What's Wrong With Courts
Notes
Transcript
Handout
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Forbidden Lawsuits
One thing about the church, the church never publicized that it’s perfect; but we certainly do publicize our imperfections and rather grossly at times; and here is one of them that the Corinthians were making a big deal out of in that community.
Admonishing the Wrong
Admonishing the Wrong
Now Paul asks a series of 5 Questions.
Question 1: Do you dare go before the unjust world instead of saints to settle legal matters between Christian brothers (v. 1)?
Question 1: Do you dare go before the unjust world instead of saints to settle legal matters between Christian brothers (v. 1)?
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
This question in the Greek is forceful!
Paul was shocked, indignant and outraged at this audacious act of prosecuting a brother in Christ before the secular law courts.
He says, “How dare you do this act!”
These Corinthians were taking their law problems, disputes and complaints before the unsaved judges, bringing the name of Christ low and ruining the testimony of the local congregation.
Surely the Apostle Paul did not mean that a Christian should never go to the secular law courts against unbelievers. If a lawsuit is brought against us by an unbeliever, it may be necessary for us to defend ourselves.
Nor was Paul saying the Christian would not get justice before the secular courts because the courts were corrupt.
Actually, the Romans as a whole had an excellent law system. Nor was he saying a Christian should never use the secular courts to defend his cause for even Paul himself said, "I appeal to Caesar". The thing Paul is critical of is Christians taking other Christians before the secular courts.
He was stunned that one Christian would prosecute another before the secular courts where an unbeliever was presiding. Even the Jews understood that disputes were to be settled among the brotherhood, for they had a maxim which said,
"It is a statute which binds all Israelites, that if one Israelite has a cause against another, it must not be prosecuted before the Gentiles.”
Yet these carnal Corinthians had not even reached the Jewish standards and it was a disgrace. Paul’s point was that all lawsuits between Christians should be handled by church courts within the local church and not in the secular courts.
I am going to go out on a limb here because I do not think that this passage says a Christian should never go to the secular court against another Christian. What is taught here is that Christian courts should be used before the secular courts are even considered.
The general rule is that
The church does not go OUTSIDE with INSIDE affairs.
Yet, there may be exceptions only after the church court system has been utilized.
Question 2: Do you not know your high and exalted authority (vv. 2–3)?
Question 2: Do you not know your high and exalted authority (vv. 2–3)?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Lawsuits are to be handled by the saints. When a Christian is wronged or defrauded by another Christian, either the elders or qualified men of wisdom within the local church are to set up a church court.
The question naturally arises as to whether Christians are competent to make these kinds of judgments?
Can they handle the technicalities?
Paul’s answer is that Christians will one day rule and reign over the world with Christ in the future kingdom.
and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
If we Christians are to rule with Christ in the future kingdom, can we not judge in the smaller, more trivial things such as money, property, damages and personal reputation?
These are very small things in light of eternity.
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
In eternity, Christians will judge angels. This probably refers to the final judgment of wicked angels where we will with Christ delve into the motives and hidden desires and urges of supernatural beings. Because of our future status as judges over men and angels, we ought to be able to preside in the mundane affairs of life, the elementary squabbles which deal with the simple things of life. The Corinthians had not been doing this. They were letting unbelievers do it in the secular courts.
Question 3: Do you choose unbelievers as judges who have no standing in the church (v. 4)?
Question 3: Do you choose unbelievers as judges who have no standing in the church (v. 4)?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
The Apostle Paul did not mean to dishonor these secular judges. He was saying a secular judge who does not understand the relationship of one Christian to another, who has no concept of the family of God, who does not understand that Christians are members one of another, should not judge on matters concerning believers. The dignity of secular judges does not give them authority in the church of God. Whether honorable or not, if they have not been born again, they have no standing in the church, and are not qualified to judge in spiritual matters.
Question 4: Is there not a wise man in the church (vv. 5–6)?
Question 4: Is there not a wise man in the church (vv. 5–6)?
