Presented November 22, 2009 Return to Corinthians Study
BEING JUDGED BY THOSE OUTSIDE
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
In this lesson we
want to look at the context, examine WHY we should not take each other
to court and finally, make some applications from our text in these
matters.
a.
Remember
Paul has just finished speaking of the need to withdraw from a sinning
brother and how we are to react toward one withdrawn from.
There needs to be a visible change in relationship.
He also noted there is a difference between how we react to our
brethren in sin and those of the world.
b.
Vs. 1 - He now turns to
another problem dealing with brethren taking one another to civil court.
Bear in mind, he is STILL advocating the need to brethren to be
able to make righteous and moral judgments concerning one another.
c.
Vs. 2-3 – Why not let
your brethren help you resolve these things?
He gives 2 examples of saints judging – 1) the world and 2)
angels.
1) Some view Paul as here using sarcasm noting that they ASSUMED they
would be judges of everyone in the world on the judgment day and that
they would stand and pass judgment on angels.
As such he was addressing their haughty character.
2) ANOTHER possibility, when we live a righteous life the end result
will be righteous condemnation of the wicked.
The wicked will stand before God (including fallen angels)
without excuse because we, the righteous, demonstrated the possibility
of obedience. Consider
1 Thess. 3:12-13, “And
may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to
all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts
blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
Also consider
Jude 14-15, “Behold
the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgment on
all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly
deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh
things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Paul’s point – In whatever way we judge: If we can live so as to render
judgment in the final day, can’t we go to one another as brethren to
resolve the smallest of matters between one another?
In vs. 3 he says “How much more things that pertain to this life?”
appealing to our having a proper attitude toward material things (1 John
2:15-17, Matt. 6:19-21)
d.
Vs. 4-5a – Paul
challenges them, “Why are you letting civil judges that don’t care about
the church (and possibly despise her) judge carnal matters between
brethren?”
At the heart of the matter was that their fighting with one another as
brethren to the point that they were suing each other in civil court was
an embarrassment to the church.
It gave her critics fuel with which to condemn her.
Paul said, “You ought to be ashamed of yourselves!”
e.
Vs. 5b – He now appeals
to them to seek out someone in their midst who was wise and humble who
could make a fair judgment BASED UPON God’s word.
Think about it – the matter is resolved BETWEEN brethren without “airing
our dirty laundry” to the world.
What a testament that is to the FAMILY of God!
BTW, WHY doesn’t such work all the time?
I will GUARANTEE where there is failure there are ungodly
attitudes on one side or both!
I will GUARANTEE that someone is being carnal (cf. 1 Cor. 3:1-4).
f.
Vs. 6-7 – Paul’s disgust
is seen in his repetition of vs. 1 & 4.
He calls their action, “an utter failure”
g.
Vs. 7 – Another solution!
This one challenges their true love for the Lord and His church.
It deals with how much we are willing to give up for her.
What one does in such circumstances says much about their
priorities. Remember that
Christians are to suffer long (1 Cor. 13:4) and endure grief and
suffering for righteousness sake (1 Pet. 2:19-20).
Other than Christ, who gave Himself, there is no greater example of
sacrifice for the church than Paul himself.
Think of the suffering he endured everywhere – 2 Cor. 11:22-28
where he reluctantly boasts.
He endured so much loss because he loved the church.
BTW, such qualified him to say what he did.
h.
Vs. 8 – Instead of love
for the church and one another there is bitterness, rivalry and perhaps
even hatred.
i.
Vs. 9-10 – a serious
reminder! The ungodly
will NOT be saved. The
ungodly include “the usual suspects” such as fornicators of all sorts
including adulterers and homosexuals (both partners in a homosexual act
are mentioned), idolaters, thieves and drunkards.
But what about the covetous, extortioners and revilers?
These are often brought on by hateful attitudes toward one
another (cf. Gal. 5:13-15).
NOTE that these were mentioned in the previous chapter concerning
brethren whom we are to not keep company with.
I am convinced the ones Paul is addressing here are guilty of these
things.
j.
Vs. 11 – But we OBEYED
THE GOSPEL. Paul reminds
these brethren that they had been baptized for the remission of their
sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16) and therefore were in a different relationship
with God than before – sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord
and by the Spirit.
