1 Corinthians 6,1-11
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
March 3, 2002
Intro: Paul continues to address a series of problems in the church at Corinth.
A- We should see this as any church that attempts to be in the world
Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1- BUT struggles to not be part of the world.
Turn to Ephesians 4:17-24
2- For this reason we’ll (CCO) go into
a- Christmas, Easter, Halloween, the skatepark, Elections.
- So as to win some for Christ.
Read 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Ø Up to this point Paul has dealt with (in the church) things that the world does according to it’s nature.
A- The illustration.
1- He has dealt with:
a- Divisions
b- Wisdom of man VS the wisdom of the cross
c- Pride
d- Fornication
e- And now in fighting with in the church that spills out into the world
- Going to the world to clean up messes with-in the church.
Turn to 1 Peter 5:1-9
1 Corinthians 6:1, Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
A- Remember what you learned in American Government class, our form of government is based upon the Greek/Roman system.
1- It was common in Greek society to excise this system when ever possible.
a- To take someone to court was a common thing.
B- Concerning the church there seems to be 2 problems here.
#1- Is Spiritual; They are a bad witness
a- A way of proving God’s existence should be the sanctification of His people.
#2- There is also a practical problem in that they are not
conducting themselves God’s way.
Ø I Exodus we saw God’s wisdom as how He intended to govern His people.
A- He 1st set them free from the world and the influence of it (Egypt and leaven)
1- In Chapter 18 He instilled a legal structure through Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro.
2- He used Moses’ inability to put in place the rulers of 1000, 100, 50, 10’s.
a- Once this structure was in place Moses received the law (God’s direction on how His people would be ruled and governed)
- Judgement would be just and fair for all.
Exodus 22:22-24, “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.23 “If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry;24 “and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
Proverbs 11:1, Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight.
THIS BEING THE CASE
Read verses 1-6
A- My experience is that most people are willing to try the church but end up in secular courts.
1 Corinthians 6:2, Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
A- Paul refers to the millennial kingdom age.
1- A time when we will be both Kings and Priests.
a- Formally a curse in the O.T.
- Fulfill in Jesus Christ in the N.T.
- Given to us in the future
Revelation 5:10, And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
Read Daniel 7:21-22
Revelation 3:21, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 2:26-27, “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father;
1 Corinthians 6:3, Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
A- What angles are we to judge
1- It’s God who will judge the fallen Angeles (2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6)
a- As angles are ministering spirits
b- And we will receive an exalted position as heirs.
- Judge = (krino) to rule or govern
Read verses 4-6
Turn to Matthew 18:15-20
A- Look at what you are getting in going to the church as opposed to the world with your disputes.
1- Someone who is directed by the Holy Spirit.
2- Someone who is accountable to God
a- A possessor of the fear of God.
3- And weather right or wrong, will judge in LOVE, GRACE, AND TRUTH.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Read verses 5-6
l- “It’s to your shame”
A- Now, if the counsel of the church is not received the courts of the world are there for purpose.
Romans 13:4, For he (government official) is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
1- But to allow it to go this far is a shameful thing for the church.
Read verses 7-8
A- When there is a lawsuit between believers that is brought into secular court both are already losers.
1- It is for this reason that we are to go to extremes, humble ourselves, be that servant we are always talking about.
a- Better to loose financially than to loose spiritually
Read Matthew 5:38-42
James 2:13, For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Ø All Christians should consider the example of themselves (you are no prize).
Read verses 9-11
l- Do not be deceived by yourself or others
A- If a church is deceived that it can go on doing the things that this church at Corinth is doing it will be rendered ineffective.
1- Paul asks them to look at the attributes of those who are not part of God’s Kingdom .
a- If these things apply to your lives your are loosing your flavor
Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
B- Remember this is who you were but are no longer
1- Kingdom of heaven & “Born Again”.
2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Peter 1:4, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Read verse 12
A- Whatever you were you are no longer.
1- “You were washed”
a- (Week 1), The word you heard that changed your life.
John 15:3, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
2- You were Sanctified
a- (week 2), To be made holy by the poser of the Holy Spirit.
3- You were justified
a- (This morning), Clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
Romans 4:22-25, And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Closing: Take the world and the church side by side
A- What is different, is there a difference.