The Incestuous Man in the Church at Corinth

    Strange! Is Jesus the ruler of his churches, and does he permit the occasion of such reproach to his cause? Why did he not prevent the admission of this man, of whom he must have been fully aware? Why did he not prevent him from falling into this sin, as he was really, from what afterwards appears, a true member of his body? Many wise purposes may be seen in this instance of the Divine sovereignty. Christ here shows us our own weakness. There is no sin to which we are constitutionally inclined, into which we could not fall, if we were not kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. He here also shows us, that his churches are prone to neglect his laws, and to depart from his instructions. The Corinthians were already informed of their duty with respect to such offenders, else they could not have been blamed on this occasion. Hence we have the necessity for the continual care and watchfulness of Jesus over his churches. When Christians say, come and see my zeal for the Lord, they are not aware of their own weakness. No church of Christ could exist in purity for a single year, if left to the care of men, without the care of Christ. In this occurrence, also, Christ has given us a rule with respect to transgressors. Providence afforded this single example, to guide with respect to those who fall into sin in general. But there is still another purpose which this occurrence serves in the Providence of God. It gives occasion to the enemies of Christ and his cause to blaspheme. It draws forth an expression of that malignity with respect to God, which formerly existed in their hearts, but remained concealed till something presented itself that was calculated to give it utterance. This is still the case with respect to the conduct of David and Peter, and with respect to the misconduct of any of the Lord's people at present. It is in the wisdom of his sovereignty that God ordains such modes of detection of enmity to himself. Did they not hate God, instead of rejoicing in the fall of Christians, they would mourn for it. If the poorest Christian acts inconsistently with his character, it will be blazoned over the whole neighbourhood; and spoken of in circles, where, it might be thought, the name of the obscure individual could never find entrance. It is a relief to the guilty conscience. The ungodly are led to hope, that all profession is hypocrisy, and that

    there is no reality in the hopes and fears of Christians.

    Christians, though in God's sovereignty he may afford such occasions for the manifestation of disaffection to his character and truth, yet it is your duty to avoid giving such offence. It must be that offences come, but woe unto that man by whom they come. David gave occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, and on that account he was involved in trouble all his after life.