I Corinthians 5

“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean the immoral people of this world …” (v9).  Christians sometimes avoid “worldly” people while tolerating sin within their own fellowship.  Paul directed believers to do the reverse: to be in the world, with sinners, for the purpose of telling them about Jesus, but to firmly address blatant, unrepentant sin among themselves.  

Paul had harsh words (v1-5) for the “Christian” practicing sexual sin, but even for him it was hoped “his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (v5).