In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 5, we have his statement of warning and admonition in regard to certain unChrist like conduct that occurred in the ecclesia and his threat to deliver the perpetrator of a certain sinful offence to Satan for “the destruction of the flesh.”
What was the object of this rather strange admonition to this ecclesia. The popular Satan does not concern himself with human beings of flesh and blood constitution, but it is so-called “immortal souls” he aims to subvert.
Paul’s object in this incident was to bring certain punishment to bear upon the offending member with the hope of saving him in the day of final reckoning and judgment. A literal destruction of the flesh, or body, would have meant death. In referring to his own fight against the motions of sin, Paul said : “I keep my body under, and bring it into subjection” (1 Cor. 9:27). He also exhorts believers to “crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts,” also “crucify your members.”
Those who had been buried with Christ in baptism unto death had become dead unto sin, and were called upon to live no longer therein, and were also required to “lay aside the sin which did easily beset.” So this offending member of the Corinthian Ecclesia was to be separated from ecclesial fellowship until he obeyed these commandments and learned how to “become dead to sin.” He must resist the flesh in its tendencies to sin, begin again to overcome the devil, or sinful impulses and inclinations, and, like the prodigal son, repent and turn his face back home. It is evident that this happy result was attained in relation to this offending brother from what we read in 2 Cor. 2:6,7. The flesh had proved itself to be much alive, and he allowed it to overcome him, instead of crucifying it with its affections and lusts. So he was put out of the ecclesia until he turned from his sinful ways and ceased to yield to the dictates of sin’s flesh, and truly put to death or crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.
It is also evident that in addition to being “put away” from the association and fellowship of the ecclesia, there were also certain disabilities visited upon him which caused him remorse and shame. The combined effects of these disabilities, with the sorrow of being deprived of the comforts of those of like precious faith, caused this offending brother to seek and find again the consolations of Christ’s love in forgiveness and mercy all abounding.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One