(1Co 5:3) “For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,”  People say we are not to judge others. That is concerning motives; things we cannot know. It is not saying we are not to judge what is right or wrong. Sin is sin, no matter who commits it.

(1Co 5:2) “And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.”  A little leaven will leaven the whole lump; sin overlooked will become sin embraced. We will accept first one sin and then another. Jesus said, (Mat_6:24b) “….Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Congregations will continue to go through the motions, but the Lord won’t meet with them.

(1Co 5:2) “And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.”   It is amazing to me how little God’s people care about the reputation of their Savior. God said of Himself that He is a jealous God. God help us to  love Him more.

(1Co 5:2) “And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.”  “Mourned” that such a sin would bring reproach to the name of Christ. How you treat others reflects upon that Holy Name you claim saved your soul.

(1Co 5:2) “And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” Chances are, they are “puffed up”, a reaction of pride, because someone speaking for God said, “You should rebuke such a person among you.” Reaction: “Who are you to tell me what to do?” I have seen it take place in churches.

(1Co 5:1) “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.”  Sexual sin is as far as one can get from the spiritual. It’s a complete giving in to the flesh.

(1Co 4:21) “What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?”   Few pastors rebuke because their sheep bite. Yet, like any setting forth of truth, love prompts our soul to put the welfare of both the individual and the church before our own.

(1Co 4:21) “What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?”  A pastor’s care of his sheep involves not only loving them, feeding them; but it also includes admonishing. Few pastors do so because they are afraid of their fleshly lambs. In our society our lambs bite.

(1Co 4:20) “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” In what way is the kingdom of God power? For the truly saved, it is a transforming power of the spirit, making it alive. The birth of life is eternal. This affects the very nature of the person, changing the desires to a longing to please He Who saved them. Power!

(1Co 4:19) “But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.”  Since we know that anger and pride are not of God, then we know they had not the blessings of the Spirit of God upon them. So, no power of the Spirit.