The Local Church and Material Issues
Our Blueprint for a New Testament Church • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
As we move into chapter 6 this morning, the Holy Spirit moves from morality to materialism.
Let me again remind you that this entire letter is God’s Blueprint for the Local Church. Much of it is direct instruction on how to be a local assembly of believers that is pleasing unto God. In this letter, there is instruction for how we are to live our lives individually in our relationship to God and to others. Additionally, there is instruction for how we are to conduct ourselves corporately as a local church. When it comes to matters of the local church, God addresses a myriad of issues and topics that each local church will encounter at some point. As we already discovered in chapter 5, there are times when a local church must deal with immorality. You may recall the list that the Holy Spirit itemized for us. It was a list of things out of bounds for a believer as well as a church. That list included...
Fornication
Covetousness
Idolatry
Railing
Drunkenness
Extortion
The Holy Spirit was quite clear that any such believer involved in these things who does so without repentance is to be dealt with immediately and harshly. The key verse of chapter 5 being verse 7 which states...
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:
As I stated at the beginning, when we come to chapter 6, the Holy Spirit moves into issues surrounding materialism. Materialism meaning those problems that arise between people over material possessions.
There is no doubt that if there are people; there are problems. All of us continually wrestle with our flesh. A flesh that always seeks to satisfy its own lusts - the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. And, we all over time accumulate material things. In fact, there is nothing wrong with having material possessions. It is good to have a roof over your head, a dry bed to sleep in, and indoor plumbing. It is a wonderful blessing of the Lord to have a gas power vehicle that will take you place to place without having to walk. The main issue for us, especially as believers, is when our material possessions become more important than our devotion to God and our love for others.
Unfortunately, because of our flesh and its tendency to go after the things of this world, conflict arises between brothers and sisters in Christ over material things. When such conflict arises, how is are believers to handle such affairs is the topic in the verse eight verses of chapter 6.
Take your Bibles and look with me as I read our text for today - 1 Corinthians 6:1-8.
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 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? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 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? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 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? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
The Holy Spirit begins by noting the matter of...
SECULAR COURTS
SECULAR COURTS
Note again verse 1.
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
The term “go to law” means to be judged; to be brought to account for ones actions and sentenced accordingly; often in a courthouse setting and before a judge. Here the Holy Spirit speaks about going before the “unjust” for matters of litigation. He starts this verse with a challenge. Note the phrase “Dare any of you!” The whole phrase is just one word in the Greek. It has the idea of bringing oneself to do something. How many of you remember when you were a kid and someone would “triple dog dare you to ________________.” They were trying to convince you to do something that perhaps you really didn’t want to do. Remember that? In the context of this verse, the Holy Spirit is driving home the point that believers should not be going to the “unjust” and unbelieving world to air out their squabbles over material things.
Think about it this way! The last few Sundays the topic has been immorality in the local church. We often have mentioned the poor testimony caused by open immorality for both a local church and for the cause of Christ. It is amazing how quick know about the problems of a local church. In fact, the community often knows more bad about a church than they do good. Everyone likes to talk about the bad things, but very seldom do they talk about the good things. In much the same way, when one believer of a local church is suing another believer in a local church people hear and know. And, just as open immorality is bad for a church so are public lawsuits.
The more I study the Old and New Testaments the more I find similarities in how God dealt with the nation of Israel and how God deals with the local church. Now, the local church is not Israel. However, in this current dispensation, God has ordained the local church as His representative body to the world. It is through the local church we are commissioned to go and preach the gospel. It is institution of the local church in which God expects each true believer to serve and worship Him. You cannot read and study the New Testament without recognizing the importance of the local church. And, just as God expected Israel to deal with their internal issues internally, so God expects the local church to deal with its internal issues internally as well.
Thus, then, the Holy Spirit condemns the use of secular courts as a means of settling material conflicts between believers. Instead, He expects us to keep such things within the family.
Let me repeat it one more time just so we are clear. We “DARE NOT” as believers and members of a local church take another believer to SECULAR COURT in order to handle conflict. The courts of this world are ruled by, in many instances, unbelievers who are unjust and undone before God.
Now, look with me at verse 2 and the first part of verse 3.
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? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Here the Holy Spirit through a series of questions establishes a different court. We are not to go to the SECULAR COURTS. Why? God has already established a...
