Pursuing Purity II

October 27, 2024|Pursuing Purity II|1 Corinthians 6:1-11

John-Daniel Cutler

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As we have been preaching through 1 Corinthians, we have come to chapter 6. Last week we saw Paul shift from the divisions in the church to the issue of church discipline. We looked at those verses under the heading Pursuing Purity. One of the things that Paul calls the church to do is if they see unrepentant and ongoing sin in the lives of one of their members, they are to act in order to pursue purity in the body. His warning is that a little leaven will leaven the whole batch of dough. The hope and purpose of church discipline is that the brother or sister will repent before being put out of the church and if they are put out of the church, that God would use that to bring them to repentance and saving faith.

Today, Paul continues his instruction on pursuing purity, but transitions away from how the church pursues purity in the body, to how believers pursue purity in the relationships with one another. 

The subject in our text may seem a little foreign to many of us, but the principle behind it is very much applicable for us today. 

The thing about our text today is that Paul is addressing a very practical matter. He touches on some theological truths towards the end of our section of scripture, but more supportive and applicatory in nature rather than instructive. 

Maybe you think of the Bible as a strictly theological book or one that doesn’t have any practical, day to day instruction. Friends, if that is you, you may be surprised, just how practical Paul gets in his letters. His main point today is that there is no place in the believers life for a lawsuit against another believer. 

That’s it. Paul tells the Corinthians that they should not be carrying each other to court over minor offenses. 

In all the churches I have been a member of, or pastored, I have never seen a brother or sister sue another brother or sister, but no doubt it does happen. But just because you haven’t taken a fellow believer to court, doesn’t mean you don’t have something to learn from Paul’s instruction today. 

This morning I want to share with you three realities found in our text. 

Before we get into the main portion of scripture for today, we need to understand reality number 1, which we find in verse 1. 

We will experience grievances within the church body.

Let’s read verse one together. 

(ESV) 1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?

The Greek begins with the verb dare and is obviously a strong word choice for Paul. 

How dare you, is probably an accurate English equivalent. I cannot believe that any one of you would be so bold as to take a brother to court. 

Paul is shocked to hear that these Corinthian believers are taking one another to court. 

But notice, he is not shocked that there is a basis to. 

‘When one of you has a legal case’ is the situation Paul is referring to. 

Not if one of you, but when one of you. 

It speaks to the inevitability that when people come together into a covenant family, there will be cause for hurts, for loss, and for pain inflicted one to another. 

Jesus instructed us both in the situation of a brother sinning against us- Matthew 18, which we discussed last week, and in the situation where our brother has a legitimate cause of offense from us. 

Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV) 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV) 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

In fact offenses are assured so much so, that when the Lord instructed his disciples on how to pray, he instructed them to include both a petition to be forgiven, but included their forgiving of those who were indebted to them. 

Why are we repeatedly commanded in the New Testament to bear with one another, to forgive one another, to seek to maintain the unity of the Spirit, to seek to live peaceably with everyone?

Because within the body of Christ there will be ample opportunity to live these commands out.

I wonder then why we are so surprised when we get wronged or hurt in the church. As a pastor, I am left speechless at how many people church hop because they got their feelings hurt by a fellow member. 

The bible is full of instructions on how to live together through hurts and difficulties and never once is the answer for a believer to simply separate from another believer over relational friction. 

The Corinthian church serves as a great example of what can happen, when we neglect the Bible’s teaching and try to use the world’s system within our relationships with other believers. 

Let’s look at what Paul says here.

When one of you has a grievance against another- the greek words translated, have a grievance against, is from a legal situation and is used in legal matters in secular literature from the time. 

This part is important for us to understand. Paul is not addressing criminal matters, like theft, murder, etc… He is addressing civil matters. 

In our terms, he is addressing things that would be considered a civil case. 

Our good friend Google defines a civil case as… 

A civil case is a legal dispute between two or more parties that does not involve criminal penalties or jail time. Civil cases are usually about disagreements over property or money, and the party bringing the suit is called the plaintiff, while the party being sued is called the defendant. 

Here’s an example. Let’s say it’s next Sunday and you have parked your car and come inside only to realize that you forgot your world famous green bean casserole for Sunday lunch in the backseat of the car. When you go back out someone with a really expensive car has parked too close to your car. As you are unloading that world famous, good as your grandma ever made green bean casserole, the wind catches your door and slams into the car next to you. 

