You Were Washed

HOOK

May we be one

I believe not because of human wisdom

Spiritual truths are only received by spiritual people

No more boasting about human leaders

God’s way is not a matter of mere talk

Get rid of the old yeast— we talked about divine discipline

Divine Discipline is a sign of God’s love

divine discipline is a sign of Belonging to God’s people

Divine Discipline Trains the People of God

Let’s continue with Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth

Underscore these in your Bibles:

The Lord’s people will judge the world v.2

Are you not competent to judge trivial cases? v.2

Do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? v.4

And that is what some of you were v.11

You were washed v.11

BOOK 1 CORINTHIANS 6:1-11

1 Corinthians 6:1–11 (NIV)

1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. 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.

LOOK

The first part of this chapter in Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth is pretty basic and straightforward

It is actually self explanatory and does not require too much elaboration— but let me point out few things before we dive into my main point today

THE LORD’S PEOPLE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD

Here comes the word “judge” again… Paul previously said, do not judge— then last Sunday he said, I do not have any business to judge those who are outside, are you not to judge to those who are inside?

And today he said this— but this refers to future judgement on the day of the Lord

Jesus word’s through John for the church in Thyatira says

Revelation 2:26 NIV

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—

That’s why in Paul’s first letter to Corinth he said, shame on you! — why? did he say that?

Because as Christians they are to judge with the Lord when His day comes and yet they are not competent to judge trivial cases— minor disputes in the church— petty quarrels— childish disagreements

They [church in Corinth] brought their disputes to ungodly judges or secular courts— He pointed out that we should keep internal disputes within the church because as followers of Jesus, we have His wisdom and truth through the Holy Spirit

We already talked about heavenly wisdom previously— it is not the same with earthly wisdom— not even close!

Paul declares that disagreeing Christians should not have to go to a secular court to resolved their differences— why?

Because if the judge and jury in that secular court are not Christians— they will not be sensitive to Christian values

Because the basis of going to court is often revenge!— this should never be a Christian’s motive— revenge has no room in our Christian values

Because lawsuits make the church look bad— causing unbelievers to focus on its problems rather than on its purpose

It is super important not to overlook a valuable point when Paul asked

ARE YOU NOT COMPETENT TO JUDGE TRIVIAL CASES?

Trivial in other words small, common, simple, petty— I believe Paul specified trivial because there are other way to approach other cases such as— if a fellow Christian murdered a fellow Christian— Romans 13 will come into play on matters like that— but that will be a conversation for another time

With a little tone of sarcasm— Paul asked...

DO YOU ASK FOR A RULING FROM THOSE WHOSE WAY OF LIFE IS SCORNED IN THE CHURCH?

He even asked if it was possible not to have anyone in the church that has enough wisdom to judge a dispute between church members— that a member has to take another member to court in full display, and visible through the prying [excessively interested, too inquisitive] eyes of unbelievers

Scorned— unworthy, less esteemed, worthless, of no value, someone who has no standing

That’s why here in our Agape family— we have our Membership Board to perform their biblical mandate to:

Deal with sin in the church by upholding the Lord’s guidelines in MATTHEW 18:15-17

Mediate between church members to settle disputes or misunderstandings 1 CORINTHIANS 6:1-8 — exactly what we are talking about today

Because if disputes are not settled within the church— and when they are brought to secular courts— that’s tantamount to a complete failure— the phrase used by Paul was, “completely defeated already”

Paul even said that we should rather be wronged instead of proving ourselves right in a secular court— why?

Because unlike us, those who do you wrong will not inherit the kingdom of God— they will face ultimate judgment on the day of our Lord— who are they?

Sexually immoral— idolaters — adulterers— homosexuals— thieves— greedy— drunkards— slanderers— swindlers

AND THAT IS WHAT SOME OF YOU WERE

We were just like our early brothers and sisters in Corinth— [CLIP those sins in your shirt]

Lust, Porno, Adultery, Idols, Greed, Pride— But!

YOU WERE WASHED

You were sanctified!— You were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God!

I know that you’re all very familiar with what the words justification and sanctification means— but let me still put more clarity into them

Knowing what they mean is one thing— but knowing what they do to every believer is another big thing— way larger than how those words may sound!

