The Bible at various locations, talks about how Believers and Churches can become contaminated. When that happens, all who attend such churches are wasting their time because the Spirit of the Lord is not there. There are certain sins that cause a church to be contaminated and useless. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth to explain such a situation and how a church can be delivered from contamination.

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 5, Paul addresses an issue whereby a member of the church had married his stepmother. This is akin to a Married Pastor of a church sleeping and living with a married member of the same church. Apostle Paul first tells the church it is well known that there is fornication going on in the church. He tells the church members, they are so puffed up or prideful, to the point, they have not even addressed this terrible issue. Paul tells the church, even thou he is not present with them, he is with them in the Spirit and has judged the sin that is present in the church.

The Apostle Paul judges the sin by first telling the church members, “To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” For the church, this means, (1) excommunication from the church and (2) the chastisement of the guilty parties. Paul’s main purpose here is the ultimate restoration of the guilty party. If the guilty person is truly a Believer, he/she will eventually repent and come back to God. Hopefully, this will take place before Jesus comes for HIS people. This is in line with the Word, in Galatians 6:1 which says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest thou also be tempted.” If any congregation fails to abide by this Word, it is a clear the members are not spiritual. They only have a knowledge of God and are denying the power thereof.

The Apostle Paul goes on to tell the church that their glorying is not good. In other, words all of your praising and worship is of no effect to GOD. In fact you are making a mockery of God. He uses the illustration that a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump. The sin in the church by one or a few, contaminates the entire congregation. The Bible says this is not only true for fornicators and adulterers, but it is also true for covetous, extortioners, idolaters, railers or drunkards. The Bible says we should not even eat with such a one and to not have company with such a one.

Again, the purpose here is the restoration of the Believer. For we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But we must do all things God’s way and trust that HE will do the ultimate work of restoration.

Gilbert Owens is the minister at Kingdom of God Ministries.