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
Paul spoke with tongue in cheek, with great sarcasm.
The Corinthians were so proud of the fact they were men of wisdom, sophisticated Greeks, yet there was not one wise man among them who could arbitrate their disputes. To have a dispute with a brother is bad; to take that dispute before a secular court is worse; to let unbelievers in that law court judge in the dispute is worst of all.
What Paul was arguing for was arbitration within the church for settlement of disputes. If a brother has wronged or defrauded you, then go to your elders and ask them to set up a court of law within the church to arbitrate the matter. This would have a phenomenal impact upon our society if Christians settled all their disputes between themselves in such a fashion.
It can be documented that the early church did set up courts to arbitrate disputes between Christians. The courts were set up in the early part of the week. It was the elders or some particularly wise man who arbitrated in these sessions. By holding court in the early part of the week, decisions could be rendered before Sunday so that the fellowship of the assembly would not be disrupted and the parties could sit down together at the Lord’s Table. This practice stopped when Constantine made Christianity the official religion in Rome and church and state were wedded. The result was that the church thought they no longer needed to handle their own problems and turned over lawsuits to the state.
Question 5: Why not give in—suffer being cheated rather than running the risk of cheating a brother (vv. 7–8)?
Question 5: Why not give in—suffer being cheated rather than running the risk of cheating a brother (vv. 7–8)?
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
To have an unbelieving judge arbitrate for two Christians is a defeat regardless of the verdict. No matter who wins the lawsuit, the cause of Christ suffers. People are turned off when they see believers fighting each other in an open, aggressive, hostile way.
What lawsuits among Christians means to the watching world is that Christians are no better off than non-Christians.
What have we to offer the unsaved world if we have to get unbelievers to settle our disputes? For so many pastors and Christians it is a new revelation to learn that Christians are not to go to secular court against each other. They don’t understand that the early church never went to the secular courts to settle problems. Throughout history, many Christians have used church courts.
When a church court makes a decision on a dispute that decision is binding. Quite often there is compromise and middle ground found, and the decision is to be accepted by both parties, even though neither party may be very happy.
I have seen church courts where two disputing parties come to agreement through compromise. Both agree on a settlement. Then one party leaves and decides that the decision is not fair. Therefore, he balks and wants more money. The ultimate outcome is that the other party refuses to pay what he did not agree to pay. Consequently, nobody receives anything, and the work of the church court was in vain.
Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why not rather be cheated?
If we cannot prosecute our brother, if arbitration is impossible, then there is a third option.
Deprive yourself of your right when wronged.
When you consider the damage and injury that may be done to the body of Christ, you may decide to drop the lawsuit altogether.
A Christian should voluntarily take wrong, even if he is right, rather than go to court (outside the church) against a brother.
The Christian should voluntarily take wrong and say, "I leave it all with God. I'm not going to say anything about it. If they wrong me, You understand, 0 God.”
Christians are to give way to any aggressive, self-centered attitudes, insisting upon their own rights at all cost.
Without complaint, gossiping, accusations or bitter spirit, an offended brother is to follow the example of Christ who, when wronged, gave up His rights, committing Himself to God who judges righteously. As Christians, we should never forget we are called to demonstrate a different lifestyle before the world, one in which we are ready to surrender our personal rights for the cause we serve.
Admonishing those Wronged
Admonishing those Wronged
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
OUR CORRUPTION AS SINNERS
OUR CORRUPTION AS SINNERS
The conditions that Paul described in verses 9–10 are descriptive of many believers. Like the Corinthian believers, many of us were saved out of such a life. Paul wants to remind us of what we were before we were saved; and what we should be since we have been saved!
Lost in Condition
Lost in Condition
This verse details our lost condition and describes the consequences of that lost condition. He says that we were “unrighteous.” The word “unrighteous” simply means “unjust.” We were not right with God! We were His enemies,
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
The result of our lost condition is that we were not an heir of “the kingdom of God.” We were cut off from God in this life and the life to come, Eph. 2:1–3, 12.
