In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Co 5:3–5).
In our previous episode, we discussed what it meant for Paul to be absent in body but present in spirit. We explained that even though Paul wasn't physically with the Corinthian church, he knew about the sexual immorality happening there. He agreed with their judgment as if he was present and ready to decide based on his received information. The sin was the inappropriate relationship between a son and his father's wife, which Paul considered an abomination beyond what even the Gentiles or pagans would do.
Now, let's explore what Paul means when he talks about gathering along with his spirit in the power of the Lord Jesus to deliver such a person to Satan. It may sound like an unchristian thing to say or do, but we must understand the purpose and the intended result.
Simply put, Paul suggests they will remove this individual from the church community and let them be influenced by the world, symbolically referred to as Satan. The purpose of this action is to allow the person to experience the consequences of their sinful behavior, leading to a realization of the seriousness of their actions. The goal is to bring about repentance and save their spirit in the day of the Lord.
Some people in the past misinterpreted this passage, taking it literally and committing harmful acts in the name of purification. This interpretation goes against the New Testament teachings and is unacceptable. A more reasonable interpretation aligns with the New Testament's overall message, focusing on discipline and restoration rather than harm and punishment.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the word "flesh" in various contexts and with different meanings. Here are some different ways Paul uses the term "flesh."
"Flesh" has different meanings in Paul's writings
Firstly, it refers to the physical body of a human. Paul uses it to compare the material aspect of people with their spiritual or inner nature.
For instance, in Romans 8:3, Paul writes, "The law was powerless to save because the flesh weakened it. But God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body, God declared an end to sin's control over us." Here, "flesh" means the human physical nature, which is prone to sin and weaknesses.
Secondly, Paul uses "flesh" to describe humanity's sinful tendencies or fallen nature. It points to the human inclination to sin and rebel against God's commands.
In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists the "works of the flesh" behaviors like sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, anger, and envy. He warns that those who practice such actions will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But how does Paul use "flesh" in this passage? Let's try to understand it. When Paul says, "deliver such a one to Satan," he means to remove the unrepentant person from the church's protection and fellowship. It's a way of saying the church should excommunicate or disassociate from the person involved in serious sin. By being outside the church community, they would be in the world, which is symbolically referred to as under the domain of Satan.
Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh
The phrase "for the destruction of the flesh" is not entirely clear, but it likely means that the person will face the consequences of their sinful behavior, such as hardships and difficulties. It does not advocate physical harm but aims to make the person realize the gravity of their sin and the need for repentance.
This approach is not about punishment but about loving correction. The purpose is to bring about genuine repentance and spiritual restoration for the individual's well-being.
We are reminded of the parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:11-32. While in the parable, the father does not remove the son from the family, we can see how the story relates to the concept of "delivering someone to Satan for the destruction of the flesh" in the sense of understanding the compassionate and restorative nature of the discipline.
In the parable, a younger son asks for his inheritance in advance, goes to a distant country, and squanders all his wealth on reckless living. In this case, the son willingly leaves the safety of his home. (in our years of service to the church, we have seen this too, where individuals chose to leave the fellowship to pursue their “flesh”)
However, when a severe famine strikes, the son finds himself in a desperate situation, working and longing to eat the food given to the pigs. Realizing his mistake, he returns to his father's house, hoping to be treated as a hired servant rather than a son, as he feels unworthy of his father's love.
The City
My wife and I have realized that living in the kingdom, abiding by its principles and precepts, is like residing in a peaceful city. It's a city where God provides everything necessary for a meaningful life and godly living. Within this city, we find safety, comfort, joy, love, and hope for the future. On the other hand, another city exists, the opposite of the first one. This city is engulfed in darkness, where selfishness reigns, and people are driven by their passionate desires and impulses. As Paul describes, all kinds of sinful behaviors flourish in this city.
When people leave the dark city and join the first city described, they fall in love with it. However, sometimes, not long after entering, the old city's desires and passions creep back in. The problem is that the first city cannot accommodate such things; they completely oppose its essence. Yet, some individuals want to persist in pursuing the passions they had in the old city while also enjoying the blessings of peace, fellowship, love, and acceptance in the new city.
In this scenario, Paul suggests that we let them return to the old city and allow them to experience it again. If a person wants to persist in lying, let them return to the city where it is practiced. Where they can lie, and be lied to, where they cheat and be cheated, where they can steal and be stolen from, where they can be foolish and drunken, and where they can experience the affects and effects of other drunken people. And perhaps they will remember the city of light, perhaps they will remember what they left behind, and perhaps they will “come to their senses” as the prodigal son did and return in repentance.
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