Bad Company Corrupts
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person. (1 Corinthians 5:11 NKJV)
This is one of the most ignored Scriptures in the Bible because a lot of people do not understand it but Jesus said that heaven and earth may pass away but the word from God’s mouth won’t pass away including this one.
In this godly reminder, we are instructed not to keep company with immoral people. The reason for this is because iron sharpens iron, bad character corrupts, you can share someone’s judgement by association, dirty aura or spiritual garment from bad people can pollute your own aura or garment.
Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
Jesus is our own example and He was never intimate with immoral people. The only unclean person in His company betrayed and sold Him. Unclean people cannot help themselves, Satan controls them easily just like Satan entered Judas Iscariot so that he could carry out his will and betray Jesus.
Judas was a false brother. He was chosen as one of the twelve disciples. He was named a brother but he secretly loved sin. He was insincere, impure and false. He was driven by many desires and his way of thinking and dedication to God was faulty and flawed that is why the devil could use him. His love for sin and insincerity made him unclean.
Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” John 13:10
Jesus ministered to everyone and did not discriminate against anyone. However we all have a right to our personal privacy and space and it is not wise to bring immoral people into your personal space and inner chamber. Anyone who comes very close to you has access to your heart and spirit and the heart is very fragile.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23
Jesus had twelve disciples, yet he was more intimate with three out of the twelve disciples. The twelve disciples were His inner circle but Peter, James and John were the ones that were in his inner, inner circle. The inner circle is what I am talking about. The ones you eat with and share your heart and secrets with are the intimate friends. Intimate friendship is reserved for birds of the same character and for loyal, sacrificial, selfless, kind, committed and dedicated friends. It is not lovers of evil and haters of God. It is also not for betrayers of friendship, the envious, the jealous, slanderers, back biters and fair weather friends.
If someone is disrespectful to God and claims to be a Christian, you need to give him or her space. Paul is advising us against hypocrites who are named as brothers yet love and relish sin and immorality. He is advising us against those who bask in the false glory and pleasures of sin and this world. There is a difference between yielding to temptation in a moment of weakness and later feeling remorse and repenting and loving a sinful life.
Some people who are named as brothers have decided that some sins are not sins and they are hardened in that lifestyle. They love everything that the unbeliever loves and live contradictory lifestyles with the gospel. I have come across such brothers. They say fornication and homosexuality are not sins and they defend idol worship. Their consciences are dead but they put on the garment and cloak of Christianity.
They are the ones that Paul is talking about. They are the ones that give Christianity a bad name and make a mockery of Christianity but God will not be mocked. They are the ones that make atheists rejoice. Some fellow believers copy their false and sinful lifestyles and some unbelievers are repelled from Christianity and quote such people as their reason. Their excuse will not stand before God in the day of judgement but any brother that causes others to sin or repels people from the gospel will be dealt with by God.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18:6
This godly reminder is an instruction for all believers and should not be overlooked. The Holy Spirit talking through Paul has commanded us to keep away from brothers who are sexually immoral, idolaters, drunkards, extortioners, covetous and revilers. It is for our own good and the good of the church of Jesus Christ. If we want to be filled with the glory of God and make our vessels clean without any form of external pollution then we will take this godly instruction seriously.
May God help us to live in complete obedience to His will, be filled with His Spirit and become vessels of honor in Jesus name.
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Amen!
🙏❤️
This is so relevant to me right now. It also makes me sad because I do have a very close friend who is gay. He is an incredible person with a great faith and his own harshest critic. I won’t stop loving him, as he IS my brother in Christ.
We are called to love so you have to keep loving him. He is very precious to God and God is greater than every weakness. You have just stated that he is his own harshest critic so he is sincere with God. God loves sincerity and truth and those who do not oppose his word and contradict the scriptures. What God hates is pride and arrogance expressing itself in questioning God’s word and intelligence. Grace and blessings to you always. ❤️🙏
Thank you for this….tears, beautiful soul.
Thank you Michele. Grace and blessings to you always. ❤️❤️❤️🙏
Laura, after being on this earth for 74 years…I know this is the best choice we can make… always do what the KJBible instructs us to do…when we do not we enter in rebellion like Lucifer did…B.I.B.L.E. = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth ❣️🤠🤓🌹
Amen – basic instructions that are helpful and liberating. Thank you so much for this wonderful and inspiring contribution. We need to do what the KJBible instructs us to do. Glory to God for His word that guides our steps. Blessings ❤️❤️❤️🙏
These are wise words. I will not buy food from bad people either. We have to separate ourselves from them. The number of times I have been poisoned with food or drink by being polite to those immoral ones. It is just not worth. People do not realise the damage caused by being intimate with an evil person. The energy in intimacy affects the whole body it makes you very ill. Take care with whom you associate. Blessings
Amen. Thank you so much for this enlightening and helpful contribution. Your comment should be an eye opener to many unsuspecting people. So true, it is not wise to buy food from bad people or even bring them into our homes. There have been many instances of bad friends or bad people we bring into our homes poisoning, raping, stealing from family members or children all because of our carelessness. Some even arrange for the kidnap of their hosts family members just like Judas sold Jesus and collected money. We just have to ‘take care with whom we associate’ – well said. Grace and blessings to you always. ❤️🙏
Even Jesus was careless with those he associated with Judas.
He was not careless, He was destined to die that way and He already knew that Judas would betray even before choosing Him to be one of His disciples. The Scriptures had to be fulfilled. God knows everything- those who are good and those who are evil. He also knows that some people will refuse by their own choice to repent of evil doing. Judas is one of such people.
And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” Matthew 26:21-25
During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. John 17:12
Jesus as the son of God and a prophet was constantly led by the Spirit and had visions and revelations so He knew that Judas would betray Him. It was by choice not carelessness. He willingly gave His life and allowed it to happen because that was the will of God for the salvation of mankind.
Blessings ❤️🙏
Agree; so being, what it means to you:
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:13
Last week I was told why you want to convert saved?
Thank you so much for the beautiful words. Yes, He came to call sinners to repentance. His grace is sufficient. Blessings 🙏❤️
Thank you Laura. Tim
Thanks a lot for the response. Blessings ❤️❤️❤️🙏
Amen. We cannot be unequally yoked.
Yes, we cannot be. That Scripture says it all. Blessings ❤️🙏
Thank you for this reminder!
Thanks for the encouragnig and inspiring response. God bless you always ❤️🙏
I found out the hard way at school what bad company can do to you.
Thank you for the meaningful contribution. Yes, sometimes we find out the hard way. I also found out the hard way many years ago until the Lord started speaking to me about being unequally yoked. It is by God’s grace that we were preserved and God will keep preserving us. 🙏❤️
Amen! This is very true and we must take it very seriously. I’ve seen God remove people from out of my friend circle who won’t walking on that part of righteousness with me. And I’m quite happy about that as I continue to pray for their salvation. God bless.
Amen. Thank you so much for the very enlightening and meaningful contribution. God also made me part ways with worldly friends that I was unequally yoked with. The Lord will preserve us unto His heavenly Kingdom. Blessings 🙏❤️
Bless God always! You’re welcome! Amen, indeed! Thank you Lord!
Thanks for following my blog, and for your like of my post; you are very kind. You blog is very good; please keep up your good work.
Thank you so much for the inspiring and encouraging words. I love your posts and I am very glad we are connected. Blessings 🙏❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for your kindness.