United in Witness

1 Corinthians 6:1–11 ESV

1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. 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.

Unity Means Disputes Should be Handled Internally

Jews did not regularly go to court or at least one headed by the local non-Jewish government.

They typically had a synagogue in the towns where there were Jews.

In essence, if you had 11 men you could have a synagogue and they would form one.

Thus, if there was a dispute, it would be settled within that small group of Jewish people within the synagogue. There was no need to bring outsiders into the issue, especially not pagans.

But we find it different amongst those in the Corinthian church.

Look at 1 Cor. 6:8

1 Corinthians 6:8 ESV

8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

Paul was concerned with their hearts and with the name of Christ within the community.

Paul was concerned that people of the Word and the Way knew that God’s Word was sufficient to handle their issues, their instructions, their civil dispute, their criminal dispute, and their familial issues.

According to John McArthur, “the Jewish teachers said that to take our problems to a pagan court is the same as blaspheming God, for it is in effect saying God doesn’t have an answer to this problem when in fact in their own law, the answer was there.”

There is but one reason to pursue an answer away form the church, because you did not like the resolution provided.

1 Corinthians 6:1–2 ESV

1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

Their disputes were easily handled, but they failed to judge righteously.

We can look back to 1 Corinthians 5 where Paul exhorts the church to do the right thing. He presses them to hold accountable the man committing adultery in their midst.

Paul reminded the Corinthians that the Saints will judge the world, along with Christ, in the end.

Matthew 19:28 ESV

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

1 Corinthians 6:3 ESV

3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

You see, Paul wants to continue to remind them of the grave issue of bringing an unrighteous judge to judge in righteousness.

Likewise as the Saints will judge the world, we will also sit in judgement upon angels.

2 Peter 2:4 ESV

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

So what is brought to mind is the understanding of competency among the church at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 6:4–5 ESV

4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,

So this means they bring their dispute before others.

How does this affect the testimony of the personage, ability, effectiveness, and love of Christ?

Look at vs. 6

1 Corinthians 6:6 ESV

6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?

If before unbelievers, then the testimony of unity is broken. And the testimony of the love the believers have one for another.

Unity In Theology Should Equal Theopraxi.

To know to do right and fail to do it is sin.

1 Corinthians 6:7 ESV

7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

Paul essentially points to their failure to work things out on their own was a simple diversion away from the truth known, taught, and practiced.

By going to court, the Corinthians and the name of Christ have been injured. No matter the courts decision.

Paul says, “Why not suffer wrong?”

Deuteronomy 32:35 ESV

35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’

For the brother to be hurt by the brother and the decision of the church to allow it to remain will be for the Lord to bring the consequence.

1 Corinthians 6:8 ESV

8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

But Paul speaks of their hurting each other.

Brother vs. Brother

How does this help the cause of Christ? How does this edify? How does this grow the church?

Unity with Christ is Freeing

Let’s read the ending to this section again:

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 ESV

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. 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.

Let’s go ahead and say what Paul is not saying:

He is not saying someone who has ever been counted among these sins is lost forever.

What he is saying:

Once you have been washed… Don’t go back in the mud hole.

A man is no longer bound to the old life…he has been freed from the bondage of/to sin by the blood of Christ.

“Washed”

“Sanctified”

“Justified”

In essence, you have been cleansed, set aside, and marked unto the Lord.