5:9-13 Does this mean believers have the right to judge?
5:9-13 Does this mean believers have the right to judge?
Yes, not only do believers have the right to judge those who sin in the church, but the onus is upon them to do so (CP V5, 9, 11, 13 with Ro 16:17-18; Eph 5:11-12 and 2Ti 3:1-5). The fornicators, covetous, idolaters, railers (foul tongued abusers), drunkards, and extortioners referred to in 1Cor 5:11 are professing Christians, and Paul warns other Christians against fellowshipping with them.
They are to be put out of the church - excommunicated from fellowship as stipulated in V5 and 13. Otherwise, as we saw in our study on V6-8, the entire fellowship is in danger of being destroyed (CP V1-8). Believers can only judge sinners inside the church though - God judges those outside it (see also comments on 1Cor 5:6-7)
A great many Christians believe that scriptures do not permit them to make any sort of judgement at all against others in the Lord, but as is quite clear from this study, that is not correct. However, when Christians do judge, they must do so as fellow sinners, not self-righteously or hypocritically.
They must never esteem their morality above another's (CP Mt 7:1-5 [also Lu 6:37, 41-42]; Jn 7:24; 8:1-11; Ro 2:1-3; Ga 6:1-3; Jas 4:11-12). See also comments on Mt 7:1-5; Ro 2:1-4; Jas 4:11-12 and author's study Christians - on Judging Others in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1).