“Avoiding Judge Judy!”

1 Corinthians 6:1–11 CSB

If any of you has a dispute against another, how dare you take it to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the trivial cases? Don’t you know that we will judge angels—how much more matters of this life? So if you have such matters, do you appoint as your judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between fellow believers? Instead, brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers! As it is, to have legal disputes against one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves do wrong and cheat—and you do this to brothers and sisters! Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. 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.

The THEME of 1 Corinthians is, “Called to Be Saints!”

(1:2-9) – Believers in Jesus Christ are GLORIOUSLY SAVED!

Not only that, according to (2:12), we have been given ‘inside information’ as to the blessing and gifting of God, culminating in (2:16b)!

I have been SAVED by Christ, BLESSED, and GIFTED by Christ, given the SPIRIT and MIND of Christ; and I have been given all these things that I might LIVE like Christ!

Chapter 6 (through chapter 14) provides very PRACTICAL instruction on lifestyle changes that will set us apart and glorify God!

THIS MORNING we begin looking at “Avoiding Judge Judy!”

We must keep Chapter 6 in context to what Paul just said: (5:12-13)

Believers have the responsibility of ACCOUNTABILITY—even if it means that we, “…Remove the evil person from among you.”

Chapter 6 moves from WHAT (making judgments) to the WHERE!

If I am responsible to hold my brother accountable (and I am), then WHERE or HOW am I to do this? Do we give Judge Judy a call?

We need to be clear: This is NOT a message AGAINST the Court system!

God is NOT opposed to Courts or Judges!

Deuteronomy 1:13–17 CSB

Appoint for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will make them your leaders. “You replied to me, ‘What you propose to do is good.’ “So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and set them over you as leaders: commanders for thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and officers for your tribes. I commanded your judges at that time: Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge rightly between a man and his brother or his resident alien. Do not show partiality when deciding a case; listen to small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.

Romans 13:1–7 CSB

Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

The ISSSUE is the PLACE of judgment!

Paul begins with a REBUKE, and then gives FOUR REASONS to take your disputes to the Body of Christ!

REBUKE: Take Your Case to the CHURCH, not the COURTS! – (6:1)

By parading their problems before the unbelieving world, they were presenting a poor testimony to the lost!

John 13:35 CSB

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

IMAGINE, “In closing, let’s all sing, ‘I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…’ See you all next Sunday, except for you Bob, I’ll see you in court!”

According to Scripture we are all LIVING LETTERS, “…known and read by everyone.”

2 Corinthians 3:2–3 CSB

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God—not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

REASON #1: Saints ARE Qualified to Make JUDGMENTS! – (6:2-3)

1. Saints will judge the WORLD – (v.2)

Matthew 19:28 CSB

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Revelation 2:26 CSB

The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations—

Revelation 3:21 CSB

“To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Revelation 20:4 CSB

Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

2. Saints will judge the ANGELS – (v.3)

Curtis Vaughn – “If Christians are to be involved in such momentous judgments, why should they act as if unworthy to settle such trivial matters as earthly differences.”

REASON #2: Saints Should Be More Concerned with Their TESTIMONY Than Their RIGHTS! – (6:4-8)

1. The ISSUE: Who would you rather have heard your case? - (vv.4-6)

2. Their FAILURE – (vv.7-8)

They IGNORED the clear teaching of Christ!

Matthew 5:39–40 CSB

But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

There is something MORE IMPORTANT than whatever you lost in a dispute with a brother!

Philippians 2:14–15 CSB

Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world,

REASON #3: No One Gets Away with Sin! – (6:9-10)

Galatians 6:7–8 CSB

Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

All sin will one day be punished!

REASON #4: Saints Have Sufficient Experience Both with SIN and with FORGIVENESS to Make Right Judgments! – (6:11)

(v.11a) – “And some of you used to be like this…”

Paul then makes THREE STATEMENTS concerning our FORGIVENESS—all in the AORIST tense (a completed action in the past):

1. “But you were washed…” In other words, ‘made clean’

2. “…you were sanctified” – ‘…made holy ones’

3. “…you were justified” – ‘…made just’

CONCLUSION: “How should these truths affect me?”

Matthew 5:7 CSB

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 6:12–15 CSB

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Matthew 7:1–2 CSB

“Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.

Ephesians 4:32 CSB

And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.