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Low-Down in Character
Low-Down in Character
Lost people live like they do because of what they are. Their condition is manifested in their behavior. In verses 9–10 Paul cataloged a list of sins that are characteristic of the lifestyles many lived before they were saved.
Sexual Corruption.
Sexual Corruption.
Fornicators: those who lived in sexual immorality before they were either saved or married.
Adulterers: those who were unfaithful to a marriage partner and lived a life of infidelity. (Can also refer to spiritual idolater!)
Effeminate and abusers of themselves with mankind: those who lived a life of homosexuality, transvestism, and other gender perversions. (Ill. These perversions were the downfall of the Roman Empire! 14 of the first 15 emperors were reportedly homosexual! This abomination is destroying America too!)
Spiritual Corruption.
Spiritual Corruption.
• Idolaters: those who worshiped and bowed down to false gods and false religious systems.
Social Corruption.
Social Corruption.
Thieves: those who steal and take away from others.
Covetous: those who in a greedy fashion desire what others have.
Drunkards: those who are bound by alcohol and strong drink.
Revilers: those who destroy with their tongues and wound with their words.
Extortionists: those who steal indirectly and take unfair advantage of others.
Paul’s words in verse 11, “And such were some of you,” imply that not every person lived such a life before they were saved. Some lived decent and moral lives, but they still needed a Savior, Rom. 3:10–23.
All of us were “unrighteous” and were not heirs of the “kingdom of God”. In some of us, it was more obvious.
OUR CHANGE TO SAINTS
OUR CHANGE TO SAINTS
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Verse 11, “And such were some of you.” Thank God for the word “were.” Praise God I can say, “Thanks to Calvary, I am not the man I used to be.”
Paul was saying to these Corinthian believers, “This is what you used to be. This is how you used to live, but there has been a marvelous and glorious change in your life.” What kind of change was Paul speaking of in their life?
Positionally
Positionally
—We were “unrighteous” and could not have fellowship with God, Isa. 59:2. Therefore, we were lost. We were not heirs of the “kingdom of God”; we were headed to Hell, Psa. 9:17; 2 Thes. 1:8–9.
Thank God, salvation has made a change in that condition. (Ill. Amazing Grace—Verse 1!)
Amazing grace how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.
The cross! I am not saved by the cross; but I am saved through the cross:
The Circumstance:
The Circumstance:
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The Contract:
The Contract:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
The Commissioning:
The Commissioning:
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
My sins were transferred to Jesus; His righteousness was transferred to me! We were transferred from Adam to Jesus—1 Cor. 15:22!
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Thanks to Calvary, my sins are gone forever,
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
My ransom has been paid in full and His righteousness has been applied to my account.
Here is how Peter put it—
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Here is what Paul said,
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Thanks to Calvary, I am now “righteous” in Jesus Christ and a “joint-heir” in Christ. There has been a positional change in our lives.
Personally
Personally
—“And such were some of YOU”, We were reminded of our past in verses 9–10. This verse reminds that we have been made into a new people.
Salvation changed the way we lived.
Some used to be a drunkard but now they are a deacon.
Some used to be convict with a bad name, but now they are a Christian with a blessed name.
Some used to be an embarrassment to the family, but now they are the envy of the family.
Some used to be the talk of the community but now they are the talk of the Church.
Some used to curse like a sailor but now they shout like a saint.
It used to be that parents did not want their children around you for you were a bad example. Now you teach their children and they pray they grow up to be just like you.
That’s what Jesus does in each life He saves, 2 Cor. 5:17!
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
He gives us a “new birth”,
He gives us a “new birth”,
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
He gives us a new life,
He gives us a new life,
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
“What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought; since Jesus came into my heart!”
Thank God For Calvary!
OUR CONDITION AS SAINTS
OUR CONDITION AS SAINTS
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
In verse 11, Paul tells us that our salvation not only changed us but also completed us. In other words, we have been given in our salvation all that is needed for this new life we have in Christ. We are complete in Christ.)