The owner hears it happen and comes running back. They say it’s your fault for being reckless, you say it is their fault for parking too close. 

A few weeks later you get a summons to appear in civil court.

Here’s another. You forgot to check the expiration date on the can of creamed mushroom soup and someone gets sick. They get upset and want you to compensate them for lost time at work. You think it’s ridiculous, and then you get a summons to appear in civil court.

Right, these are the kinds of ridiculous things that seem to be brought to court in the Corinthian church. Things that should be able to be settled between brothers in Christ. 

The situation gets worse when you realize that there was rampant abuse within the legal system of Rome. Often those who had more money or were of higher status could ensure that they won a lawsuit against a poorer or less respected brother.

The legal system became a way for those with the desire to not only make a profit off of the less fortunate, but to advance their own status within the society. 

Do you understand why Paul is so shocked that believers would act this way?

Just like today, those who sue someone are not usually only concerned with getting justice or fairness but getting even, or making the other person pay, so they sue for emotional damages, lost wages, right? They tack on legal fees and anything else they can think of until the person being sued ends up paying way more than is fair.

So what do we do as believers? One, we recognize that part of being a covenant family is that everything from minor offenses to grievances worthy of civil cases will happen at some time or another. 

Two, we recognize that Paul, and therefore God’s word, not only thoroughly condemns suing a brother in Christ, but that he gives us another option.

Listen again. (ESV) 1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?

Instead of the saints. Paul doesn’t say that we don’t need to hold each other accountable, rather he says it is our responsibility to hold one another accountable.

He actually says that we should handle these cases within the body of Christ.

Now how radical does that sound in our American culture?

Let’s go back to the door ding incident, could you imagine the two parties coming before the church and asking their church body to make a judgment between the two of them, and furthermore consenting willingly to the ruling of the majority?

Even though it sounds hard to imagine and even harder to practice, that seems exactly what Paul is telling the Corinthian church the right thing to do is. 

This brings us to the second reality. Why Paul tells us to do this is because…

God has equipped the body to handle grievances.

Let’s pick up in verse 2 and read through verse 6. Paul is going to offer quite a few reasons why handling these cases within the church is not only ultimately right, but wise.

1 Corinthians 6:2-6 (ESV) 2 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? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 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, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?

Paul begins here with two of three, do you not know questions that are designed to challenge the Corinthian believers and cause them to think through the implications of their actions. 

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?

Paul here is referring to an eschatological reality that the Bible speaks of concerning the return of Christ. Believers are said to, in some capacity, rule with him. The word judge here carries that idea of ruling or reigning. Because believers have been united with Christ and have put on Christ, the Bible teaches that we will someday sit with him in judgment.

I’ll admit that what exactly this means remains a mystery to me and yet, I don’t think we have to have it all figured out to understand the implications of what Paul is saying. 

If you have been united with Christ, the one who will judge all things living and dead, and you have been indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and you will one day sit in judgment over the world, why are you submitting one another to the authority of worldly courts? 

Then Paul offers a stinging rebuke. If you are to judge the world, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Knowing then that you are headed for such important work, can you really not settle these small interpersonal cases within the church?

Paul calls them the least or smallest cases.

But the apostle Paul isn't done. He follows up ‘do you not know that we are to judge angels?’

This is even more unclear than judging the world because Paul doesn’t specify which angels. 

He doesn’t say, do you not know that we are to judge the angels that rebelled against God. He doesn’t say, do you not know that we are to judge the angels that are in heaven.

Does he mean that we will judge the fallen angels along with the rebellious world? Possibly, that would certainly make sense. 

Does he mean that we will judge the angels who did not rebel? For what would we judge them?

But if by judge he means reign over, then again, if Christ reigns over all and we reign with him, that could make sense. 

But again, whether we fully understand what Paul means here does not affect his point at all. 

Do you not know that you will one day sit above heavenly beings as well as the world?

Again, with such a future responsibility, it is unfathomable that these believers cannot judicate among themselves these trivial cases. 

Vs 4 can be and is interpreted in a coupe of different ways. In the ESV it is rendered a question. 

4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 

Remember that in the original Greek there was no question mark. Those that interpret it this way are taking what Paul says in verse 1 about going to law before the unrighteous and see this as continuing that thought. 

By saying unrighteous Paul is not saying that the courts are corrupt, he is not saying that the judges are wicked, he is drawing a distinction between those who are in the church, those who have been made righteous by Christ and those outside the church who have not been. 

