March 8, 2015
Evening Service

Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church was to address many of the problems they were struggling with.  This morning in the first part of chapter 6, he addresses the Christians there were taking other Christian brothers to court over disputes.  His answer to them comes in verse 7 & 8.

 1Co 6:7-8 Indeed then there is already on the whole a failure among you, that you have lawsuits with yourselves. Why not instead be wronged? Why not instead be defrauded?  (8)  But you do wrong and defraud, and these things to brothers.

·         Just as Jesus instructed us when someone sues us for our coat to give him our cloak as well, Paul’s advice encourages us to do the same.

·         He now explains why that attitude should prevail in all of us.  It begins with our identity in Christ.  We have chosen to be a follower Jesus Christ and in so doing we are to “seek first His kingdom.” We are to be different from this world.  Let’s begin with verse 9 as he explains it to us.

 

 

1Co 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor abusers, nor homosexuals, (10)  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

·         It is those who seek after righteousness and are trying to get these sins out of their lives that will inherit God’s kingdom.  Our identity in Christ (and the possession of the Holy Spirit) will draw us away from these sins and lifestyles.

This list includes:  

·         Fornicators- those having sexual intercourse outside of marriage

·          Idolaters-worshiping anyone or thing that is not the one true God

·         Adulterers-having illicit sexual relations with others beside your spouse

·         Abusers-those who abuse with words and behavior

·         Homosexuals-those allowing their bodies to be used in sexually perverted ways.

·         Thieves-taking something that does not belong to you.

·         Covetous-one with an inordinate desire to acquire the possessions of others.

·         Drunkards-those addicted to and abusing alcohol

·         Revilers-those using abusive speech to others

·         Extortioners-taking advantage of other for their profit

Living within these lifestyles (practicing these sins) does not characterize the righteousness our commitment to Jesus requires for those who choose to follow Him.  Paul now shows us plainly not to be one who points judgmental fingers at those caught up in these lifestyles.

 

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

·         Paul says before we get judgmental of these people, we need to look in the mirror and remember who you once were.  The old saying is; “except for the grace of God, their goes I.”  Before Christ in our lives, these lifestyles and sins were our identity.  We too were on the list that would NOT inherit God’s kingdom.

·         BUT we were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.  It was nothing we did; it is through grace (unmerited favor) alone.  The realization of that fact will make a change in our lives.  We cannot look Jesus in the face and see His scarred hands and continue being the same person.  Paul continues his explanation:

 

1Co 6:12-14 All things are lawful to me, but not all things profit. 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. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body.  (14)  And God has both raised up the Lord, and also will raise us up by His own power.

·         Paul says here that there are many things we as Christian are given the liberty to do.  I think of the old holiness churches who forbade members to smoke, drink, curse, dance or go to the movies.  Now of these things will keep you out of heaven, but are they good for you spiritually? 

·         Paul mentions food that we eat.  We are free to eat whatever we want, but are all foods good for us?  A diet of junk food is lawful, but not helpful to our health.  Just because we “can” do something doesn’t mean it is good for us.  Our bodies are part of Christ.

 

1Co 6:15-17 Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? Let it not be!  (16)  Or do you not know that he being joined to a harlot is one body? For He says, “The two shall be one flesh.”  (17)  But he being joined to the Lord is one spirit.

·         Here is the identity issue with Christians.  We must realize we are part of Christ and He is part of us; we are “being joined to the Lord in one spirit.”  Everywhere we go and everything we do, we do with Christ at our side.  We are one and the same with Christ.

·         I am a Christian who happens to be a husband, a father, a concrete tester, etc.  This “Christ first” identity now influences my behavior in all these rolls I fulfill.

·         As in the beginning of this chapter I have every right to take someone to court who owes me something, but is it what Christ would do?  Look how Paul closes this chapter:

 

1Co 6:19-20  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own, (20) for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

·         “You are not your own, for you are bought with a price.”  Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for your sins upon that old rugged cross.  He did not hold anything back; He gave it all, for you.  It was a price we could have never paid.  Without Him, we are lost and bound for our part in the lake that burns with fire. 

·         If you truly believe this and have accepted His offer for forgiveness and a hope of eternal life through the receiving of the Holy Spirit, it is your new identity to “glorify God in your body and in your spirit.”  It is now who you are.

 

Rom 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

 

 

Who are you tonight?  Do you identify yourself as a Christ follower?  Are you presenting your body as a living sacrifice?  Do you see your life being “transformed” by Him?

 

Lord take my heart and mold it to desire You and Your ways.