Lawsuits and Loose Living
1 Corinthians Chapter 6
As we learned last week, there must be discipline in the Church that belongs to Jesus Christ. If we are not willing to discipline sinful members, we are not being obedient to the Word of God, and we are lacking in faith.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Today, we get into another subject about church members and the saints of God.
A “lawsuit” is described as a suit in law for the recovery of a supposed right, a process in law instituted by a party to compel another to do him justice.
We simply say legal disputes.
We should understand that this passage deals only with disputes between Christian brothers and sisters.
It has nothing to do with unbelievers or disputes between unbelievers!
In the end, we will see that a true believer might ought to suffer wrong rather than risk doing wrong.
The Apostle Paul will lead us through this thought, one question at a time.
The first question.
*****1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
What Paul is saying is: “How dare you saints of God go to unbelievers to settle any issue you have with another saint of God"?
A Christian can expect no justice from unbelievers, and two Christians might easily decide small matters in a private and friendly manner.
There is no real reason why two believers should not be able to settle a dispute themselves!
Believers should not be disputing and arguing over rights and authority, nor the things and possessions of this world.
Christians are to use the things they have possession of to further the cause of Christ.
Paul called those secular laws unjust, and most of those judges were ruled by Rome or appointed by Rome and were certainly unjust.
Christians were hated in most places, and it would be hard for Christians to get a fair trial.
In reality, when believers try to settle disputes with other believers before the world, it damages the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus taught: Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
If we truly love one another, we will not cause each other harm in any way.
Christians have the Holy Spirit living within them, and the fruit of the Spirit is:
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Those Christians who do not possess the “Fruit” of the Spirit may not be saved.
The word “fruit” is singular, so each Christian should possess all the traits that are mentioned here.
The world is a terrible place because it does not have the Holy Spirit or the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
When Christians take their disputes with other Christians to the world, we make the Lord Jesus look foolish.
He has already given us the means of solving issues with each other.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The problems in any church can be resolved if we live and learn as the Word of God instructs us.
Our lifestyle must not resemble the lifestyle of the world!
*****1Co 6:2 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?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
What Paul is saying is that all this information is in the Bible; if you would just read and study it, you would know what God said about all these things.
This verse tells us that believers are to judge "all disputes" between themselves.
We should be able to judge the smallest matters, which are the things that pertain to this life.
We must never take these things to the world!
We will one day judge the world!
We will one day judge and govern angels in the next world, which we may not understand as of yet.
We lower ourselves and lose our dignity as the saints of God when we take our church problems to the world!
The word judge as it is used here means to govern and administer the affairs of the Church, which the world is to have no part of.
Jesus Christ told the Apostles that they would oversee Israel during the Millennial Kingdom.
Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Paul tells the Church that we will govern and oversee the Gentiles during the Millennial Kingdom.
Dan 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
There may be judging, which is governing, supervision, and oversight throughout eternity.
Verse 2 says the world will be judged by the Church that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of.
Those who reject the Lord Jesus will never live the life of a Christian, so how could they ever judge the life of a Christian?
Judgment can only come when the Word of God is the "Standard" for all laws.
This "Standard" is rejected by the world of today!
We should be able to judge the things of this life!
*****1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
If we care for the Lord Jesus Christ, we would suffer ourselves rather than bring reproach to the Christian name!
Unbelievers are as nothing to the Church.
Unbelievers are of no account in judging matters in the Church.
Unbelievers are not held in high esteem within the Church.
Unbelievers have no standing in the Church.
Why would we ever take matters of the Church to an unbeliever?
They do not live the life of Christ, nor do they intend to.
They do not have the Holy Spirit to rely on!
This Church at Corinth had fallen from Grace and needed to return to the truth of God.
When problems arise between believers about everyday things, other believers ought to be able to give solutions.
These things did not require any Spiritual insight to come to the proper conclusion.
*****1Co 6:5 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?
1Co 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
Salvation is our great deliverance from the guilt and pollution of sin and can only be accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Once we are saved, we find that the things of this world have little, or no value as compared to the things of Heaven.
Knowing this, why in the world would we take our issues with other brothers and sisters to a court of non-believers?
Surely there are plenty of people in the Church who are competent to settle such disputes.
If we lack wisdom, all we need to do is ask God!
Jas_1:5 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.
There should be nothing that comes between two children of God that needs to be settled in a court of unbelievers!
