First Corinthians 6 Part 1 The Sin Of Christians Suing Each Other

God hates those who cause divisions in His church.

1 Corinthians 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

So far, the apostle Paul has addressed those who caused divisions in the church. He has singled out those who follow men instead of following hard after Christ. 

Causing division and sowing discord among believers in Christ is something that God hates (See Proverbs 6:19).

Preaching the gospel and the cross of Christ is our mission.

1 Corinthians 1:18-19  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19)  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Paul consistently magnified the work and Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wanted Christ and His cross to be lifted up as the gospel was preached.

The Spirit of God guided Paul to rebuke those who were seeking worldly wisdom instead of wisdom from God. 

He was against those who styled themselves like the eloquent Greek philosophers.

God has many things to teach us through the ministry of His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10)  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 

The apostle also spent time to teach us about the ministry of the indwelling Spirit of God with the Word of God in our hearts.

Paul wants all Christians to know that the Author of the scriptures is also our Teacher and Guide into God's truth.

All believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14)  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15)  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

The Spirit of God led Paul to remind us that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ one day. 

Faith in Christ is the foundation we must build upon. Love and service to God and others are the building blocks that we lay upon the foundation of faith in Christ. 

Our motivation for loving and serving God will be judged by our Lord. Jesus will judge how well we used our talents, time, finances and energy for the kingdom of God.

We have an opportunity to hear Christ say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" or we may see our works go up in smoke because our motivation was self serving. 

Paul teaches us that our body is now the temple of the Spirit of God and that we must not defile His residence. 

Suffering for Christ is part of a Christian's life. 

1 Corinthians 4:9  For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 

Next, Paul addressed how the Corinthians lived in relative luxury and ease especially compared to the sufferings of the apostles and our Lord.

He rebuked them for neglect of spiritual duties which is why they did not suffer persecution like almost every other New Testament church.

In chapter five, Paul addressed the issue of sexual sin in the church and what the Lord says is the right response to dealing with such sins.

As we move into chapter six, Paul is going to speak about another area of sin and he will emphasize the need for Christians to live a holy life. 

Christians filed lawsuits against one another. 

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

The language in this text is very strong. Paul is quite upset over the reality that many Christians at Corinth were suing other brothers or sisters in Christ. 

The strong wording indicates that one believer should never sue another believer in a secular court. 

Believers taking legal action against each other tarnishes the reputation of Christ's church and profanes the name of Christ. 

Church discipline should also be used to settle disputes between believers. 

This is why Paul questioned why they did not bring their disputes to the attention of the church leadership.

Paul also referenced the potential corruption of civil judges. They could be bribed and in such a corrupt city as Corinth, a fair hearing and impartial judgment was scarce.

Proverbs 18:19  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 

King Solomon wisely pointed out that when one brother is offended by something done to him by another brother, reconciliation becomes very hard.

Making peace between the two brothers in conflict is more like going to war. The offended brother mounts a strong resistance against the other brother's overtures of reconciliation. 

This is why Paul strongly condemns one believer in Christ taking legal action against another believer in Christ.

Suing other believers violates Christ's commandment to love one another.

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35)  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

Here is the mandate the Jesus Christ gave to all Christians. We are commanded to love one another as Christ loved us. 

Jesus loved us enough to die in our place while we were still haters and enemies of God (See Romans 5:8). 

The sacrifice of Christ as our Passover Lamb is the greatest display of the love of God for all humanity (See John 3:1-18). 

Thus, one Christian suing another in a secular court of law is not how we love one another.

We have a future role of sitting with Christ while He judges the world. 

1 Corinthians 6:2-3  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 reminds the Corinthians about our future role in heaven with Christ. After we endure the fiery testing at the judgment seat of Christ, we will be entrusted some degree of judgment. 

Many commentators have many different ideas about this text. Let us first turn to the teaching of Jesus for guidance.

Christ's apostles will sit and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Matthew 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.  

Jesus told His twelve disciples that one day each of them would sit on a throne to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 

The idea of judging here is more of an administrative nature, for in the kingdom of God, His holy law and righteousness will prevail everywhere.

There will be no sinners in the kingdom of God. Only those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb will live in that glorious place. 

Thus, judging in this context will be more like ensuring that the right worship of Jehovah is observed and properly maintained. 

God will have a calendar of feasts just as He did for the Old Testament Jews. Jesus Christ will be the literal fulfillment and focus of all such feasts. 

