How to deal with sin.

How to deal with unrepentant misconduct – 1 Cor 5:5

Vs 5 – Paul presents an interesting thought here.  He tells the church to hand this man over to satan so that his body may be destroyed but his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.  There have been many interpretations on this verse.  The one that makes most sense is that they were asked this man to leave.  In doing so he would be outside the protection and influence of the church.  He would be subject to the world which is under satan’s control.  This would show him the folly of his ways and would help him to return to the church and be saved.  This of course did happen as reported in the second letter to the Corinthians.  In Paul’s day the only church was the local one Paul planted and the design of this discipline was to bring repentance which we know it did.  There are times when all avenues of church discipline have been exhausted and we are called to ask someone to leave.  The church offers spiritual protection but when one refuses it or chooses to continue to sin then it can or should be withdrawn.