In the KJV it is rendered as a statement this way. 1 Corinthians 6:4 (KJV) 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

Those that translate it this way, are picking up what Paul has been saying in the previous verses. 

If those in the church are to judge the world and angels, you should be able to take these cases to the one in the church who is least esteemed. 

Even the believer in the church who you think would be least qualified is better than the most qualified non-believer outside the church. 

But do you see, whether we translate it as a question of why in the world would we take cases between brothers and sisters into the world, or a statement telling us that even the lowliest brother or sister would be better, the outcome is the same. 

The church is equipped to handle these things from within.

Now, this idea is not new for Paul or for many of those within the Corinthian church. The Jewish people had this right within the Roman government to handle judicial cases for themselves. Someone within the Jewish nation who had a case against another Jewish brother would not take them to a Gentile court, but to the Elders of their synagogue. For a Jew to take another Jew to gentile court, to them, was to dishonor God, because it was essentially saying to themselves and to the world, that God’s word was not sufficient to handle all matters of this life. It’s heavy when you think about it like that, isn’t it?

Furthermore, at this time, Christians were still treated like a part of the Jewish faith by the Greco-Roman world, so this is even more ridiculous for them to be behaving this way. 

Paul is obviously upset with them and whereas before he had said that he was not writing a particular section to shame them, he wants them to know that this section is different!

5 I say this to your shame. 

Shame on you, Paul says. For all your bragging about being wise, remember the first couple of chapters of this letter, there is not even one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers?

Paul says for a brother to go against another brother in the law and courts of the unbelievers can only mean that there is no one in the whole of the Corinthian church that is actually wise. 

So the first reality is that ‘We will experience grievances within the church body’, the second is that ‘God has equipped the body to handle grievances’.

The third reality deals with the implications of those who reject the God ordained means and seek the world’s ways. It is…

The way we handle grievances indicates what kingdom we belong to.

Paul shifts from the reasons that lawsuits against believers in the world are wrong and unwise to his application. This approach to relationships within the church between believers actually reveals more than the Corinthians think it does. Let’s pick up in verse 7.

1 Corinthians 6:7-11 (ESV) 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The word defeat is an interesting word. 

If we take the term in the legal system, Paul is saying, even if you win the lawsuit, you have lost.

Matthew Henry says it this way in his commentary. ‘The peace of a man’s own mind, and the calm of his neighborhood, are worth more than victory.’

Even if you win, Paul says, you have not counted the cost. Broken relationships and reproach on the name and bride of Christ are far more significant in the kingdom of God than the money you win in the lawsuit.

Then Paul says something that is almost unthinkable in our American culture of fairness and justice. 

He asks two quick pointed questions in rapid succession. 

Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

Why not endure the hurt, damage, harm? Why not suffer monetary loss?

I love the word ‘rather’ that he uses. It translates more literally as why not ‘more readily’ suffer wrong, why not ‘more readily’ be defrauded?

As a believer, what is more important to you? 

Being right, getting justice, making someone pay, or maintaining relationships and unity within the body?

I heard a pastor tell a story the other day that resonated with me. I’ll shorten it, but at the heart of it, a speaker is picked up from the airport by a local pastor and it is obvious that the Pastor has a new truck. They talk about the truck and how excited the pastor is about it. Two days later, when the same pastor comes to pick him up, there are some significant scratches and a dent on the side. The pastor’s neighbor’s basketball goal blew over and hit his truck and the neighbor didn’t think it was his fault. The speaker asked him how he was going to get the man to pay for it. He said, after much prayer, he and his wife had decided that the man will probably be their neighbor longer than they would have this truck and they’d rather have a neighbor than a flawless truck. 

That story perfectly sums up what Paul is talking about here. 

What’s more important to you as a believer? That your relationship with your brother or sister is maintained or that you get vindication for a wrong done to you.

Paul goes on, in taking each other to court, you are actually wronging and defrauding your brother. 

You are acting like the unrighteous world, not someone who has experienced the overwhelming grace and forgiveness of Christ. Which brings Paul to his last ‘do you not know’ question. 

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? 

Which brings us to the only imperative or command in this section. 

Do not be deceived: What were they not to be deceived by?

Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul gives a list very similar to his list in Galatians 5 when he talks about the works of the flesh vs the fruit of the Spirit. It is also a very similar list that he just gave in 1 Corinthians 5. 

1 Corinthians 5:11 (ESV) 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

So let’s deal with the list Paul gives and make sure we understand what he is saying.

