Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Avoiding Sinners

Paul explicitly explains what sinners to avoid in 1 Cor 5.9-13. He says to avoid fornicators and idolaters and drunkards and extortioners, people like that. With one important caveat. He does NOT mean to avoid people like that who do not claim to be Christians, because then one would have to exit the world (and if we do that, how do we evangelize the world). We are instructed to avoid so-called Christians who unrepentantly engage in such behavior. This is the important point.

Christians that act like the world and do not wish to change; are not concerned with repentance; want to keep on doing what they are doing, are to be avoided. Their lives deny Christ overtly. Avoid these types of people.

As to unbelievers who are fornicators and idolaters and drunkards, etc. Love them and tell them that Jesus can save them from all of that.

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