Unity: A Gospel Issue

How it important is Gospel-Centered Unity for a church family?

How do you view Church? It is a place you go to from time to time, or is it a faith family to which you belong?

How do you view the people who make up a church? Do you see it as a place where you like and get along with certain people, but have no use for others?

Do you understand that how you respond to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ will have an impact on how effective your church will be in reaching your community with the Gospel of Jesus.

Today we will discover that the early church in Corinth was so fragmented that they were taking each other to court. But this revealed a deeper issue in the church. It revealed that they were not living in unity for the sake of the Gospel. They were mistreating each other, and failing to reconcile in a biblical way.

As we approach the Lord’s Table today, we are reminded that the body of Jesus was broken for us, and that His Blood was spilled for US.

The Symptoms of Disunity

1 Corinthians 6:1–5 HCSB

If any of you has a legal dispute against another, do you dare go 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 smallest cases? Don’t you know that we will judge angels—not to mention ordinary matters? So if you have cases pertaining to this life, do you select those who have no standing in the church to judge? I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between his brothers?

Believers were airing their grievances to an unbelieving world. Already you see a Gospel problem here. How can they claim to be reconciled to God through Christ and called to be one body, if they are so fragmented that they need to unbelieving world to settle their issues?

Believers had forgotten the proper order of things.

Saints (Christians) will judge the world. “Only God can judge me”? We hear a lot bad context about how we shouldn’t judge, but WE WILL ONE DAY JUDGE UNBELIEVERS who why would we think they can provide proper resolution for our stuff?

Saints will judge angels. Let that sink in. God puts a lot of responsibility on the Church. If we will have the role of judging angels shouldn’t we be able to work out ordinary issues?

Believers should find folks within the church who can help them get it worked out.

The Root of Disunity

1 Corinthians 6:7–8 HCSB

Therefore, to have legal disputes against one another is already a moral failure for you. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you act unjustly and cheat—and you do this to believers!

moral failure.- Total Loss- Updated version of the Holman says a defeat.... KJV… utterly a fault… When you fail to work out your issues with other believers. When you insist on being right to the point of taking them to court to win… you have already, completely lost.

The Cure for Disunity

What does a prompt look like

1 Corinthians 6:7 HCSB

Therefore, to have legal disputes against one another is already a moral failure for you. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather be cheated?

Instead of falling out, why not fall in?

Instead of insisting on being right, why not insist on getting right?

Instead of elevating your issues (all the way to the world’s legal system), why not elevate Christ together.

Instead of putting you and yours at the center of your world, why not put Christ and others at the center.

If we get to the place where we surrender to Christ “I am a follower of Jesus Christ first and foremost. I will prioritize my life, my values, and my everything around Jesus and getting His Gospel out to others.” it will revolutionize the way we view when we have been “wronged.”

Can I offer some very practical advise.

Refuse to gossip about people’s issues.

Refuse to share negative issues between you and some other brother or sister with others. Stop asking others to join you in being upset.

Refuse to believe you know the truth based on what one person told you. Proverbs 18.17 the first to state his case seems right until he is cross-examined (Are you calling my kid a liar, because my kid’s don’t lie. Well now I’m calling you both liars)

Refuse to take up someone else’s offense.

Be willing to forgive for the sake of the Gospel

Be willing to be let if go for the sake of the Gospel.

Be willing to be a peacemaker for the sake of the Gospel.

We are about to participate in the Lord’s Supper. Paul told us to examine ourselves.

Do you know the Lord?

Are you walking with the Lord close and clean?

Are you walking in unity with your brothers and sisters?

If you get ready to come to the altar and your realize you have an issue with a brother, get that right first, then come back to the altar. Do you need to offer forgiveness and reconcile with someone today?