If we feel that outside courts would be better able to handle simple disputes between two Christians, it only proves that their worldliness is stronger than their Christianity.
We are also saying that there are no wise men in the Church who understand our problem.
Then we do not accept that the wisdom of God is far superior to the wisdom of this world!
*****1Co 6:7 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?
1Co 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Rather than cause friction in the Church, why not just give in?
Why not suffer being wronged and cheated rather than wronging or cheating another brother in Christ?
Just going to an outside court is defeating the principles of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Just going outside the Church ruins our testimony for Jesus Christ.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
1Pe 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
Obviously, these things concern disputes between two members of the same church and not the broken laws of the world.
No doubt that some of these Corinthians were guilty.
They wanted some of the things their brothers had.
They did not steal them outright but sought them by outside legal means.
The world may have called it legal, but they were cheating and stealing from God and God would deal with them.
The Lord Jesus said: Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man:
Can church members who do such things really be saved?
We can surely say they are unrighteous, and we could question their character.
*****1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
We should be able to see that some of these things are things that God will condemn and reject.
We can expect that nothing can save a person who practices these sins.
We cannot defy God and get into His House!
As Christians, we should know these things!
Since God is righteous, His Church must be righteous to be accepted by Him!
Many people profess religion.
Many people practice religion.
Many people talk about religion.
Many people defend their beliefs about religion.
So, they live their lives according to religion.
However, Christianity is not about religion but is about a "relationship" with God!
God's "Grace" is not given to us as a free ticket to sin.
There are very few people in the many churches who think that God will reject them!
Most church members think God will accept them, and many of them are wrong.
The Lord Jesus taught by parables, and there is one we should pay attention to.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
If this oil represents the Holy Spirit, then Jesus is saying that only about half of the Church is truly saved.
Remember, God will judge the Church before He judges this world!
Many believe that deception sins are not fatal, but they seem to forget what being a Christian is about.
2Jn_1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
God simply says that none of these persons shall inherit the Kingdom of God.
We should know these things!
*****1Co 6:11 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.
If we truly give ourselves to the Lord Jesus, then those sins of our old life have been forgiven, and God will never bring them up in our relationship!
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
We cannot be saved by anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ!
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
We can then be "Born Again" into the family of God!
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
We were once dead in trespasses and sins: Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
We cannot approach God without faith: Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
That faith must be in the work that the Lord Jesus Christ did to save us: Rom 10:9 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.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The Lord will save everyone who calls upon Him with a pure heart!
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
We know what we were before we met Jesus Christ, and when we see others doing those same things or similar things, then we know they are not saved.
This is not judging, this is knowing them by their fruit!
We cannot say we are saved unless we have a salvation experience!
It is a once-for-all event because the Scriptures tell us this.
We are not to return to the world, and its sin pollution. The worst of all pollution.
God the Father takes our "faith" in the Lord Jesus Christ and counts our faith as righteousness.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We do not have any righteousness of our own.
We are still imperfect.
We know we are short of God's glory.
We must surrender our new life to God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and worship Him.
It is these things that honor God the Father, and He will gift us with God the Holy Spirit.
The Lord Jesus takes care of our past.
The Lord Jesus takes care of our present.
The Lord Jesus takes care of our future.
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Are all things now lawful to us as the Saints of God?
*****1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
The Holy Spirit is not given to us to do as we please!
We have the Holy Spirit living within us to give us freedom to serve the Lord Jesus, which is perfect freedom.
We are free from the law of sin and death: Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
We have complete freedom to do the things that are in God's will for us.
When God created this world, we live in He said that it was all good.
Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
No actions of any Saint of God are unlawful if they are in accordance with God's design in creation.
We should understand that desires are a function of our bodies that God made. So, in this sense, we have complete freedom.
1) We must understand that many things in this world are neither worthwhile nor are they profitable.
2) We must understand that many things in this world are not wise. Some things will enslave us and not bring self-respect.
We are never to become slaves to anything on this earth, which would include such things as drugs or alcohol, or substance abuse.
We are to preserve our self-control to control the things upon this earth and not be controlled by any of them.
Our good health and our emotions depend upon us being in control of our bodies and our spirits.
Indulgence in any of the appetites of the body is one of the greatest sins of any believer.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they (sinners, the unsaved) do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Paul adds: 1Co 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
**1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Amen
