Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 12
In our message, LIVING LIKE HIS CITIZENS NOW (1 Cor. 6:1-11) after a discussion on the need for church discipline of brothers within the fellowship who are living immorally, the Lord turns to resolving conflicts over resources in a godly manner. Just like it is the church’s job to “judge those who are inside” its fellowship when they walk contrary to clear teaching of the Bible, it is also the church’s job to help resolve personal disputes among the brethren (1 Cor. 5:12; 6:5, etc.).
God emphatically states here it is wrong for Christians within a church to sue one another over material things (1 Cor. 6:1). The statement, “a matter” (prâgma in Grk) is a technical term for having a lawsuit or legal action (1 Cor. 6:1). The Lord says, “how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers!” (1 Cor. 6:1 NLT).
In First Corinthians the phrase, “Do you not know” is used six times just in this chapter (1 Cor. 6:2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19- while it is only used three other times in the New Testament outside of the book of First Corinthians). “Do you not know” points to certain truths which should have prevented a problem at hand. These truths are also “spiritual”- “deep things of God” that can only be perceived by walking with Christ and growing in Him (1 Cor. 2:9-16; Eph. 5:18, etc.). The implication that they should have known these things must have painfully hit home to a church enamored with its own wisdom and knowledge (1 Cor. 1:11-13; 4:6-8, etc.).
The first “Do you not know” statement points to the truth that one day Christians will “judge the world” (1 Cor. 6:2). In the world to come when Christ returns and establishes His millennial kingdom on this earth the Bible says Christians will play a role in judging the world as we reign with Jesus (Dan. 7:18, 22, 27; Rev. 3:21; 5:10; 19:11-20:6, etc.). Because of this, and in view of the fact that we have the help and wisdom of the indwelling Holy Spirit as well as God’s Word available to us, we should be able “to judge” disputes among Christians within our fellowship (1 Cor. 6:2). The second “Do you not know” is similar to the first in that it is also speaking of “the world to come” when Christ returns and establishes His kingdom on this earth (1 Cor. 6:3; Heb. 2:5, etc.). In that time, when Jesus reigns and we have glorified bodies with Him (1 Thes. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54, etc.), we will “judge [fallen] angels” because the future world, unlike our planet today, will not be under any demonic influence or sway (Heb. 2:5-8; Rev. 20:1-3 vs. 1 John 5:19; Eph. 2:2; 2 Cor. 4:4, etc.). In view of the fact that “the world to come [will not be] in subjection to angels” with us actually judging those “angels” believers should certainly be able to handle minor “things that pertain to this life” like civil disputes within the church (Heb. 2:5; 1 Cor. 6:3, etc.).
Paul then asks why are they looking to “those who are least esteemed by the church to judge”? (1 Cor. 6:4). In other words, why are they going to unsaved people outside the church to resolve their problems? (1 Cor. 6:1, 6, etc.). Ignoring God on these issues leads to “shame” and deception (1 Cor. 6:5, 9-10). There should have been some in their church who could have been able “to judge between” the disputing factions and resolve the problem in a godly manner (1 Cor. 6:5). By going to the unsaved to resolve these disputes over resources, it was “already an utter failure” (1 Cor. 6:7). Such disputes were motivated by “covetousness” and selfish gain (1 Cor. 6:8, 10; James 4:1-3, etc.). By going to secular courts their life testimonies were saying God was not sufficient or smart enough to deal with these issues- which is a very poor witness of the wisdom of God/the Gospel of our salvation (1 Cor. 1:21-23; Acts 1:8, etc.). It would have been better for them to have “accepted wrong” and been “cheated” in such civil suits trusting Jesus to make things right one day than to fight back in such an unchristian way (1 Cor. 6:7b; Heb. 12:23, etc.).
