June 29, 2008
Morning Service

I Cor. 6

 

Review:

The old saying is, “no news is good news.”  Well, the Apostle received a letter from the church at Corinth, and it wasn’t all good news.  Paul addresses the issues, and concerns that the church at Corinth had.

1. Was that of division.  We saw very clearly what God thought of division. 

·        We should all teach, and preach the same thing.  THE WORD OF GOD.

·        We should not have preacher religion.  It is very hard not to follow the person who led you to Christ, but Paul teaches us to keep our eyes on Jesus, and not on man.

2.   Was how to deal with fornication in the church.

 

Today we are ready to look at the third problem, and that is;  Going to law with one another.

 

1Co 6:1-20 KJVR  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 

• You can see the reprimand, right off the bat.

(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?  (3)  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

• Paul may be referring to what Jesus said, “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.
• This is probably referring to the 12 Apostles, but it does indicate judgment from the saints.

 (4)  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.  (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? 

• First of all, if you have situations that need to be judged, do it within the church.
• Secondly, let the judge be someone who is least esteemed in the church.  Esteemed = highly valued or prized on account of worth;  On account of worth. 
• Let one of the poorer, known to be fair, most knowledgeable men of God’s ways, in your church, judge, or settle the argument.
• Today, using the guidelines from Timothy, for church leadership, that is the Bishop, or Pastor, and the Presbytery, the counseling body to the Pastor, which is made up of the Deacons, which you have chosen to serve you, should be the ones to judge, or decide matters of disagreements.
• Like they say, “it’s not a pretty job, but someone has to do it.”  It’s not pleasant to sit in judgment on someone.  Most people don’t  like to do it.  

(6)  But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.  (7)  Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another.

• I think that this is the place to mention that there is quite a difference in the judicial system that Paul is dealing with, and the one we have today.  Our system is basically built on Godly values, and most judges that we come before are Christians of some denomination.  I believe most want to be fair, and see that our laws, which are made to protect the innocent, are followed.
• There are going to be disputes, and It would be ideal for all judgments to be made within the church, but we know that they aren’t.
• Listen to Jesus;  Mat 5:25  Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
• Jesus is saying do all you can, not to be brought before a judge.

 

 

Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?  (8)  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 

·         This is another one of those teachings of the Lord that is very difficult to do.  Such as turn the other cheek.  Such as if a man takes your coat, give him whatever else he needs from you. 

·         I think they are devised to show us just how far short we fall from being like Jesus.  I got a long way to go.  But as the song says, “He’s still working on me, to make me what I aught to be.”

(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,  (10)  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  (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. 

• I believe Paul is saying, “ look, you are to be different than the judges in the Roman Empire, they have not confessed Christ as Lord, nor do they have the desire to be like Him.”  YOU ARE TO BE DIFFERENT.

(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.  (13)  Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.

• Again the Apostle is saying exercise restraint.  God will help you overcome anything in your life that is not pleasing to Him.  But you have to want the help.
• Paul returns to the problem of fornication.

Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.  (14)  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.  (15)  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?

• Do you see, and understand, what blessed revelation God has given us?  CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY.  All of Christendom makes up the body of Christ.  We are His eyes, ears, feet, hands, and heart.  WE MAKE UP THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH.
• A MESSAGE FOR ANOTHER TIME.   What is my function as a member of Christ’s body?

shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. 

• Again Paul teaches by asking a question.

(16)  What? know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.  (17)  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 

• AGAIN, this blessed truth is expressed, WE THAT ARE JOINED UNTO THE LORD ARE ONE SPIRIT. 

(18)  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  (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? 

• You see, this is no longer a mystery.  Jesus said, “We will come unto you, and make our abode with you.”  CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY. 
• How does this glorious event happen?? 
• Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;  Jesus dwells in our hearts, and lives because the Bible says He does.  Time and again we are encouraged by the Scriptures that Christ abides within the believer. 
• My how we should rejoice when we understand this wonderful gift from God.  Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
• The song writer says it very well, “He abides, He abides, hallelujah, He abides with me, I’m rejoicing night and day, as I walk the narrow way, for the Comforter abides with me.”

(20)  For ye are bought with a price:

• What a price!  Every time we commune we should think of the price that was paid, and the glory that will be revealed one day, from this cost.  Jesus is coming back as the Lion of the tribe of Judah!!!!  I’m not looking for a Lamb this time, but for the Lord of Lord’s, and the King of Kings.

WE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE

therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

WHAT A GLORIOUS CHALLENGE!