So truthful, it hurts!
The Lighthouse Sentinel
VOL. II NUM. III
2016 HOLY SPIRIT ALL RIGHTS PRESERVED
MAY / JUN
2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-21
PAID IN FULL
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: - Ephesians 3:8-13
Today's
News
Grace & Peace from God
Galatia, Turkey - Don't make the same mistake the church in Galatia did! Let Our Lord Jesus Christ speak to you through His word and live out the liberty that we have in Him. Don't be a fool!
The Risen Lord Jesus Christ told Paul to tell us that we have GRACE & PEACE with God The Father as well as with Him! The church at Thessalonica was a model body of believers but they wanted to know what would become of those that died before them. Read this short letter, (especially chapter 4) to find out! click here to read 1 Thess.
When you hear the phrase "The Second Coming of Jesus", what is your first thought? Is it "look busy"?? In Paul's second letter to the saints at Thessalonica he wanted to assure them that they were not of those that were asleep behind the wheel.....
COMMUNION: Why has the church complicated such a simple command? Starting in verse 23 of this letter to the church at Corinth, our apostle of grace was instructed by the risen Christ about things he had received and now wanted to deliver to us as members of the Body of Christ!
STARTED LAST ISSUE AND CONTINUED IN NEXT COLUMN
Corinth, Greece - The apostle Paul wrote two letters to this carnal fellowship who were not walking in The Spirit. As a result they were not demonstrating lives that would be consistent with how God viewed them; "complete in Christ". While the first letter dealt primarily with Paul calling them out on division, contention and fornication he reminded them that they were to be as faithful stewards of the mystery of God commencing in unconditional love towards one another.
Rome, Italy: There is therefore now is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. - Romans 8:1-11
Prophetic
News
Jerusalem, Israel: -
The book of Joel (click here to access) was designed to call the nation to repentance on the basis of the disaster of the locust plague, a token of the more devastating judgment of the coming "Day of the Lord". These judgments fall right in line with what God proclaimed according to the course of curses in Leviticus 26. The prophecy was also intended to comfort the nation with the promise of a future restoration and prosperity in the Day of the Lord, a day of deliverance for Israel and destruction for her foes.
But this great plague is but a mere microcosm of much greater judgment and wrath to come, and it ultimately looks toward the future “day of the LORD.” The book is divided into two major sections:
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The first section deals with the locust plague (1:1–2:17), which includes an actual description of the plague (1:1-12), a prediction of a future day of wrath (1:13-20), and a call to repentance (2:1-17).
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The second section presents promises of future blessing (2:18–3:21) including the land’s restoration (2:18-27), an outpouring of the divine Spirit (2:28-32), and the judgment of enemy nations and Judah’s renewal (3:1-21).
Joel prophesied of a coming destroying army of locusts, God’s punishment for sin being overwhelming, dreadful, and unavoidable. When His wrath occurs, there will be no food, no water, no protection, and no escape! The day for settling accounts with God for how mankind has rejected His word will be dealt with during this time. During times of stress it appears plainly that the cares of this world are most real to us but during this future day of reckoning—not the weather, mother nature, the economy, finances or threats from a foreign invader will matter. mankind will not be able to ignore or offend God forever and he will be forced to pay attention as His wrath is delivered.
This book of prophecy and future judgment of God is in direct contrast to how God is thankfully dealing with us today under this wonderful dispensing of grace! For the last two thousand years, Jesus Christ told Paul to proclaim - Grace and peace from God The Father and from Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Listen to Daily bible here and get through the bible in 1 year!
COMMUNION:
What have we done to such a simple command??
Part II
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
In last our last issue, we learned:
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Verses 23 through 26 of 1 Corinthians 11 brought attention to the fact that what Paul had received, He had received from the risen, glorified Christ!
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Paul had been told by Christ to deliver this particular news to us in order to "bring to remembrance" Christ's finished work until He comes again.
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We as one body should honor, celebrate and enjoy this blessing corporately and individually when we eat or drink.
Please note that these verses in Corinthians in no way represent "The Last Supper" which was indicative of a future time where Jesus Christ himself would again drink from the fruit of the vine with a believing Israel as His Bride. Here, believers must note that Christ was proclaiming what was prophesied in Jeremiah in regards to the coming of his new covenant (testament) with Israel (see Jeremiah 31:31-34). Mistakenly, these verses in Corinthians 11 (otherwise known again as "The Last Supper") cannot be for the bible specifically says in Matthew 26: "Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." The key thoughts here are:
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Christ Himself said He would keep the Passover.
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The "new testament" was to Israel as prophesied in Jeremiah 31
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His blood would be shed for "many" and not "all" at this point in the Book of Matthew because Jesus Christ had not yet revealed what He Himself would accomplish for all of mankind at Calvary
But for members of the Body of Christ, we must not read ourselves into Israel's promises unless we attempt to minimize who we are and what we have in and through Jesus Christ. Further, when we have communion under this administration of grace, our emphasis should be on the risen Christ for He is alive sitting at the right hand of the Father. In addition, communion as Jesus Christ revealed to Paul should provoke us to be thankful for the position, blessings and righteousness we have because of Him who loved us!
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
In verses 27 through 29 some interesting doctrines have been developed by our church leaders. Pastors and teachers have convinced believers that they could lose their salvation or be guilty of the body and blood unto damnation which would result in the loss of eternal security! If this is what many teach from these verses, then why would I EVER partake in communion and risk damnation or a fracture in my relationship with God? By not partaking, I'd be better off then risking doing something "unworthily"! In fact, how does partaking in such a lovely event put me at risk to undo something that I never earned to begin with?
COMMUNION: next column
Part II
Special note to the reader: This is PART II of the series which started in last month's issue. ("Jim-Bob's" questions and dialog will be in BLUE. My responses and dialog will be in RED - Rick)
Q: It is God's grace that these people (referring to early Acts - RICK) even have an opportunity to accept Christ at this point, the fact they were cut to the heart was an act of the Holy Spirit in their lives, what Peter asked them to do was led by the Holy Spirit... remember that the Holy Spirit didn't answer the question "How do we get saved?", the Holy Spirit answers the question "what do we do now?"
A: I have no argument with this. God’s grace has and always will be in effect in regards to the salvation of mankind. It’s always been by His Grace that enables man as a free will agent to either take God at His Word or not.
Q: Remember, when Jesus said, if you love me you will keep my commandments? Do you throw that verse into your kingdom gospel bin and say that we don't have to worry about obeying the Lord to show that we love Him? Not for our salvation mind you, but for our Christian lives. Again, I know that you are going to say that it is by His grace that we can do anything good on our own, but I know that I can choose in my life between obeying the Spirit or not... Do I show Jesus that I love Him by living a sinful life justifying what I do by saying that I am saved through faith. Certainly not right?
A: 1) I throw nothing into any bin because it’s already there. You tell me, under what program was God dealing with mankind when Jesus walked the earth when he made the statements about keeping His commandments? Law or Grace? I think you know that answer. If under the law, why should I make it my doctrine? Why is it that we are so desirous to keep the commandments of Jesus Christ when we neglect what He revealed to Paul? If I am going to obey Christ by the commandment and earthly ministry, then I better find a temple, an altar and some animal crackers… : ) Christ came to die, to take our punishment that we deserved, crucifying our sins to the cross. His burial was full proof of His death and the banishment of these sins while His glorious resurrection is a testimony of His power over death and its sting (ref 1 Cor. 15). As God veiled in flesh, He lived the perfect life as a man, not so that we can say WWJD I’ll follow you step for step Lord! If that is true then we better practice our water walk for starters. He showed us His perfection as a testimony that He is God and we are sinful man. He lived the perfect life and you and I can only live through Him to be successful. He lived the perfect life for us on our behalf!
Galatians 2:16-21
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
2) What believer would think that he is demonstrating the love of God by living a sinful life? If they understand grace that way, then they don’t understand grace. That is the crux of Paul’s epistles. Because of this exceeding grace, the love of Christ should constrain us to not sin. But as Paul explains so wonderfully in Romans 7, the desire to fulfill the sins of the flesh are at war with our desire to serve God!
Romans 7:18-25
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
The moment that we are in “that” sin, we are living a sinful life. Does that mean I am not saved? Of course not! So whether I am in a sin for 5 seconds imagining myself surfing with BayWatch babes or living a life of sin 24 / 7, I am in Christ because He has delivered me (past tense) from this body of death, Praise His name!! The very big difference….... is the practical, real consequences of the types of sin, the length of time in my sin, as well as my testimony. How about the fact that I have to give an account as a steward or manager of God (1 Cor. 4) with what I have done with the grace of God as I stand before the Lord Jesus? I hope I have been clear in this matter.
Q: Then why do you have such an issue with the fact that when these people where were "cut to the heart" convicted about their sin asked what do we do now, that Peter told them to turn from their wicked ways, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit?
A: What they did was right; I have no problem with it. However, read carefully what Peter told them to do. 1) Turn from their wicked ways, 2) be water baptized and 3) receive the “gift” of the Holy Spirit. Nowhere in Paul’s letters will you see that as the ingredients to salvation. I think we have been over this before.
Q: Shouldn't that be our response to getting saved?
A: No way.
Jim-Bob's Comment: Those 3000 people would not have been added to the church unless the love of God had cut their heart and the grace of God (Christ) had died on the cross for their sins. Grace needed to save those people as much as it is needed to save me. To say that these 3000 people got saved without the work of the grace of God in their lives would fly against the work of Christ on the cross, which was the message that Peter was preaching.
A: I agree with you and I commented on the issue of grace above. Don’t make the mistake of confusing “grace in a dispensation” with “the dispensation of grace”.
Jim-Bob's Comment: I really feel like you are trying to build a doctrine on assuming certain things and that is a scary place to be.
See "LETTER" in next column, scroll down if using smart phone
A letter from friend...
Coffee Corner
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
A relationship with God?
Letter from a Friend
Continued
A: Please clarify this with the scripture to back it up. Please let the consistency of the work of Christ and grace be what forms your opinion. Jesus Christ is the common theme from Genesis to Revelation. He consistently saves (Praise Him), but due to man’s disobedience, His mercy, grace and love are displayed as He in His long-suffering changes the way He deals with mankind throughout mans existence as clearly shown in the Word of God. As you know, Adam’s good news, Enoch’s good news, Noah’s good news and Abraham’s good news (ref. Heb 11) were all “gospels” with distinct instructions for each of God’s dispensings. The consistency of the cross was always there, they just didn’t know it! Nobody knew it until Jesus Christ told Paul about it for our behalf!
Romans 16:24-27
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen
Ephesians 3:1-7
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Q: It is impossible for us to get saved unless we choose to believe that He is who He says He is and what He says He’s done! We can't choose unless the Lord "cuts our hearts" How do we choose we have a heart that turns toward Christ... There is no way for us to believe or have a faith in Christ unless that individual makes that choice. That choice in its very nature is repentance. But we owe all that to Christ too because it is his kindness which leads us to repentance!
A: I agree with this statement also Jim-Bob. Where we differ is that you believe that what we should now believe under grace is what is being done in Acts 2:38. That mixes law and grace and is one of the many examples of why there are so many denominations across the Body of Christ as well as confusion. Rat poison is 99.05% percent cornmeal and .05% strychnine. It’s the .05% that gets the rat. Satan’s deception is to mix a little lie in a lotta’ truth and the Body of Christ has bought it. Satan, the chief counterfeiter, has made God’s mystery revealed to Paul and its glorious components a “mystery” to the body of Christ as we sit in our apathy among beautiful buildings, fancy clothes, and self-righteousness.
Final Note: As mentioned at the beginning of this 2 part article, the purpose of showing this dialog is to edify the Body of Christ as we defend the faith as instructed by the apostle Paul. The battle is not with those who question. Questioning is good, for without it, man could never learn! The battle lines are drawn as stewards of God's grace "gird their loins" against the legalists who reject the liberty that goes with this distinct "faith" preached exclusively by Paul as he received it from Jesus Christ.
In this politically correct world we live in, the thought that anyone could have a relationship with God can be deemed as offensive. First, and unlike ever before, you'd have to get over the hurdle of determining which God you are talking about! The world has its share of deities ready to either take your money, guilt you into submission, send bad karma to you or rejoice in sending you to hell because of all of your evil deeds.
But the true Christian faith speaks of a God (THE God), who Himself decided before the foundations of the world to save you. He just wanted to prove our wretchedness (through the writings of the Old Testament) so that man could never say that God didn't give Him a chance to work things out on His own, or even seek God himself. So anyone who is impatient or angry with God about His justice, really should read the Old Testament. However, Saul of Tarsus, a trained Hebrew Pharisee who was persecuting those that had professed faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would be God's chosen apostle to the Gentiles. Saul who is better known as Paul received special revelations from the Risen, Glorified Lord, Jesus Christ. Paul would spend the better part of 30 years receiving instructions from Christ in a glorified state even many years after His death, burial and resurrection. Christ's focus was to tell Paul about how He reconciled mankind to God The Father at Calvary. Mankind had proven to be at enmity with God since the garden in Eden and could not be trusted to obey God or take him at His word during his existence. Man was and is an utter failure and desperately needs God. God certainly knows that, but wants man to admit that and come to Him exercising his own free will.
Man who is rebellious and sinful by choice and practice needed an advocate to be able to have a relationship with God. God through the person of Jesus Christ became sin, Christ, who knew no sin, that we might be made the rightness of God through Him. The apostle Paul placed a condition on this relationship with man having to accept or believe God the Father's Word on this matter. Once ANY person, bond or free, male or female, Jew or Gentile accepts God's Son as their substitute for access to heaven, they will have the hope of eternal glory and security.
You do not have to read the Old Testament or perform any number of "do's and don't's" to get right with God. Jesus Christ took the issue of sin off the table at Calvary and has offered His very righteousness as THE way to access heaven and have a relationship with God.
Earth News
Corinth, Greece- When I think about the moral standards of today and what our young adults have to deal with, it makes me shudder. Clearly, the standards have regressed beyond what we all could have imagined 10, 20 or 30 years ago. But I am encouraged for our youth because there is STILL hope; and that hope can only come through Jesus Christ.
I don't think the answer is to pretend that there isn't a problem or cramming our youth into as much church as possible or ensure that every waking moment they are part of a youth group. Helping our youth live and be an effective and productive Believer requires "collective" work that starts in an immediate family setting and biblical principles are then reinforced second by second, minute by minute, hours by hour, each day, month and year through those caretakers they interface with during the most important years. As parents and guardians, we can have control and influence to some degree. But if a child knows that they can come home to a safe place where they are loved, heard and respected we will have an advantage in this present evil world.
However, when Paul was addressing the Corinthian saints, he candidly brought to light an issue of morality that transcended well beyond any notion of chronology among people. Let's check out what the apostle Paul has to say on this matter in the first view verses of 1 Corinthians 5.
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
- 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
He told the saints (yeah, the saints) that it was reported commonly that fornication was among them. In other words, Paul had heard this accusation with his own ears and it was altogether accurate. In fact, this particular sin was so egregious it wasn't even typical within the pagan nations! Although the actual infraction was called out, Paul told them this was symptomatic of a much bigger problem. A mindset of sexual immortally had crept into this body of believers. They had not mourned (literally as if there was a death) about this type of immortally and that it must not be condoned by their unwillingness to deal with this issue. These saints had thought that by permitting this, they were somehow appropriating MORE of God's grace. While it is true that "whereas sin abounded, grace would much more abound", Paul would later instruct these saints that their bodies were temples of God the Holy Spirit and that their bodies (both physical and spiritual) were for The Lord (1 Cor. 6). These saints were abusing their liberty that they had in Christ. They were boasting of how they handled this issue when they should have put these offenders from among typical fellowship lest this sinful attitude would continue to flourish.
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. - 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Anytime this is done friends, the end objective should be to reconcile believers back into fellowship.
Paul reminded them to not identify themselves with those that were unrighteous (in their standing with God).
9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Paul takes an approach in dealing with sin that is typically not followed in ministries today. Paul challenges their thinking while reminding them who they are in Christ Jesus.
Today, when believers fall into some type of sin, more often than not, they are condemned and their salvation challenged as if to imply they were never a child of God to begin with. This type of teaching and church environment is legalistic and destructive to say the least. If we are to help a brother or sister and ensure they are reconciled back into fellowship with each other, unconditional love MUST be at the forefront of this plan.
It is obvious though in this example that the magnitude of the immorality written about here, something large scale had impacted these Grecian saints. Only a renewal of the mind of Jesus Christ and His great love for us can save us from ourselves and each other.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. - Romans 5:6-11