Why would a church turn a sinning member over to Satan to take his life?
The church was to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh—physical life—so open sin would not keep bringing reproach on Christ's name. This was not spiritual annihilation; the person remained a believer, and the spirit would be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Les teaches that the Corinthian church, gathered together with Paul's spirit and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, was to deliver such a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. He clarifies that flesh, soul, and spirit are not the same, and Paul was not demanding the destruction of this man's soul and spirit as a believer. If this couple would not clean up their act and come away from their open sin, they were to be turned over to Satan's power to destroy the flesh and take their lives physically, lest they keep bringing reproach to the name of Christ. This does not mean they would be spiritually annihilated; the spirit would be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Satan could go only as far as God permitted, as in Job.