Sin's Power to Spread

Some things are very dangerous because of how they have the ability to spread. Just remember about five years ago when the Corona Virus broke onto the scene and began to spread all over the world. It effected many people with bad symptoms, and many people died. I know the doctors and scientists could not figure out how to battle that virus that turned into a pandemic. However, there is something that spreads even more than a virus, and it has even worse effects.

Paul had to warn the church at Corinth of the power of sin to spread. He used the analogy of leaven or yeast to represent sin, as the Bible does in other places, as well. (I Corinthians 5:6) He warned them that their glorying in the sins of other Christians was not good. God would not overlook them by His grace, but they would spread through the whole church if not dealt with quickly and correctly.

When one person sins and nothing happens to correct them, others get the idea that it is OK to sin. Therefore, they are emboldened to commit sins which they would not have committed before that happened. That is the danger of ignoring sins, or of even acting like it is OK for a Christian to sin. Sin separates us from God. Sin destroys our lives. Sin destroys churches when it is allowed to spread.

We must denounce sin in strong terms. If a Christian is openly sinning, someone must go to that person and urge them to repent, to stop sinning and do what is right. If that  person does not confess his or her sin, and repent, then, a couple more people must go to them and urge their repentance. If they still don't stop sinning, the whole church should be told and have a chance to approach them after praying for them.. If they still fail to repent, they are to be put out of the church, so people see the seriousness of their sin, and they can see their need to return to the Lord. That is how serious sin's power to spread is for the church.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 6-8.