If the end of chapter four was difficult to read, chapter five should drain the color from your face. Behavior in the church--and such as even the world would find reprehensible. Here's an outline:
v. 1-2 Paul has heard this report: sexual immorality that even the pagans wouldn't approve is going on in the church. The church, he says, is proud of it. Hard to imagine the church being proud of such behavior--but look at the response Paul expects, grief. The church should be grieved by such sin.
v. 3-5 A key passage. First off, although Paul is not with the church in Corinth physically, he is with them in spirit--that this matter needs to be dealt with most seriously. It is critical that the church--the whole church--agree, and stand together. Secondly, note that Paul suggests that by "handing this individual over to Satan" may actually be a tool in God's hand to "save his spirit on the day of the Lord." This is the intended end of such discipline, that salvation may result.
v. 6-8 The importance of this can hardly be understated. Paul uses the illustration of yeast and its effect on dough--a little bit works through the entire loaf. So will the yeasts of malice and wickedness corrupt the body of Christ if left unchecked.
v. 7-13 Paul is careful to differentiate: he is talking about those inside and not those outside the church. This may be the most crucial part of the teaching. We're to be wary of those who profess to be believers but who thumb their noses at truth and righteousness. In fact, at some point, we should disassociate ourselves from them. He's not talking about those who do not believe in Christ, however. Those outside the church fall outside of the church's reach of discipline.

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