Sunday, December 20, 2009 pm
Studies in 1 Corinthians (20)
SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
a.
The unrighteous – defined as one who is “without justice.”
“Falling short of the righteousness required by divine laws.” (WS
Dictionary) It is a broad
term meaning one is not right with God.
When we think about the term
“unrighteous” it is NOT about the fact that we are all guilty of sin
(Rom. 6:23), but we have NOT had our sins taken care of.
Romans 1:18 tells us the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men.
Romans 2:8 says, “but
those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness – indignation and wrath.”
1 Corinthians 6:1, “Dare
any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the
unrighteous, and not before the saints?”
Why avoid such matters with the ungodly?
Because while they are sinners like us, they have NOT had their
sins taken care of. They
DON’T understand!
1 John 5:17, “All
unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.”
b.
Examples of unrighteousness
i.
NOTE: Some
of these sins were mentioned previously in 5:9-11 where Paul noted we
are to avoid brethren who are engaged in such activities (i.e.
discipline). We have
identified these with an asterisk (*) and will not discuss them as
extensively.
ii.
Fornicators* – the broad
term for the sexually immoral.
Most versions use the term “fornicators” in this verse.
It describes any sinful sexual relationship (that outside of
marriage). This is the same word
used 3 times in 5:9-11.
There the KJV and ASV consistently use the word “fornicator” while the
NASU uses the term “immoral” and NKJV uses “sexually immoral.”
The reason, “fornicator” is used in all 4 of these version in our
text is because Paul here describes several FORMS of fornication, as we
shall see.
iii.
Idolaters* - one who
worships a false god. This
was something Corinthians could relate to as it was a very idolatrous
city.
Continually we are called upon to “flee
from idolatry.” (1
Corinthians 10:14)
iv.
Adulterers – a specific
type of fornication. It
refers to “unlawful intercourse with the spouse of another.” (Vine’s)
It is a derivative of the term used by Jesus to condemn divorce and
remarriage (with the exception for fornication) –
Matt. 19:9, 5:32, etc.
Also
Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators
and adulterers God will judge.”
v.
Homosexuals, effeminate –
Paul now uses TWO words to describe homosexual relations.
Paul addresses BOTH partners in such a relationship.
The first, translated “homosexuals”(NKJV), “effeminate”(NASU, KJV AND
ASV) is a word that actually means, “soft to the touch.” But here, it
means “a person who allows himself to be sexually abused contrary to
nature.” (WS Dictionary); “the passive male partner in homosexual
intercourse.” (Louw & Nida); It has reference
the male who takes the role of the female in the sexual act.
vi.
Sodomites – the other word
in the homosexual relationship.
This is translated, “sodomites” (NKJV); “homosexuals” (NASU);
“abusers of themselves with mankind” (KJV) and “abusers of themselves
with man” (ASV). Thayer
defines this word as, “One who lies with a male as with a female.”
This describes the partner who takes the male role in the
homosexual act.
vii.
Thieves – one who steals.
God has ALWAYS condemned theft.
It was one of the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:15) and repeated
throughout the N.T. (Romans 13:9, Matthew 15:19, 19:18, etc.).
Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let
him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with
his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has
need.” We KNOW stealing
is wrong, but do we consider different forms of theft?
In our list Paul mentions covetous and extortioners – both of
which can involve theft.
viii.
Covetous* - “one eager to
have more, especially what belongs to others” (Thayer).
Paul addressed this in the previous chapter and warned of it
being a possibility, even among brethren.
Let us not be driven by a desire for things, especially those
that belong to others. Such
can ONLY lead to ungodly attitudes.
ix.
Drunkards* - one addicted
to abusive substances.
Christians must live sober lives. How many problems are caused by those
who are brought under the power of things.
x.
Revilers* - one who
constantly complains and engages in slander against others.
xi.
Extortioners* - one who
carries off the possessions of others by force. (Louw and Nida). NASU
uses the term, “swindlers”.
For our purposes, this is anyone who takes advantage of others in an
unethical way.
c.
NOT an
exhaustive list – basically Paul is speaking of any sin, not repented
of. The list contains many
different types of sins from outright acts against others to attitudes.
d.
Such will NOT inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul is in no uncertain terms saying that they are LOST!
In God’s eyes, they are destined for hell.
2 Thess. 1:8, “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do
not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I want to REMIND you that Paul is describing those who have NEVER obeyed
the gospel, but he is ALSO speaking of those who are no longer faithful!
The context bears this out.
a.
The short
answer, based upon this text is the righteous.
Recall the definition of unrighteousness.
The righteous would be those who have had their sins taken care
of. Paul reminds these
brethren that they have done that (or at least they were supposed to
have done that).
That is why he says, “And such
were some of you.”
b.
But
you were washed – they had
obeyed the gospel.
Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:20-21, Romans 6:3-4
c.
But
you were sanctified – a
word that means to be set apart. Putting this in context, Paul is
speaking of the result of obeying the gospel.
When they were baptized they were added to His number (Acts 2:47), put on Christ (Galatians
3:27); a new creature (Romans
6:3-6,
2 Corinthians 5:17, “If
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;
behold all things have become new.”) and sanctified.
When Paul recounted his conversion before Agrippa in Acts 26 he
noted what the Lord told him would be his work – to go to the Gentiles,
“to open their eyes, in order to
turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those
who are sanctified by faith
in Me.” (Ac. 26:18)
d.
But
you were justified in the
name of the Lord and by the Spirit of our God. To be justified is to be
made right. Louw and Nida define the word as, “to cause someone to be in
a proper or right relation with someone else.”
Thayer defines the word as, “to
make to render righteous or such as he ought to be.”
This is the RESULT of one obeying the gospel.
When one is baptized his sins are washed away (Acts
22:16), he is saved (Mark
16:16, 1 Peter 3:21), his sins are remitted (Acts 2:38), etc.
The blood of Jesus makes one as pure and as white as snow.
An interesting point is that the word
unrighteous is sometimes
translated
unjust (1 Peter 3:18, “For
Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the
unjust, that He might bring
us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit.”;
Matthew 5:45, He “sends rain on
the just and the unjust.”
In Christ we are made just.
a.
Paul’s point here is that as Christians we cannot keep living in sin!
See
Romans 6:13, “And
do not present yourselves as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but
present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members
as instruments of righteousness to God.”
When we obey the gospel there is a change in relationship AND lifestyle.
Don’t go back to the old way!
2 Peter 2:20-22. Hebrews 10:26-31,
etc.
We need to keep reminding
ourselves of this.
Paul started in vs. 9 of our text, “Do
you not know…?” It
is a mistake to ignore or trivialize sin.
1 John 3:4-9 bears this
out.
b.
NOTE that we CAN change.
NEVER reason that there is no hope for you.
Never think that when you are caught up in sin that you cannot do
anything about it. You may
not be able to change the consequences of your sinful conduct, but you
can change your state caused by that conduct.
And you don’t have to live in sin anymore!
“For sin shall not have
dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
The Gospel can change you – never deny the power of the gospel.
“Such
were some of you” Paul said.
Romans 1:16 speaks of the
gospel being the power of God unto salvation.
Hebrews 4:12 speaks of the
word of God being living and powerful… Note that we CAN change. Recall
(our last 2 lessons) that some of these brethren had been involved in
these very things before.
c.
What does this mean?
You don’t have to be an alcoholic anymore!
You don’t have to be a slave to sexual sins or pornography!
You don’t have to live the homosexual lifestyle anymore!
You do have to be a habitual liar or cheat!
There is not any sin that cannot be overcome if we have the
desire to do and be what is right.