Judging Those Inside
1 Corinthians 5:9–13 and 6:1–3

Judging Those Inside

Introduction
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 5:9–13 and 6:1–3 form a challenging and often misunderstood section of scripture. The inspired apostle reminds the church at Corinth that Christians have a responsibility not only to remain pure themselves, but also to keep the church pure. The church had failed to do this, tolerating sins among their members and even boasting about their tolerance. Paul makes it clear that unrepented sin of any kind—sexual immorality, covetousness, idolatry, drunkenness, dishonesty, or any other—must not be ignored or condoned.

At the same time, Paul explains that Christians cannot completely withdraw from the world. To be salt and light, we must interact with non-Christians. Our responsibility is not to judge the world—that judgment already belongs to God—but to judge those inside the body of Christ. This is not about condemnation but about discipline, accountability, and restoration.

Christians Must Not Condone Unrepentant Sin
Paul begins by recalling an earlier letter in which he warned them not to keep company with sexually immoral people (1 Corinthians 5:9). This includes all kinds of immorality—incest, homosexuality, fornication—and by extension, all forms of sin when left unrepented. His command is not simply about avoiding people, but about avoiding the appearance of approval. To eat with, fellowship with, or associate in a way that signals everything is fine when sin is unrepented is to share in that sin.

Clarifying the Distinction Between the World and the Church
Paul knew he could be misunderstood, so he carefully explained himself. He was not saying Christians must never interact with sinners in the world. If that were the case, believers would have to leave the world entirely (1 Corinthians 5:10). Instead, Christians are commanded to go into the world with the gospel. Jesus prayed for His disciples, not that they would be taken out of the world, but that they would be kept from the evil one (John 17:15). We must be among the lost to reach them.

But the standard is different for those within the body of Christ. Paul says, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person” (1 Corinthians 5:11). The problem is not that Christians stumble—every believer sins—but when one refuses to repent and lives in rebellion against God, the church must act.

The Purpose of Discipline: Keeping the Church Pure
Paul’s instruction is rooted in the call to purity. In verse 13 he commands, “Put away from yourselves the evil person.” To tolerate unrepented sin undermines the holiness of the church and weakens its witness to the world. In the first part of the chapter, Paul had already said that the sinful man should be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit might be saved (1 Corinthians 5:5). The goal is always restoration, never humiliation. Church discipline is loving when it seeks the sinner’s repentance and the church’s purity.

God Judges Those Outside; We Judge Those Inside
Paul draws a sharp line of responsibility: “For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? … But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person” (1 Corinthians 5:12–13). The world is already under condemnation because of sin. Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17). Our work toward outsiders is evangelism. But within the church, we are called to hold one another accountable.

Carrying the Thought into Chapter 6
The chapter division is artificial. Paul continues the same idea in 1 Corinthians 6:1–3. He rebukes them for going to law before the unrighteous instead of settling matters among the saints. Christians should not parade their disputes before unbelievers. If the saints will one day judge the world, surely they can resolve small matters among themselves. The church should be the most just and fair body in existence, capable of handling internal disagreements in a godly manner.

Practical Lessons for Today
This passage warns us against two extremes. On the one hand, we must not cut ourselves off from the world. To reach the lost, we must engage them. On the other hand, we must not ignore or condone unrepented sin among brethren. We cannot pretend everything is fine when souls are in danger. Our duty is to love enough to correct, to discipline, and to encourage repentance, always for the sake of saving souls and keeping Christ’s church pure.

Judging Those Inside Sermon Outline

• Introduction

  • Context: 1 Corinthians 5:9–13; 6:1–3

  • The need for self-examination and church purity

• I. Christians Must Not Condone Unrepentant Sin

  • 1 Corinthians 5:9

  • Definition of immorality and extension to all unrepented sins

  • Avoiding the appearance of approval

• II. Clarifying the Distinction Between the World and the Church

  • 1 Corinthians 5:10

  • Christians must interact with the world to evangelize

  • John 17:15 – In the world but not of the world

• III. Warning Against Fellowship with Sinning Brethren

  • 1 Corinthians 5:11

  • List of sins: immorality, covetousness, idolatry, reviling, drunkenness, extortion

  • Refusing to repent is the issue, not the struggle itself

• IV. The Purpose of Discipline: Purity and Restoration

  • 1 Corinthians 5:5, 13

  • Put away the evil person

  • Discipline aims at repentance and salvation, not humiliation

• V. God Judges Those Outside; We Judge Those Inside

  • 1 Corinthians 5:12–13

  • Evangelism is our responsibility toward the world

  • Accountability and discipline are our responsibility inside the church

• VI. Carrying the Thought into Chapter 6

  • 1 Corinthians 6:1–3

  • Christians should not take disputes before unbelievers

  • Saints are qualified to judge small matters

• VII. Practical Lessons

  • Avoid isolation from the world

  • Avoid tolerance of sin inside the church

  • Balance evangelism with discipline

Call to Action
The church today must learn from Corinth’s mistakes. We cannot compromise purity for the sake of tolerance, nor can we retreat from the world in fear of contamination. Our calling is to be holy in Christ and to shine His light in a dark world. That means loving sinners enough to share the gospel, and loving brethren enough to call them back when they stray. Let us be courageous, loving, and faithful in judging those inside, while leaving the world’s judgment to God.

Key Takeaways

• Christians must not condone unrepented sin among brethren (1 Corinthians 5:9–11).

• Association that signals approval of sin is forbidden (1 Corinthians 5:11).

• God has judged the world already; our task toward them is evangelism (1 Corinthians 5:12–13).

• Church discipline is for purity and restoration (1 Corinthians 5:5).

• Brethren must resolve disputes internally when possible (1 Corinthians 6:1–3).

• Holiness requires both accountability inside and witness outside.

Scripture Reference List

• 1 Corinthians 5:9–13 – Separation from unrepentant brethren

• 1 Corinthians 6:1–3 – Settling disputes within the church

• John 17:15 – Jesus’ prayer for His disciples in the world

• John 3:17 – Jesus came to save, not condemn

• Isaiah 59:2 – Sin separates from God

• 1 Corinthians 5:5 – Deliver to Satan for the destruction of the flesh

• Romans 16:17 – Mark and avoid divisive people

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO