In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5: 4, 5

The person that the apostle Paul is referring to is a man sleeping with his father’s wife. The Corinthian congregation, aware of this, did nothing about it. Paul rebuked their casual attitude. It was unacceptable to allow the sin to remain among them. That prompted his above instruction to throw the rascal out.

But why, under any sinful circumstance, should the church turn a person over to Satan, and what does the destruction of the flesh mean?

From Romans 8: 5-8, 13; we have learned that the flesh has to do with the carnal mind, which naturally opposes God and has to do with the body engaging in lustful, physical, corrupt activities. This sinner’s deeds fit the bill by being a fornicator. So 1 Corinthians 5: 5’s “destruction of the flesh” pertain to the destruction of the carnal man.

The intent for turning one over to Satan has to do with discipline. The desire is that once the person is alone and under Satan’s influence, the person will come to his or senses and defeat the fleshly mind and body by returning to Christ through repentance.

This, though, turning the sinner over to Satan; I’d say is a last resort. Reading Matthew 18: 15-17, it’s understood that the sinner should first be singly and privately approached. Then if there isn’t a change, two or more concerned church members should get involved. If that doesn’t turn around the sinner, the church officially should be notified so that its leadership may attempt to restore the sinner. Failing that, it is then that Paul’s instruction to exile the sinner should be put into effect.

When’s the last time you’ve seen that happen; a sin publically practiced within the congregation? I’ve seen the public sin, but not ever the biblical process of discipline called for. It is shameful and unforgivable for churches to not follow the disciplinary formula all the way to the point of expelling the unrepentant sinner. It should be done, for obviously its purpose is to save the sinner from eternal death.

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Please read my related posting: Why Are Christians Afraid of Being Judgmental? Click here.