”

Biblical Discipline: A Loving Response

The world might see Paul’s instructions as harsh or intolerant, but in reality, his approach is deeply loving. True love doesn’t ignore sin or allow someone to remain in it. Just as a doctor must remove a cancerous cell before it spreads, so too must sin be confronted and removed for the health of both the individual and the church. Biblical discipline, Paul reminds us, is about restoration. It is about leading the sinner back to repentance and salvation while protecting the purity of the church.

Paul’s instructions echo the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 18, where we see the process of church discipline laid out: private correction, communal involvement, and if necessary, removing the unrepentant person from the fellowship. This isn’t about casting judgment or condemnation for its own sake; it’s about lovingly protecting the body of Christ and guiding individuals back to the truth.

Not Judging Outsiders: A Crucial Distinction

One of the most overlooked aspects of 1 Corinthians 5 is Paul’s clear distinction between how we treat sin inside the church and outside of it. In verses 12-13, Paul says, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked person from among you.’”

Paul makes it clear that our primary responsibility is not to judge or condemn those outside the church. The world will act according to its nature; people who don’t know Christ won’t live by Christian standards. And they shouldn’t be expected to! Our job is not to condemn them, but to reach them with the love and truth of the gospel. God will judge those outside the church—we are called to love them, be light in their darkness, and offer them the hope of Christ.

Unfortunately, many churches today have reversed this. We’re often quick to judge and condemn the world for its sin while turning a blind eye to ongoing sin within the church. Instead of running toward the lost in love, we push them away with judgmental attitudes while tolerating sin in our own house. This is the exact opposite of what Paul is teaching here.

Paul’s challenge to the church is to judge those inside the church—not in a hypocritical or self-righteous way, but with a heart for restoration, purity, and holiness. Meanwhile, we are to engage the world with grace, recognizing that they are spiritually blind, and it is only through Christ that they will find the light.

The Call to Purity

Paul’s message is clear: sin must not be tolerated in the church, because it will spread like leaven through dough if left unchecked. We are called to cleanse out the old leaven, just as the Israelites cleansed their homes during Passover, removing sin from their midst. Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed, and through His sacrifice, we are made new. We are to live as people who are unleavened, holy, and set apart.

Yet, this is not an invitation to self-righteousness or legalism. We must remember that we all fall short, and none of us are without sin. The difference, Paul says, is in how we respond to sin—do we grieve over it and seek repentance, or do we tolerate it, allowing it to take root and grow?

A Warning and a Hope

Paul concludes this passage with a reminder that our primary concern is not to judge the world but to maintain holiness within the church. The church should not be a place where sin is celebrated or ignored. Instead, it should be a place of truth, sincerity, and discipline, all motivated by love for one another and for God.

We must be vigilant about the purity of the church while extending grace to the world outside. Paul’s challenge reminds us to focus on addressing sin within our own community, and not to play the role of judge to those outside. Our mission to the world is one of love, evangelism, and a call to repentance, not condemnation.

Ultimately, the message of 1 Corinthians 5 challenges us to consider our own lives and the life of our church. Are we tolerating sin in ways that are damaging to our community and witness? Are we seeking holiness and purity, not out of a sense of legalism, but out of a deep love for Christ and His body?

Let us remember that, as Christians, we are not perfect, but we are called to live differently. We are beggars who have found bread, and it is our responsibility to share that bread with others while helping one another live in a way that reflects Christ. Through God’s grace and the power of His Spirit, we can confront sin, protect the church, and celebrate the freedom and new life we have in Jesus Christ. And as we go out into the world, let us do so with hearts full of compassion, offering the grace and truth that leads to life.