INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES I Corinthians Lesson 6

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I Cor. Chapter 6:1-20

Memory verses for this week: 1 Pet 1:24  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 1 Pet 1:25  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you..

 

Introduction:     Last week in Chapter 5, we discussed how church discipline should be administered and how it should be done in a very planned and orderly manner.  This week, we study about how Christians should forgive one another for offenses. 

I.                    Christians Warned Against Going to Law 

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

Paul had to be amazed at these saints in the church there at Corinth.  In our study last week, we found that they had a member living in gross sin, and had done nothing at all to correct the problem.  Then he finds that the members of the church were going to law when problems came up between brethren.   In today’s society, we find many think that hiring a lawyer and taking someone to court is the way to find happiness.  Paul was upset with this line of thinking, and

Urges them to settle minor issues among themselves.  To take an issue between a Christian before an unsaved judge is not necessarily going to get the proper remedy for our problems.  

1 Cor 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?

Paul argues that since believers will one day have a part in the judgment of both men and angels, they should certainly come to agreement among themselves with small issues.  Paul was not forbidding them to use worldly courts, but just trying to make them see that they are unnecessary in the vast number of cases.  While the Christian’s citizenship is in heaven, that does not remove us from our responsibilities to the government and state.  We have a responsibility to each one.

1 Tim 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1 Tim 2:2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

1 Tim 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1 Tim 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Paul certainly knew about the court system, and had much experience standing before judges, particularly in the latter years of his ministry.

Acts 25:10  Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

Acts 25:11  For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

Rom 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Rom 13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Rom 13:4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

The reference we have here in Chapter 6 is not about large issues that might need to be settled in court, but rather were minor disputes among brethren that could be handled by Christians among themselves.

1 Cor 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

1 Cor 6:4  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

Verse 4 teaches that if you were going to seek a judgment on some question, would you seek the judgment of the least esteemed member of the church?  Would you want a babe in the Lord making a judgment for you, or would you want a seasoned Christian.  If you would not choose the weak Christian to judge, how would you logically look to get advice and judgment from an unsaved judge.  Minor issues and church disputes have no place in state courts before the unbeliever.   I think that disagreements between church members cause the lost to want to stay away from the church.   We should try our best to get along and all have the same mind, that being the mind of Christ.

1 Cor 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?

1 Cor 6:6  But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

1 Cor 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?

1 Cor 6:8  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

It truly is a shame when Christian brothers can not bet along and especially shameful that there can be cases tried between two brothers in the church.  It would be much wiser in my estimation that we endure wrong, even if it means being defrauded, than to run to the heathen courts to find a remedy.  Many who do these kind of things are not truly seeking justice, but looking to hurt someone else’s testimony or to defraud them. 

1 Pet 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Pet 3:16  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1 Pet 3:17  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Pet 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Matthew Henry in his Commentary on the Whole Bible had this to say about lawsuits among Christians.

Christians should not contend with one another, for they are brethren. This, if duly attended to, would prevent many law-suits, and end many quarrels and disputes. In matters of great damage to ourselves or families, we may use lawful means to right ourselves, but Christians should be of a forgiving temper. Refer the matters in dispute, rather than go to law about them. They are trifles, and may easily be settled, if you first conquer your own spirits. Bear and forbear, and the men of least skill among you may end your quarrels. It is a shame that little quarrels should grow to such a head among Christians, that they cannot be determined by the brethren. The peace of a man's own mind, and the calm of his neighborhood, are worth more than victory. Lawsuits could not take place among brethren, unless there were faults among them.