The sexually immoral- the greek word here covers any sexual activity that is unlawful. Anything that happens outside the confines of a lifetime, covenant marriage between one man and one woman.

Idolaters- someone who worships something other than the one true God. 

Some of you when you hear the word idolatry, you think you are okay because you don’t bow down to a graven image, but friend you are missing the heart of what idolatry is. Idolatry is when anything is put above God. If given a choice between gathering with the saints and ____________, which do you consistently choose? If it is not God and his people, do not kid yourself. You are toying with idolatry, and God says that he will not share his worship with anything or anyone else. 

Adulterers- this is someone who violates their marriage vows with someone else. It is covered in sexually immoral above, but Paul lists it specifically here because it is an affront not only to the spouse, but to God. 

Men who practice homosexuality- listen, there are many scholars and liberal religious figures that are trying to say today that God’s word does not address homosexuality. There have even been men within the SBC who have said that we should not shout where God’s word whispers. This is nonsense. God’s word is clear when it condemns homosexual behavior. The Greek actually uses two words that are translated ‘men who practice homosexuality’ to describe both partners. God’s word is clear that an active homosexual lifestyle is incompatible with being a follower of Jesus.

But, and here is where we have to understand that Paul does not rank these or list them in order of importance. The Bible is as clear that being sexually immoral, greedy, or verbally abusive are also incompatible with being a follower of Jesus. 

Theives- this word covers both white collar embezzlement and plain old stealing from someone.

Greedy- covetous, a greedy desire for more, especially what someone else has

Drunkards- friends, the Bible again and again condemns drunkenness. We are not to abuse alcohol or other intoxicating substances. 

Revilers- or verbally abusive. Someone who uses their voice or words to beat down or abuse another.

Swindlers- the word indicates someone who uses force or the threat of force to obtain something that is not theirs.

Paul says do not be deceived, do not mistakenly believe that someone who is unrepentant of serious ongoing sin and in open rebellion against God is going to inherit the kingdom of God.

What is Paul’s point? In defrauding your brother, in dragging him or her into court before unbelievers, are you not by your lifestyle indicating that you are in fact someone who will not inherit the kingdom of God?

If your property, if your rights are more important than your relationships in the church, you may need to seriously reconsider whether you know Christ or not.

Because although you may have been this way, if you are in Christ something has happened to you.

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Paul uses three successive actions to describe what happens to a believer at conversion.

You were washed- cleansed, most likely a reference to their water baptisms which signify the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit. 

You were sanctified- This is not dealing with ongoing sanctification, but the reality of being set apart and dedicated to God in Christ.

You were justified- declared righteous in Christ.

Do you understand what Paul is saying?

Even if you were any of these things before Christ, you are not these things now.

You were born that way, you grew up that way, you were raised that way. Okay, but you have been born again and you are not the person you were before Christ. This is the awesome work of Christ in your life when you are saved. 

Will we still mess up? Yes. Will we stumble? Of course. But what we will not do is continue in the lifestyle that we had before Christ or in a lifestyle of the world that is ungodly.

Conclusion-

For these Corinthian believers, the direct application is to stop defrauding and wronging their brothers, and if they cannot, they need to realize they are not going to inherit the kingdom of God because they do not belong to Christ. 

It is a practical thing but it does have eternal implications. 

For you today, may the Spirit show you if there is something in the way you are treating a brother or sister in the church that needs to be dealt with.

Here is how I want to end our time together this morning.

In a moment, Scott and the ladies are going to sing a song called the Revelation song. It draws inspiration in part from a scene in Revelation where the Apostle John witnesses this immense worship of Christ happening in Heaven. 

Revelation 5:9-14 (ESV) 9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

This is the song that believers will sing one day. Here is what I want us to do. 

If there is any doubt this morning that you will be among the number singing this to our savior Jesus Christ then do not let this song finish before you do something about it. 

It could be that although you have not taken a brother or sister to court you have been punishing them in other ways, harboring unforgiveness and hardness towards them. If they are here, when we stand to sing, make your way to them and ask them to come with you to the altar and you get before God and you make that relationship right. 

You forgive or you ask forgiveness depending on your situation.

It could be that although you have named the name of Christ, you realize your life does not match up with your confession. While we sing, you can surrender your life to him, cry out to him to save you and you can be born again. If you want to know more about that or if you have questions, I'll be at the front to pray with you.

Let us take Paul’s warning seriously this morning and do not be deceived. 

Let us pray.