December 10, 2023
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
“Saints and Ain’ts”
Service Overview: The kingdom of God will only ever be made up of fallen and broken people. But that is no excuse for holding onto the things that we were before coming to faith. In Christ, we are called to both personal and communal holiness.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” Psalm 103:6 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- [The Greeks] were characteristically a litigious people. The law courts were one of their chief entertainments. . . . In a Greek city every man was more or less a lawyer and spent a very great part of his time either deciding or listening to law cases. (William Barclay, Letters to the Corinthians, 58-59)
- Roman society was notoriously litigious, and Corinth, with its rising class of nouveau riche, was even more so. Many ancient lawsuits addressed property matters among the wealthy; some grievances were simply pretexts for avenging insults and pursuing enmity. (Craig Keener, 1-2 Corinthians, 52)
- Like the pagans around them, the Corinthian Christians took their interpersonal disputes with other believers to the civil courts, where unbelievers judged their cases according to Roman civil law. Whether it related to family matters, property, inheritance, breach of contract, or slander, these civil suits had become common enough that Paul had heard about them and saw the need to address the problem head-on. (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 88)
- “Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough … ?” drips with irony, since the Corinthians had been claiming to be so wise (4:10). But Paul probably also believes quite seriously that among the godly (minority?) in the church, some bear the marks of true Christian wisdom (2:6) and perhaps also legal training, so that they might intervene constructively. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 157)
- The church at Corinth was rapidly losing its testimony in the city. Not only did the unsaved know about the immorality in the assembly, but they were also aware of the lawsuits involving members of the church. Not only were there sins of the flesh, but also sins of the spirit (2 Cor. 7:1). (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 76)
- “Males who have sex with males” refers to both passive homosexual participants (Gk. malakoi) and active homosexual participants (Gk. arsenokoitai). In spite of cultural accommodation and liberal reinterpretations, the Bible is consistent in its condemnation of homosexuality as sinful and contrary to the design and plan of God (see Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Tim 1:10; Jude 7-8). (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 119)
What hits hard about what Paul says to the church here?
- Those poised to weigh morality, should be living morally amongst themselves.
(vv. 1-3, 8 | Daniel 7:15-22; Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:29-30; Jude 14-15; Rev. 3:21; 20:4)
Even the unbelieving Jews dealt with their civil cases in their own synagogue courts. To take the problems of Christians and discuss them before the “unjust” and “unbelievers” was to weaken the testimony of the gospel. (Wiersbe, 76)
By going to pagan authorities to settle disputes, the Christians were acting beneath their dignity. They should be able to settle these disputes among themselves because someday (at the Second Coming) believers (who are coheirs with Christ) will judge the world (see also 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 3:21; 20:4). (Grant R. Osborne, Life Application Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Corinthians, 75)
- When it comes to being wronged, it is sometimes better to grin and bear it, than to drag Christ’s name through the mud of the public eye.
(vv. 4-8 | Matthew 5:39; Luke 6:29; John 13:35; Romans 12:19; Rom. 13:3, 4; 1 Peter 3:9)
Sometimes Christians, by their actions and attitudes, cast a dark cloud over the beauty of the gospel. They turn unbelievers away from the Lord Jesus because their lives contradict the message that salvation in Christ makes one different. Examples of such bad behavior run throughout 1 Corinthians. (Akin, 114)
Paul does not attack human government as the God-ordained institution empowered to promote law and justice in the world. In fact, Christians always have regarded criminal cases to be under the legitimate jurisdiction of the state. Paul’s condemnation specifically applies to voluntary civil suits filed by individual believers against other individual believers. (Swindoll, 90)
- What they were no longer defined who they are, therefore they should live like it.
(vv. 9-11 | John 14:15; 1 Cor. 5:1; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:15; Eph. 5:1-14; 1 John 3:4–10)
All the sins enumerated in verses 9–10 share the common traits of being self-indulgent and self-serving. From a spiritual perspective, they also become self-destructive. Hence, Christians should make sure they remain part of one’s distant past (v. 11). Paul knows, of course, that they do not always do so, but he appeals again to his favorite, “Become what you really are” logic. (Blomberg, 162)
I don’t believe it is wise or truthful to the power of the gospel to identify oneself by the sins of one’s past or the temptations of one’s present but rather to only be defined by the Christ who’s overcome both for those He calls His own. All men and women, including myself, that are well acquainted with sexual temptation are ultimately not what our temptation says of us. We are what Christ had done for us; therefore, our ultimate identity is very simple: We are Christians. (Jackie Hill Perry, Gay Girl Good God, 148)
Conclusion… How does a passage like this challenge us in living counter-culture?