THE PURITY OF OUR MINDS WAS CORRUPTED BY SIN

Let me tell you a story that I’d never forget— My experience of Mixed hot bath [Konyoku Onsen] in Japan

Household in ancient Japan lacks bathroom, so they have public bath in almost every little village or community— and that public bath is shared by both men and women— called Konyoku

Konyoku Onsen or Mixed Onsen has been part of the Japanese bathing culture that has been deeply ingrained in this history and tradition of Japan [SHOW PHOTOS OF KONYOKU]

In fact— scholars claim that records of Konyoku bath can be dated back in the 9th century— some even claim that mixed onsen started before that

It was a near ancient picture of Adam and Eve— we know very well that they were naked and they stayed naked until sin corrupted their minds

Sources of those sins and temptations are first the devil, then ourselves and the world around us

Justification is the act of God in bringing sinners into a new covenant relationship with himself through the forgiveness of sins

It is a judicial act of God whereby believers are “at once” absolved of all their guilt and they’re declared righteous— it’s the beginning of the Christian experience

19 times the word “justified” was used in 16 verses in the NIV— one of which read like this

Romans 5:1 NIV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Justification through our faith brings us into reconciliation with God— and that is through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Along with such terms as “regeneration” and “reconciliation”, it relates to a “basic” conversion

Conversion of salvaged vehicles from Japan imported to the Philippines

I had the privilege to sat as Director at CEZA after my incumbency in Congress— Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, the gateway to tons of used cars shipped from Japan & South Korea

It takes a lot of self—adjustments to drive a right hand drive— I experienced that in Japan too— [SHOW PHOTOS OF WHEEL CONVERSION]

When you are so use to left-hand drive with all these sins in you— it takes a lot or practice to get yourself acquainted to right-hand drive vehicles

And that practice is a process is called sanctification— Sanctification is a present position and a persevering process

IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE BE SANCTIFIED

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NIV)

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;

JESUS MADE HIMSELF HOLY SO THAT WE TOO MAY BE MADE HOLY

John 17:19 (NIV)

19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT MAKES US HOLY

Romans 15:16 (NIV)

16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

GLOVES ILLUSTRATION

Explain that the glove represents us— it is designed to do the work! to do the tough job!

Place a glove on the pulpit and instruct it to open the Bible— tell the glove to remove those sins clipped on my shirt

Or maybe the glove needs some fellowship to do the job— throw some more gloves in there!

We are these gloves— the Holy Spirit is the power that put these gloves into action

Wear gloves— open the Bible and remove the sins clipped on me

That ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters is Sanctification 101!

Paul said YOU WERE WASHED…

YOU WERE SANCTIFIED, YOU WERE JUSTIFIED

Our sins area washed away— we were set apart for a special purpose— we were pronounced not guilty for our sins— And being so… on matters relating to trivial cases… civil cases

TOOK

I WILL NOT SUE A FELLOW CHRISTIAN IN COURT

1 Corinthians 6:1 NIV

1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?

The context here is more comparable to civil litigation rather than a criminal case

Since Paul certifies in Romans 13, the powers of government have authority to punish criminal behavior

QUESTION: What sort of disputes should I bring to the church? What sort of cases shall I bring to the court?

I’D RATHER BE WRONGED INSTEAD OF PROVING MYSELF RIGHT IN COURT

1 Corinthians 6:7 NIV

7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

These believers have presented fellow Christians to the authorities, hurting the social standing of the church in Corinth

Paul insist that they must handle such matters within the church community, not the public courts

Believers should be willing to suffer financial loss rather than take fellow Christians to court unless the behavior involves criminal activity

QUESTION: How willing are you to suffer loss to protect the image of the church? What offenses would you condone, and which ones you would not?

I will not sue a fellow Chrstian in court

I’d rather be wronged instead of proving myself right in court

And these is because....

I AM WASHED, I AM JUSTIFIED AND I AM BEING SANCTIFIED

1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV

11 And that is what some of you were. 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.

A powerful testimony to Christ’s forgiveness and salvation

It implies that God cleansed the Corinthian believers from their sin— like us, they were justified [declared righteous]— acquitted them of their wrongdoing— accepted them as righteous in His sight

Like us, they were sanctified [made holy]— as we are being sanctified— consecrated— regenerated

In a permissive society it is easy for Christians to overlook or tolerate some immoral behaviors (ie greed or drunkenness) while remaining outraged at others (ie adultery or thievery).

We must not participate in sin or condone it in any way, nor may we be selective about what we condone or excuse.

Staying away from more "acceptable" forms of sin is difficult, but it is no harder for us than it was for the Corinthians— God expects his followers in any age to have high standards.

QUESTION: As holy people of God, what sins do you condone [disregard, excuse, ignore]? Why do you tolerate some sins and not others?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus— can wash our sins

Only the blood of Jesus can make us whole again