SACRED COURT
SACRED COURT
I use the word “sacred” because it is the court system established by God for His people. Now, as you read these series of questions, you must read them as rhetorical questions. A rhetorical question is a question where the answers is obvious and thus there is no need to answer. As you read these questions is becomes obvious that God sees two areas of jurisdiction. It is important also to note that the Holy Spirit specifically names the “saints” as those who will judge in these two realms.
What is a “saint?” We can answer that questions sufficiently by simply going back to the beginning of this letter to the Corinthian church. Look at 1 Corinthians 1:1-2.
1 Corinthians 1:1–2 (KJV 1900)
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
A saint is a person who is sanctified in Christ Jesus as they have put their complete faith in all that Christ did upon the cross of Calvary through His death, burial, and resurrection. And, as such, a saint is a person who now makes Christ the center of their life as they seek to live in complete obedience to Him. A true local church is full of them. That is why the Holy Spirit addressed this letter to the “saints” at the Corinthians church.
HOW DOES A PERSON BECOME A SAINT?
You begin by...
Acknowledging your true condition before God - a sinner without hope and in need of a Savior.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Confessing to God that you are indeed helpless and hopeless as sinner and repenting of your sinfulness turning to Him as your Lord and Savior.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Believing without any doubt and with all of your heart that Christ willingly died on the cross for your sin, was buried, and arose triumphantly from the grave on the third day.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Calling out to Him with your mouth inviting Him into your life as Savior.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If that is something that you have not done, it is something that God invites you to do today. It is the only way a sinner becomes a saint. It is the only way you become a new creation in Christ.
Now look again at our text - 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 and note the two realms in which saints will judge.
Saints will Judge in the Coming Millennial Kingdom of Christ!
Saints will Judge in the Coming Millennial Kingdom of Christ!
1 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV 1900)
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?
You may recall our study of chapter 3. In that chapter, the Holy Spirit speaks about building our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11–14 (KJV 1900)
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
There is no doubt that all us are going to stand before the Lord one day and be judged by Him concerning what we did for Him in this present life. You will also note that “if any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” It would seem by various other New Testament passages that a portion of the reward will be the opportunity to rule in the coming Millennial Kingdom. For sake of time, I will give these passages to jot down and study on your own. They are Daniel 7:22, Revelation 2:26-27; Revelation 20:4-6; and Jude 1:14. These passages along with our text confirm that the “saints” will indeed rule and reign with Christ. Thus, if we are to rule and reign with Christ, we must then also begin by judging the small matters of this life.
Now note the first part of verse 3 which gives the second area of future rule for saints.
1 Corinthians 6:3 (KJV 1900)
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Saints will Judge Angels!
Saints will Judge Angels!
Now, I must admit that I do not completely understand all that this means. There are times when we must take by faith what God says without reading too much into it. I know for me that I must be careful about this promise from God. Knowing that I, as a saint, will judge angels appeals to my fleshly pride. Therefore, it is best I don’t know much more than the fact that it will be. How it will be and over what angles is God’s hands and I must simply accept it as stated. The point of the Holy Spirit giving this tidbit of information about our future was not appeal to our sense of pride because God cannot temp us with evil. The point is to demonstrate that we are capable through His wisdom and His power to judge matters even now.
It is from here that the Holy Spirit moves us from our future responsibility of judging to our present responsibility of judging!
Note the rest of verse 3 and then verse 4.
1 Corinthians 6:3–4 (KJV 1900)
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
Here is the main point! Instead of settling issues in a secular court, we should settled them within the confines of our own local assembly. God gives all the wisdom we need through His Word and His Spirit to settle issues within our own family. We have no need to go outside to the world and to men who are filled with sin.
Ephesians 1:17 (KJV 1900)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Over James, the Holy Spirit tells us...
James 1:5 (KJV 1900)
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Therefore, it is well within our ability to judge any and all affairs that might arise with our own congregation.
As we move on to verses 5-7, the Holy Spirit offers some...
Constructive Criticism
Constructive Criticism
1 Corinthians 6:5 (KJV 1900)
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?
Again, there is great shame for a church that not only ignores immorality in its midst but also is constantly bring lawsuits against each other. The word “shame” conveys the thought of turning in upon oneself and of producing a recoil from something vile and improper. Note the use of “shame” in Psalm 35.
