Are You Comfortable In This World?

Mark Cowan

April 30, 2014
1 Corinthians 5:10. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

The church at Corinth had a serious problem. One of its members was living with his father’s wife. Rather than discipline this fellow (according to Matthew 18:15-20) the church embraced him, and felt proud of themselves for doing so. Paul told the church that he had already turned this fellow over to Satan, and indicated that they should do so as well.

Paul had earlier taught that Christians should not associate with immoral people. The church misinterpreted Paul’s teaching, assuming that he meant they should not associate with the unsaved. “Quite the contrary,” Paul says. If one had to separate from the unsaved to be holy, one would have to depart from this life.
What Paul meant was that they should not associate with those who professed to be Christians, but lived immoral lives (like the fellow who was living with his father’s wife).

From this text, I think you can conclude that the Christian should not isolate himself from the unsaved, but should live out the gospel among the lost. You will remember that this is what Jesus was criticized for doing in Matthew 9:9-13.

However, for many, the paradox continues.
Many believers tend to lean toward one extreme or the other when it comes to “dealings” with the unsaved.
A common ground that these extremes have is fear.
One side fears becoming contaminated or corrupted by any type of association with the unsaved, so they avoid anything that they would consider to be, the appearance of evil.
The other side fears that lack of empathy or lack of understanding will not give their witness credibility so they believe that building a relationship with the unsaved will open doors of opportunity to minister.
>>Proverbs 29:25. The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

>>Matthew 10:1,16. 1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Today there is a great outcry against the plague of
“Wolves in sheep’s clothing” with an emphasis on avoidance, and very little mention of “The sheep going out among the wolves”.
Most of the “sheep” tend to want to stay in the safety of their “pastures” where they just get fed and get to lie down (relax), being protected by the security of the barbed wire fence.
They fail to realize that the “fence” that keeps out the wolf, imprisons them.
Jesus told the disciples how to behave out there in the world of wolves. Wisely and harmlessly.
>>Romans 12:16-21. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Church, the Body of Christ has been called to get out of their own personal comfort zones of self protection and yet not to indulge in the sinful acts and imaginations of the world.
Believers have been called to fear the Lord and no man or their abuses.

The world needs the message of The Gospel more in this age than any other. Sin is more blatant, more obvious and sinners are bolder than ever before. This is not a time for The Church that Jesus said He was building to allow the gates of hell to prevail.

>>Romans 10:11-16. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Romans 10:16 is most often connected to the verses following it concerning those who have heard and not obeyed.
What if we connected it to the verses before it?
>>Verse 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
Have they not been sent? yet not all have obeyed.