All believers will accompany Jesus when He returns to judge the wicked.

Jude 1:14-15  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15)  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 

Jude prophesied of the final day of the LORD judgment upon all the wicked, Christ rejecting people of the world. 

All believers in Christ will come from heaven with our King to execute judgment upon the world. John also wrote about this in Revelation 19. 

Believers will stand before Christ's judgment seat and give an account. 

Luke 19:12-17  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13)  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14)  But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15)  And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16)  Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17)  And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

The certain nobleman in this parable is the Lord Jesus Christ. This pictures Jesus ascending to His Father after His suffering, death and resurrection take place (See Acts 1:1-11).

While the nobleman went away on a long trip, he gave his resources into the hands of his servants to invest them productively while he was away. 

This corresponds to the age of the church that we presently live in. Jesus is in heaven, as our Eternal High Priest interceding for us.

One day Christ will return to take His bride, the church home to heaven (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

All believers in Christ will stand before Jesus at His judgment seat to receive the reward or loss of reward. 

This is why the servants in this parable must give an account to their master when he returns. 

Notice that the nobleman will reward his servants based upon how well they used the resources He entrusted to them.

This corresponds to Christ judging the believer for our service to Him. How well did we use our time, talent and resources for His kingdom?

The servants who were productive, were rewarded by being placed in authority over ten cities.

We do not know what this will look like, but this is the best way to understand Paul's statement that we should judge the world and angels.

God will set some apart to be kings and priests on the earth. 

Revelation 5:6-10  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7)  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8)  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9)  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10)  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

John describes a scene in heaven where the twenty four elders fall down in worship and Christ, the Lamb of God takes the sealed book of judgment to open.

Notice, that John heard them exclaim that Jesus Christ made them kings and priests to reign on earth.

Such a future blessing is not because we are special. Rather, it is all about God's eternal purposes, for His glory and for our good.

This kind of judgment is an honor bestowed upon us by Christ, for He alone is the Judge and Sovereign King. 

We will be seated, ready to voice our approval when our Lord judges all things. Jesus is the Lamb of God who is worthy of all adoration and who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. 

Judgment includes the cries of the martyrs for God to avenge them.

Revelation 6:9-11  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10)  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11)  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 

Paul's statement about believers judging the world and angels is also connected to John's vision from Revelation. 

When the fifth seal is opened, the apostle saw under the holy altar of Jehovah, the souls of all the martyrs. 

Notice, that they cry out with a loud voice asking the Holy and True God of all glory, how long before He exacts revenge upon His enemies.

Thus, the judgment Paul speaks of must also include those who have been killed for their faith, and who are petitioning the Father to avenge their wrongful deaths. 

We will not have a censorious spirit when we sit with Christ in judgment. 

Matthew 7:1-4  Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2)  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3)  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4)  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 

The judgment believers will be involved with will not be overlooking our own failures and passing judgment on our brother. 

This is like trying to remove a speck of dust in your brother's eye, while your own eye has a piece of wood stuck in it. 

The Corinthians dishonored their Christian character by suing each other over trivial matters. 

They forgot the dignity and honor Christ brings to each regenerated soul. They forgot that Christ lifted them up out of the miry clay of sins degradation. 

They rushed to judgment just like the world rushes to pass judgment before all the facts are in. 

It was a blight upon the Corinthians that they were unable to resolve their disputes between each other, without resorting to legal action. 

We will be judged (See Matthew 25:31-41). When Christ judges our service for Him and we either receive a reward or lose a reward, we will be  privileged to sit with Christ at His bench. 

Our role will be to approve and applaud the righteous judgment of Christ both on men and angels. 

Judgment and final authority is committed to Jesus Christ alone. 

John 5:22-29  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23)  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26)  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27)  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28)  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29)  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

We will not be partners in our Lord's commission, for judgment is committed to Christ alone by His Father. 

However we will have the honour to sit and witness His judgment against a wicked world, and approve it. 

What does all of this mean to us?

First, we should remember the great blessing of being a child of God. Christ's salvation saves us from wrath and condemnation. 

Second, we should remember to always love one another as Christ commands us to do. 

Third, we should not engage in any action such as a lawsuit, that violates Christ's command to love one another. 

Last, we must remember that whatever position the Lord gives us in His kingdom, is all due to the grace, mercy and love of God. 

Therefore, all of our service in the kingdom of God will focus on the glory of God. 

Bob