1 Corinthians 6:1-8

                                                                 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

 

In a fallen world while living amongst fallen people, disputes and offenses are inevitable.  Believers will sin against and offend one another.  The fact that this will happen is unavoidable, but when it does happen, we must be careful to prioritize the kingdom and our testimony over our own individual rights and feelings.  Every effort should be made to resolve these conflicts within the body of Christ instead of involving the world’s legal system.

 

BELIEVERS SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF JUDGING ONE ANOTHER: Paul’s first argument on this subject is that the church is capable of judging one another on issues of conflict.  We are inhabited by the Spirit of God and informed by the Word of God.  These truths make believers much more qualified to judge one another than the world would be.  Paul argues that in the future believers will judge the world so it should not be the other way around now.  Believers will even be given the task of judging angels, so God has certainly equipped us for this task.  When dealing with unbelievers that do not recognize the authority of the church, there may be situations where human courts must be involved.  When there are crimes, God has established government with the authority to punish.  However, in civil disputes and conflicts between believers, God has given authority and ability to church leaders to resolve these issues.

 

BELIEVERS SHOULD BE MISSIONAL WHEN JUDGING ONE ANOTHER: When believers judge one another in the human courts of this world, it gives us a bad testimony.  The advancement of the kingdom of God and the testimony of the church of God should take precedence over any personal problems we might be facing. God has called us to a mission of reaching all nations with the Gospel.  Satan is doing all he can to distract us from that mission or to destroy our testimony to prevent us from accomplishing it.  We must learn to keep our priorities in line with the Word of God.  If we take a brother in Christ to court, we might win the case and get whatever recompense we were seeking; but at what cost?  Our testimonies will be weakened and our effectiveness at reaching a lost world will be compromised.

 

BELIEVERS SHOULD BE SACRIFICIAL INSTEAD OF JUDGING ONE ANOTHER: Paul’s final plea is to simply be willing to suffer the loss as opposed to fighting for a victory in court.  Christ gave up His life to reconcile us to the Father through faith in His sacrifice.  It is a small thing for us to simply forgive offenses against us in light of all we have been forgiven.  Christian marriages should not end up in divorce court.  Christian business should not sue one another over disagreements.  Individual believers should not require the court’s intervention.  These situations should be handled within the body of Christ.  If the church does not do as they are required or if they decide against our cause, we must simply be willing to suffer the loss.  

 

APPLICATION: Be thankful for the Word of God and the Spirit of God who make judging one another possible.  Always strive to solve disputes at the smallest, most private level possible.  Make our mission to the nations a greater priority than our individual rights.  Gladly be willing to suffer sacrificial loss for the glory of the Lord.

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