1 Corinthians 6
Lawsuits Among Believers
1If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2Do 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? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church![a] 5I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!
7The 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? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.
9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And 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.
Sexual Immorality
12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."[b] 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Footnotes:
[a] 1 Corinthians 6:4 Or matters, do you appoint as judges men of little account in the church?
[b] 1 Corinthians 6:16 Gen. 2:24
3 comments:
I Cor. 6
Hi Guys,
Pretty intersting to see the how close the past is to today. We write people off so fast. It almost seems like a snapshot of modern day USA. Lawsuits o plenty. Still having a hard tie getting over how close it is to today. Anyway, obviously the personal sin part is seems to be more ofa struggle for me than bringing lawsuits against others. Paul reminds us that our body is not ours. I need to be reminded of that more and act like a good steward. Like Paul said, we must honor God with His temple!
cas
vs. 1-11 Raise several issues for me. Why do believers display disunity so frequently to the world around us? Paul drills the Corinthians on this in several chapters and here he drills them in the arena of lawsuits.
As cas pointed out, it isn't like I have ever sued a person in my life, so what is the big deal here. Just nice head knowledge?
Well, when I get to vs. 7-8 7The 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? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.
And realize that Paul is saying it is better to be the victim, then the victimizer. It is better to be wronged. When we begin to demand our own rights and status among the Church, Paul says we have at that point become "comletely defeated." That is some incredibly strong language. Knowing that Paul usually measures his words with wisdom, we really can't gloss over these too quickly. I know personally, that I demand my way often and will push others around at times to achieve it. And if I am wronged, then it is my RIGHT to get back. According to this, those are reactions purely of the flesh and not of the Spirit of God.
vs. 9-11 is such a great reminder of the transforming power of the Gospel for all of us:) Look over that list of "sins" and welcome to America...welcome to my life at times past. And yet, we are set free from the life centered in the flesh.
Washed
Sanctified
Justified
Praise the Lord for HIS GRACE!
vs. 12-20 is so needed today. It is so clear that we rush into bondage over and over whether in material wants, sexual stimulation, amassing power, walking in pride. The strength and focus Paul lays out for us as the "members of Christ himself" is huge. Paul seems to place an even more stringent view of sexual deviance (anything outside of the Biblical principle of one man-one woman for life) as needing extra care.
vs. 19-20 Not to go back to far in the musical archives, but it reminds me of the song by Talk Talk called "It's My Life." Ah, the 80's. lol But this goes right against the sense that my life is mine and no one can tell me what to do.
What a price that was paid. Christ.
What value bestowed. Infinite.
What an obligation of gratitude. Holiness.
Father God, you truly are an amazing God. We cry out for your forgiveness for seeing life as all about us and forgetting the reality of your atonement of our lives. May we be men that seek you first in the morning and late in the evening. May we be men that live transformed lives of service. Satisfied with our role in the body of Christ and not clamoring for the spotlight.
We continue to realize more and more that apart from You we are truly nothing. In Christ's excellent name we pray,
A-men.
1 Cor 6
I agree with cas- this definitely seems like it was written last week or last year, not many many moons ago. It is troubling (and somewhat takes the pressure off) to see that we are going through the same problems that the early Christians went through. I would hope that we as a group of believers would also learn from the past mistakes of our predecessors, but its clear that God wanted the tax collectors, the sinners, and the like because those of us who have sinned are more appreciative of His amazing grace.
Lord help your sheep see that you are leading us to a much greater place, and help all of us to recognize that all of these things here on earth are trivial--and will be destroyed by You. Help us to recognize that the more we have, the more we'll lose. Let us hold on only to those things that will be coming with us, our brethren and our families. In your amazing name,
Amen
In Christ,
crb
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