What is Paul’s point?
ACT LIKE IT!
I am reminded of
Rom. 6:1-3, “What
shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Certainly not! How shall we
who died to sin live any longer in it?
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?...”
The only way we as Christians can be faithful to God is if we act
like we ought to act. That
includes our attitudes, actions and words.
a.
In this
context Paul is telling brethren to not go to court against one another.
He is not condemning the legitimate purpose of courts of law in
the land NOR is he forbidding ALL instances of going to court (He
himself appealed to Caesar, etc.).
His primary point has to do with brethren suing one another or worse
yet, using the pagan courts to manipulate an advantage for themselves
over another brother in some way.
b.
To begin
with, don’t forget
Matthew 18:15-18.
In that text, Jesus outlined a
pattern for dealing with the brother who has wronged you.
When we have a problem with a brother, we MUST go to him.
If that fails there are other steps (all internal).
c.
Why were
brethren NOT to take one another to civil court?
i.
First,
pagan courts were often (and still are) corrupt and required oath taking
to pagan deities, etc. In other
words, they appealed to other gods.
ii.
Second,
sometimes laws of the land often are contrary to God’s laws, permitting:
1.
Immorality - i.e. drinking and gambling are legal, divorce decrees
permitted for any reason, etc.
2.
Decisions
not based on Biblical standards – i.e. consider a child custody hearing
where the judge gives no thought to religious upbringing.
There are other matters such as greed vs. humility, where the law
permits the covetousness of the prideful within certain boundaries
(which are still contrary to God’s laws).
3.
The
manipulation of the law to force brethren to do things they believe are
wrong or to act a certain way – I am reminded of court cases where
landlords have been sued to allow tenants in relationships they believed
to be sinful. In fact, the Bible is not even allowed in some courts.
Consider in this ALSO how the materially wealthy would have an
advantage, etc.
iii.
Often in
the courts there was (and still is) a general disdain for conservative
Christianity, etc. It is possible that a corrupt judge will directly
rule AGAINST righteousness because of personal prejudice.
d.
Does this
mean we cannot file a criminal complaint against a brother who has
committed a serious crime (i.e. murder, bank robbery, rape, i.e. crimes
against society)?
I do not believe that is
borne out in this context. The
text deals with cases where a brother has WRONGED another brother.
It would include civil cases, moral disputes and perhaps minor
“criminal” acts (a brother striking a brother, stealing something,
defrauding – possibly the actual charge here, etc.).
The criteria borne out is how such a case blemishes the Lord’s
church. Consider a church a
that harbors criminals
a.
Christians should be competent
– Paul observes that they had been Christians long enough that in there
midst someone should be wise enough to help them deal with their
differences and disputes.
Heb. 5:12-14 describes
how in time we ought to reach maturity and be able to discern both good
and evil. Elders and
preachers must display this.
All of us should reach a point where we can at least defend the
basics of our faith –
1 Pet. 3:15.
ALL of us should study so that we can accurately handle God’s
word (2
Tim. 2:15).
b.
To go
to law against another is admission of defeat.
Paul called their lawsuits “an utter failure”.
The only reason brethren would sue each other is if they were NOT
getting along with each other.
Here is another CLEAR example of the lack of godly attitudes on
at least one side of the issue.
Brethren we are to love one another and SHOW IT!
(John
13:34-35, 1 John 4:20-21). The world NEEDS to see that love!
c.
Have
we really been transformed?
Romans 12:1-2, James 4:1-3.
Does the world see a change in our priorities?
Are our actions NOW different than they were BEFORE we became
Christians? IF our goal is
not material possessions or worldliness we will put up with much from
others. Paul in
describing Christian love to these brethren will tell them that it
“bears all things” and “endures all things.” (1
Cor. 13:7).
To another church he says, “See
that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is
good both for yourselves and for all.” (1
Thess. 5:15)
d.
How
important is the church to us?
We know how important the church is to God!
Jesus shed His blood to purchase it (Acts
20:28, Eph. 5:25-27).
Will we let our love for her DICTATE how we live?
Will we truly rely on our brethren above the world?
Will we turn to them with our troubles and problems for guidance
and advice? WILL WE LISTEN TO THEM?
Will we respect our elders?
Etc.