Message Notes

Senior Sunday School 18 January 2026

Text: 1 Corinthians 5

Subject: “Not to keep company with sexually immoral people”

Lesson #28

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

1 Corinthians 5:9-10

INTRODUCTION

1. An explanation was given

2. There was some danger:

a) Misunderstanding

b) Misapplication of what Paul was teaching

THE MISUNDERSTANDING STATED AND ADDRESSED

1. Paul may be misunderstood

2. That he had taught them to be totally isolated from sinful people

3. That the believer must keep away from all sexually immoral people

4. This misunderstanding would create even more problems

a) Some would argue for “separation”

b) This could lead to “isolation”

c) This could lead to hypocrisy

THE EXAMPLE OF THE LORD JESUS TO BE BORNE IN MIND

1. Luke recorded a woman who bathed the feet of the Lord Jesus with her tears in the house of Simon the Pharisee Luke 7

2. A woman caught in adultery was brought to the Lord John 8

3. The Lord Jesus’ response

a) What He did not do

i) He did not separate Himself

ii) He did not isolate Himself

iii) He did not condemn

b) What He did

i) He forgave

ii) He urged them to sin no more

iii) He accepted all sinners for He had come to save them

QUALIFICATION MADE BY PAUL

1. He was well-aware of the sinful state of the world

2. A short list of people in the world:

a) Sexually immoral people of this world

b) Covetous people

c) Extortioners

d) Idolaters

3. We cannot escape from the reality of living in a sinful world

a) We do not judge

b) We do not condemn

c) They are in the world

d) They are not in the church

LESSONS FOR US TO PONDER OVER

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk As children of light

9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

14 Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

Ephesians 5:1-14

1. Paul urges all believers to walk in the light

2. They are not to follow the ways of the world

3. This approach would be normative