Let’s Be Informed About Satan’s Schemes!

Every Believer has three enemies: the World, the Flesh, and Satan. It is to
the third, Satan, that we turn our attention to this morning. Satan is a
formidable enemy, BUT not invincible! He is a defeated enemy — not by
us BUT by Christ on the cross (Hebrews 2:14; Colossians 2:15) — but even
though he is defeated, he still awaits his final demise that will come at the
end of Christ’s Millennial reign (Revelation 20:10). He is not bound today,
and is very active in his work to discourage, harass, and devour believers
(1 Peter 5:8). How does he accomplish his work? What are his schemes?
That’s the focus of Paul in our text. He was concerned for the Corinthians
that they would be “outwitted by Satan”!
I. Background of Paul’s Concern — 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
A. The Corinthians were being tolerant and boasting about sexual sin in
the church! A kind not even tolerated among the pagans! 5:1-2
B. Paul instructs them to disciple the man from the church — purge
the evil person from among you!” 5:3-13
C. The church did it! They disciplined him out!
D. The man turned from the sin, but the church was not willing to
restore him back into the fellowship.
E. Paul wrote to instruct them to forgive him and restore him
2 Corinthians 2:5-10.