Last week we talked about being accountable to each other, about judging people and such. This week we follow Paul’s thought processes as he uses the same principles to deal with the next issue.
He has heard that the people of the church are taking each other to court – suing each other.
1CO 6:1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?
It is an intriguing passage. What was going on here? What were they suing each other over? Obviously, Paul thought the issues where not enough that it required legal action. He thinks there should be a legal aid team within the church. Basically, that is what he is saying. Have people the church help you sought out the situation. (Funnily enough Ryde Baptist Church does have a legal aid organization within its church)
2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
Here we have a glimpse of what this is all about. I don’t think Paul is saying ignore the legal system but don’t use the legal system to your advantage. He is talking about trivial issues. Things that can be decided among the people who have the issue. And he thinks that the people in the church at
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!
Historically, early Baptists did have people to fill this role. Then it moved to the eldership, then in
But Paul is putting this forward to prompt an instant reaction. To shame them into changing their practice.
5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another–and this in front of unbelievers!
He places it where it needs to be put. God’s church and it’s reputation is being damaged. It is not about you, the issue or anything else. It’s about what God wants.
This next bit is intriguing.
1CO 6:7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.
He is saying, for the sake of the church it is better to be ripped off. Yes that is what he is saying. How does that sit. Doesn’t sound fair. Do the right thing and get ripped off. Well, you expect it from those outside the church, after all they are just in it for themselves. Maybe for the sake of the good of the church you have to cop it sweet. This is where it is missional – How the world views the church is dependant on how we treat each other. You know, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. And in the song it is repeated for emphasis by our love by our love.
Look where Paul goes now.
1CO 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the
This is a big spiral. Really bad stuff at first and it spirals in to include the exact issue that is being dealt with. Slanderers and swindlers. Sly people on the take, if it was written today it mind say tax avoiders and people who complain. These people are just as wrong as the people who do the big sins.
Here is something, which is a greater sin, murder or lying? Both have the same result as each other, they separate us from God. God views all sin equal. It is us who places grades on them. And this spiral shows us that the end result is the same. People who sin any of these are not God’s people.
Wow, that is huge.
But Paul is brilliant in his change of tactic here.
11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Some of you were. He is saying that the people of the Corinthian church, have placed themselves under Jesus control. Jesus has dealt with their sin issues. They are no longer supposed to be like that.
They are under God’s grace because of what Jesus did. Died on the cross. Rose again, Took our place, a sacrifice in our place. So why do we still sin??????? Why did they still take people to court for personal gain.
Maybe they had a wrong idea of grace, maybe they thought that if God forgives all sin, it doesn’t matter what I do He will just keep fixing it.
Look at the next verse.
1CO 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.
This is where we are heading next week. What is permissible for me to do? But just let me preempt next weeks sermon by saying this. God really wants the best for us. Some of the things that we can do are not what is best. The best for us is to be within His will and under His guidance. For example. I can eat chocolate, but it is really not good for my diabetes and blood glucose levels. But I can eat it.
God has in scripture a recipe for our holiness. That is what is best for us. More about this next week.
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