The church has spiritual power. Through fellowship…

The church has spiritual power.
Through fellowship, we are spiritually strengthened,
and…protected from the power of the devil.
However, if we stop coming to church,
that power disappears, and we are directly exposed to the devil's influence.
…This is what Paul meant when he said, “He handed him over to Satan.”

It was so that the sinning brother would fully reap the consequences of his sins.
…And so that he would learn that there are consequences for one's actions.
…Therefore, Paul decided that this brother would be expelled from the church.
…And by excluding him from church fellowship, he said, “His flesh will be destroyed, but by this his spirit will be saved on the day of the Lord.”
Paul never hated this brother.
He didn't decide to expel him because he was…an obstacle to the church.
…No, rather, she loved him and wanted him to be truly saved.
Herein lies the true love that the Bible speaks of.
Spiritual salvation, not fleshly salvation, is true salvation.
…In this brother's case…being expelled from the church will cause him great misery, unbearable sorrow, and suffering.
…Physically, he will be in a very miserable state.
However, from that miserable state, he will learn the folly of what he is doing.
And he will try to turn away from sin.
…And when Jesus returns, he will not be condemned, but welcomed into heaven.
Shalom.

This page archives a Morning Word message shared by Pastor Peter Sunagawa on LINE. The English prose is a translation of the Japanese source message. For Scripture wording, use the BSB link above.