To emphasize the point that the litigious brothers need to resolve their disputes now and forgive one another, God points to what they could lose at the judgment seat of Christ if they do not listen to Him (1 Cor. 3:15; 4:1-2, 5; 6:9-10; Matt. 6:9-15; Eph. 4:32; 2 John 8; 2 Cor. 5:9-10, etc.). And like the first two “Do you not know” statements in this chapter, the third one also deals with the coming millennial kingdom when Jesus returns for us and reigns in this world (1 Cor. 2:9-10; 6:9-10; Zech. 14:9; Isa. 11:8-10; Rev. 19:11-20:6, etc.).
The Bible says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?…” (1 Cor. 6:9). While many scholars will make the claim that “the unrighteous” exclusively and only refers to lost people (1 Cor. 6:1, 6) and it is also true unsaved people will not “inherit” the kingdom because they will not even enter it or be part of it in any way, this same word for “unrighteous” or “wicked” in the NIV (ádikos in the Greek) is used for “carnal” Corinthian Christians also: “No, you yourselves do wrong [i.e. ádikos] and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!” (1 Cor. 6:8). And context shows us as well the Lord has been speaking to believers- saints in Corinth all along (1 Cor. 1:2, 8-10, 26; 2:1; 4:1; 3:1-2, etc.). So “not inheriting” here for the Chirstian means not possessing things that are burned up… things that are “wood, hay [and] straw” which will not stand the test of God’s holy fire (1 Cor. 3:11-15; Heb. 6:10; 12:28-29, etc.).
While a child of God will always enter the Lord’s kingdom by grace through faith, he or she can “suffer loss” of “reward” (or inheritance) in that kingdom (Eph. 2:8-9; 2 John 8; 1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Tim. 2:12-13, etc.). We see here there are consequences for living apart from God’s will and plan in our lives as Christians because all such unrighteousness will not go into His kingdom (Heb. 12:28-29; Titus 2:11-14; Rom. 6:1, etc.). And the statement, “do not be deceived” in verse 9 reminds us here we as Christians can sometimes deceive ourselves into thinking that God does not require us to live righteously (1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Cor. 3:18-20; Eph. 5:1-6; Gal. 6:1-7, etc.). That is a lie (Gen. 3:1). “The fact that we are eternally secure should not lead us to conclude that it does not matter how we live now even though we will all end up in heaven” -Dr. Constable. “Each [Christian’s] work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work of what sort it is” (1 Cor. 3:11-13; 2 Cor. 5:9-10, etc.). Christians who “practice” the list of sins in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21, etc.). It is important to note that this list (which includes “passive homosexual partners [and] practicing homosexuals” -1 Cor. 6:9 NET) like the list in 1 Cor. 5:10 is not exhaustive but indicative of some of the kinds of unconfessed sins that will result in a deceived Christian suffering loss of inheritance in Christ’s coming millennial reign if he or she does not repent (1 John 1:9; 1 Cor. 5:5; 11:31-32, etc.). Christians can be deceived and live as sons of disobedience (Eph. 5:5). God’s view of sin should be taken seriously (Gal. 6:7; 1 Cor. 15:58, etc.).
For more details on these “deep things of God” (“heavenly things”) and how it related to the culture in that day and our culture today, please view our July 28, 2024 message (1 Cor. 2:9-10, 15-16; Eph. 1:17-19; 3:14-19, etc.).
The Bible then ends with our identity in Christ- the truth with which we are to live our lives by (1 Cor. 6:11; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:11, etc.). “Ye are washed… sanctified… justified” (1 Cor. 6:11 KJV). We are washed by the Spirit; sanctified in the Son; and justified before God (1 Cor. 6:11; Titus 3:5; 1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 8:33, etc.). God has cleansed us from all sin through the blood of Christ and made us His children forever! (John 1:29; 3:7, 16, etc.). May we live in that reality today bringing honor and glory to Him now… LIVING LIKE HIS KINGDOM CITIZENS NOW (Col. 1:10, 1 Thes. 2:12, Eph. 4:1; 2 Cor. 5:17-21, etc.).