 

II.                  The Corinthians Had Been Justified in the Name of Jesus Christ

1 Cor 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,

1 Cor 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 

If you read verses 9 and 10, it sounds like it would be impossible for someone who had sinned to enter into heaven.  But no unsaved sinner can enter the kingdom of heaven.   A person who has accepted their position as a lost sinner without hope and turned to Christ in faith with repentance, certainly can be saved.  (See verse 11) 

1 Cor 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.

And such were some of you… were you one of those kind of sinners?   I’m afraid that most of us have been involved in sin that we would like to forget.  But Praise the Lord, there is only one sin that is unforgivable.  If we blaspheme the Holy Spirit and reject Him when He deals with us about sin, we have no hope.  But anyone, no matter what they have done, can find Christ’s loving salvation if they will truly seek God’s face and turn to Christ.  The sin of unbelief is what sends a sinner to hell.  And Christ has already paid the price.  Why anyone would want to try to make it in this old wicked world without Christ is beyond my understanding.  But Satan has many deceived today.  If he can get us to put off salvation one more day, he will slowly lure your life away and you will go to the grave lost and undone.

 

III.                Fornication is a Sin in the Sight of God 

1 Cor 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.

1 Cor 6:13  Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Does salvation give us a ticket to sin without price?  Absolutely not.  Our sins may be forgiven in regards to salvation, but every sin has a price and can ruin our lives down here.   We have to live in this world, and a Christian that lives worldly and is involved in sin will have a horrible life.  The joy of salvation can become a thing far from us, and our lives can be a living hell.  But when we live for God, we have a life that is more abundant.   Paul said all things may be lawful, but not all things are expedient.  The lost man or woman that sees us living with sin in our lives will have no desire to be like us.  Paul said he might be free from sin, and he would not be brought under the bondage of any sin.  We must be careful to flee sin or it will dominion over us.  We either live to self and the flesh, or we live to God and the Spirit.   The teaching is clear that we are to flee the sin of fornication.   We discussed last week how that when we are involved in sins like fornication and adultery, we associate the Holy Spirit in our sins since those sins involve the body and the Holy Spirit dwells inside the believer.   Paul wanted his life to be profitable, and living in sin is not the way to the effective, successful Christian walk that God so desires us to walk.   Meats for the belly and the belly for meats speaks of how that food certainly is not the main issue of life.  Both the belly and the food will ultimately return back to the dust.  The things that matter are the things we do for God that make up the silver, gold, and precious stones in the day of judgment.   When we stand at the judgment seat of Christ, we will stand there to determine what rewards we will receive.  Those things done the proper way that honored God will bring us a reward.   Those done in the flesh (wood, hay, and stubble), will be burned up.

1 Cor 6:14  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

1 Cor 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.

1 Cor 6:16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

Our bodies are the members of Christ.  Should we then take them and make them members of a harlot?  Paul answers clearly and forcefully.. GOD FORBID.  Paul uses the relationship between man and wife to explain that joining oneself with a harlot makes you to become one body together.  The greatest need among Christians is to be joined with the Lord, and be away from the things of this world.

1 Cor 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

1 Cor 6:18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

There are many sins that hurt the Christian, but those of a sexual nature involve the body as well as the soul.   Sexual sin (unmarried men and women committing fornication with one another) differs in that it is a sin against ones own body.   Many times people involved in sexual sins wind up with physical diseases that cripple or ultimately may bring death such as syphilis or Aids.   When I was a child, there was no such thing as Aids.  But in just a few short years, we have a deadly disease that kills thousands of people each year.  Most of those infected with the disease get it from either fornication or having sin with the same sex. (Homosexuality).   God is clear on this teaching, and the child of God should not be involved in these sins.  Does that mean a lost person who has been involved can not be saved?  Absolutely not.  But they are to forsake the sin and turn to God in repentance.

 

IV.               Our Bodies are the Temple of the Holy Ghost 

1 Cor 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?

1 Cor 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Verse 19 makes it clear that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside the Christian the day he or she accepts Christ as Savior.  And because we are bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus, we are not our own.   What a price Jesus paid to obtain our redemption.

1 Pet 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1 Pet 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Pet 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1 Pet 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1 Pet 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 Pet 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 

Because of what Christ has done for us, we should make our bodies a living sacrifice for the Lord.   Everything we say or do should be done to the honor and glory of God. 

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

We don’t have to wait to see if this is the will of God.  It says that to present our bodies a living sacrifice is the PERFECT WILL OF GOD.

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

 

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