A. By being more concerned about living right than being right; especially among our faith family.
(Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 24:29; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10, 17-21; 1 Peter 3:9; 4:8)
Think of the prospect of spending eternity with folks we haven’t learned to get along with on earth. That in itself should drive our efforts to resolve problems with other believers. (Osborne, 76)
The root cause of conflict is unmet desires in our hearts. When we want something and feel that we will not be satisfied unless we get it, that desire starts to control us. If others fail to meet our desires, we sometimes condemn them in our hearts and fight harder to get our own way. (Ken Sande, The Peacemaker, 102)
The whole concept of relinquishing one’s rights seems anathema to a culture immersed in asserting them. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 162)
The Corinthians invited pagan judges who had no status in the church to arbitrate matters within the church. This is mind-boggling! The church should be able to handle small claims matters. We are family. We need to act like it! (Akin, 117)
B. By being mindful of how we carry Christ’s name via our interaction with others.
(Prov. 24:29; Mat. 22:36-40; Luke 6:35; John 13:35; 17:23; Rom. 12:17-21; 1 Thes. 5:15)
Better to lose money or possessions than to lose a brother and lose your testimony as well. (Wiersbe, 78)
Men would sooner believe that the gospel is from heaven, if they saw more such effects of it upon the hearts and lives of those who profess it. The world is better able to read the nature of religion in a man’s life than in the Bible. (Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor, Chapter 2, Section 1)
The cause of sin is never so much helped as when Christians waste their strength in quarreling with one another, and spend their time in petty squabbles. (J.C. Ryle, Holiness, 112)
The more fractured we are, the greater we become spectacles to the world. The more we are united in love, the more the world sees Christ. (Curtis Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors, 175)
The eagle-eyed world acts as policeman for the church, and with no good intent becomes a watch-dog over the sheep, barking furiously as soon as one goes astray . . . Be careful, be careful of your private lives . . . and I believe your public lives will be sure to be right; but remember that it is upon your public life that the verdict of the world will very much depend. (Charles Spurgeon sermon, “The Parent’s and Pastor’s Joy”, Dec. 21, 1873)
Gospel Connection…
In Christ, your past no longer defines you, therefore, live into what you are.
(Ps. 103:12; Is. 43:25; John 8:36; Rom 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal 2:20; Phil 3:12-14; 1 John 3:1)
Moralism says to unbelievers, “Be what you are not.” Christianity says to believers, “Be what you are.” (Alistair Begg sermon, “After the Funeral”, Dec. 8, 1996)
God treated Jesus on the cross as if He lived your life so He could treat you as if you lived His. (John MacArthur sermon, “The Final Passover, the First Communion”, www.gty.org)
Repentance is a costly call to fundamentally say no to who you are (in your sin) in order to find an entirely new identity in who He is. (David Platt, Counter Culture, 177)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Why is it important that Christians let the government handle criminal cases? In what ways is it better equipped to handle criminal cases than the church? What are Paul’s concerns regarding believers taking their civil cases before outside judges?
- What often motivates one person to sue another person?
- How does Paul seek to radically reshape what a Christian values most in civil matters?
- Why can your past identity propel you toward holiness without serving as a continual source of shame?
- Paul speaks of Christ’s work in Christians as an ongoing work and a finished one. How are both true?
Quotes to note…
Criminal matters are not the issue in this chapter. Criminal acts like sexual or physical abuse, theft, or any crime at all for that matter should be immediately reported to legal authorities. The church has its place to deal with others (see Rom 13:1-5), and the government has its place to deal with certain issues. When it comes to an actual crime, the wrongheaded idea that “what happens in the church stays in the church” is dangerous and sometimes criminal itself. The church must know its place and responsibilities in these matters. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 114)
Persistent rebellion increasingly calls into question any prior profession of faith. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 161)
Christ did not die to redeem us in part. Neither did He rise so that we might have life in portions. But with us having a body made for Him, as well as the mind, will, personality, and emotions that it contains, we must understand that God is after us becoming victorious over any and all sin that would hinder the whole person from serving God fully and freely. (Jackie Hill Perry, Gay Girl Good God, 101)
The “flesh” stands for a certain orientation of life. It is the sin-bent self characterized by self-sufficiency that wages war against God… The flesh and the spirit denote not two coexisting parts of the individual, but a contrast of tendencies and loyalties which compete for dominance as powers within each person… It creates estrangement from God that is broken only when persons submit in faith to the gospel and allow God’s Spirit to seize control. (David Garland, 1 Corinthians, 176)
This is the stunning message of Christianity; Jesus died for you so that He might live in you. Jesus doesn’t merely improve your old nature; He imparts to you and entirely new nature – one that is completely united with His. (David Platt, Follow Me, 65)
[Christ’s] righteousness is so imputed to believers that their justification is not merely the act of a sovereign dispensing with law but the act of a judge declaring the law to be satisfied. (Charles Hodge, The Theology of the Intellect and Feelings, 13)
Pop theologies baptize the longings of sinful hearts: health and wealth, significance and security, self-esteem, power to get what you want. But the Holy Spirit is in the business of changing what you want. (David Powlison, Seeing With New Eyes, 219)
Offenses and disagreements too often become contests of will. The original issues get buried under the win-or-lose mind-set that takes over. (Grant R. Osborne, Life Application Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Corinthians, 78)