Psalm 35:26 (KJV 1900)
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: Let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
Later King David cried out in Psalm 69...
Psalm 69:19 (KJV 1900)
Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: Mine adversaries are all before thee.
Shame causes people to look upon something or someone with dishonor. Going back to our text, the Holy Spirit speaks to the shame that this church had brought upon itself. What a detestable testimony they were creating for the cause of Christ!
However, the Holy Spirit uses this to motivate them. His criticism results in a...
CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE
He questions them with...
1 Corinthians 6:5–6 (KJV 1900)
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? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
He questions them with “Is it so, that there is NOT a wise man AMONG YOU? NO, NOT ONE that shall be able to judge between his brethren?” The words “among you” is key here. Later, in this same letter, the Holy Spirit will tell the Corinthian church this...
I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
He goes to say in the next two verses...
I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
You see there were “among” them those who were committed to Christ. There were those like Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus who were deeply devoted to Christ and serving to Him. So, without doubt, there were those who could act as a judge between believers.
Yet, in spite of these men being “among” them, “brother” was going to court with another “brother” before unbelievers. In other words, just like the ignored the fornication in their midst, they were ignoring the use of “spiritual” men to settle material issues.
The Holy Spirit now gives them this...
CHARGE
CHARGE
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?
Obviously, it is wrong for believers to fight over material issues. The Holy Spirit uses some descriptive language here. He says it is “utterly a fault.” In other words, it is a completely unsuccessful endeavor. Fighting over temporary material possessions in the light of eternity is useless especially for the believer. Truly our focus should be on eternal things and not earthly.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
When believers are more concerned about what they possess here than what they will gain in heaven, they reveal their heart. In fact, a believer who has a heart for the Lord will be a believer who suffer wrong and suffer being defrauded. Look again at verse 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?
The ultimate Judge of us all is the Lord Jesus Christ. Even if you are wronged by a fellow believer and that believer gets away with it, in the end, we all will stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ. Therefore, we must learn to settle issues according to the truth of God’s Word and not according what we think we are owed or not owed. We must aside our thoughts, our desires, and our rights for the undeniable truth and wisdom of God.
Thus, the Holy Spirit not only challenges the Corinthian believers, He also lays a charge against them. Then, in verse 8, He identifies their true...
CRIME
CRIME
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
The guild is placed squarely on the believers. The Holy Spirit uses the words “ye” and “brethren.” To do wrong and fraud another is criminal in and of itself. However, the greater criminal behavior was the fact that believers were doing it to other believers.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Let me bring to the same conclusion as the Holy Spirit. It is absolutely wrong for two believers to be quarreling over material possessions. Period. Not discussion and no question about that whatsoever. Again, I remind you that our focus is to be on Christ. We are to worship and glorify Him in every area of our life. Our whole mindset as believers should be on the things to come and not on the things of this world. Unfortunately, rather than focusing on heavenly things, we have a tendency to give into the flesh. When we do, it creates all kinds of problems. It creates a problem in our relationship with God. It creates a problem in our relationship with our own brothers and sisters in Christ. It creates a problem within the local church. Then, when these problems arise, we want to run to the world for answers. Thus, we take believers to secular courts. These things must not be within God’s family.
The right thing is this. We must always remember our position in Christ. We are saints. We are sanctified. We are washed. We are justified. We are no longer, as believers, part of this old world system. This is next week’s message. Note verse 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.
Thus, we need to act like we are saints. We need to keep our focus on who we are in Christ and our service to Him. And when issues arise between believers, we need to handle them God’s way according to His Word. Forgiveness is key to handling issues God’s Way. However, if there is an occasion where two believers can’t resolve an issue on their own, then it is imperative that they seek out those “among them” who can help them judge in accordance with God’s Word. Never should we seek to handle material issues in a secular court. Instead, we must endeavor to do all things as God has instructed in Scripture.
INVITATION PLEA
A Plea to Sinners - Call on Him today! Do not delay!
A Plea to Believers - Live according to His Word. Stop allowing this world and its possessions divert attention from the things of God. Instead, determine to focus on Him and living a life of obedience to His Word. In doing so, determine to handle interpersonal problems God’s way. And, when issues seem to be unresolved turn to God’s people and not the world for help.