The use of the word “but” in verse 11. The repeated use of this word indicates the extent of the changes which have taken place. If you are saved, it makes no difference what you used to be; all that matters now is what you have become in Jesus.
God Cleansed Us
God Cleansed Us
“but ye are washed”. Paul is saying that all the wicked things we did in the past have been cleansed and forgiven. He is talking about the new birth, John 3:3, 7.
When a sinner comes to Jesus by faith, that sinner is regenerated, not through personal effort, but through the grace and mercy of the Lord, Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:8–9.
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
If you are still troubled by your past, remember that God “washed” you when He saved you.
The word “wash” refers to “that which has been purified.” If you are saved, your sins are gone! Psa. 103:12—!- sins removed)
God Claimed Us
God Claimed Us
—We were unrighteous and ungodly in Adam; but in Jesus, God has “sanctified” us.
The word “sanctified” speaks of “that which has been set apart for God”, 1 Cor. 6:19–20.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
The particular word used here speaks of a positional sanctification.
God has set us apart for Himself! He has claimed us as His own. He saved us to use us for His glory,
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
(Ill. Paul—Acts 9:15; 1 Tim. 1:12–17)
Ill. Trophies of grace—Eph. 2:10.
He has set us apart for His Own use! He has a plan for your life!
(Ill. Often we think of how we used to live and think to ourselves, “God could never use me or bless me. I have been too mean and lived such a wicked life. God could never do anything with me.”
That is where you are wrong.
It doesn’t matter WHAT you did or HOW you lived, you are His now.
He took you away from that old life and He has given you a new life in Jesus. He claims you as a trophy of His grace.
When the Lord saves us and sanctifies us, He also makes us holy inwardly, and through the power of the Holy Spirit,
He enables us to live holy lives outwardly,
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
When you meet Jesus, you will never be the same again,
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
God Completed Us
God Completed Us
—We are not only purified and sanctified, but we are also justified.
The word “justified” speaks of our standing before God. When God looks at us, He no longer sees us as fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of ourselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortionists, etc, now He sees us as those who are righteous through the blood of Lord Jesus.
The word “justified” means “to render one as he ought to be; to pronounce or declare a person to be in right standing”. When we come to Jesus and are saved by His grace; we are declared to be in right standing with God.
He sees us as though we had never sinned; as though we were not sinning; and as though we will never sin again. In other words, when He looks at us, He sees us as it we were Christ Himself! God no longer sees us as what we were; but as He has made us in Jesus.
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
—How could a holy God declare sinners to be righteous?
Jesus died that God might be just and I might be justified!)
Salvation has provided all we need to be complete in Christ. Because I am purified I can face my guilt. Because I am sanctified I can be what I should be and now live godly. Because I am justified I do not have to worry about what I am, who I am or what I was!
God’s saints have been justified! Therefore, we have access to the throne of grace now and we will be able to stand in His presence, with joy, when we meet Him in Heaven!)
(Note: Every one of these three verbs is in the Passive Voice. We had nothing to do with any of it!
God did the washing; He did the sanctifying; He did the justifying you. It is by grace and grace alone!
These verbs are in the Aorist Tense. This tense refers to an action that occurred in the past, and that stands completed. In other words, He washed you one time for all time! He sanctified you one time for all time! He justified you one time for all time!
He saved you for keeps,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Hallelujah! WHY AREN’T YOU SHOUTING?
Thanks to Calvary!
Thank to the intervention of God in my life,
I am not the ___________!
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
—“But God”! Has the Lord Jesus Christ ever changed your life?
Is there light where there used to be darkness?
Is there hope where there used to be defeat?
Is there life where there used to be death?
Paul was writing to these people to tell them that it should have been shame to them that they were living like the lost world. They were not saved for that, but from that! But, if you haven’t been changed, friend you need to be saved! If you have been saved, maybe you want to come thank Him.