Identity

Chris Wall • I Corinthians 5:1-13

In a culture that often tolerates and even celebrates sin, God calls His church to live differently. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul confronts the danger of unchecked sin within the body and reminds us that membership matters. The church is not a casual gathering—it is a covenant family where we are responsible for one another’s spiritual health. This passage challenges us to mourn over sin rather than ignore it, to pursue holiness rather than compromise, and to lovingly confront rather than passively tolerate. Like leaven in dough, sin that is left unaddressed will spread—weakening our witness, confusing our message, and compromising our mission. Yet even in discipline, the goal is never punishment—it is restoration. God calls us to be a people marked by sincerity and truth, walking together in accountability and grace. A counter-cultural church is a holy church—one where we are known, where we pursue holiness, where we stand on truth, and where we fight for one another’s restoration in Christ.