1 Corinthians 6 (1)

Pray Psalm 119.25-27.
My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

Sing Psalm 119.25-27.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
My soul clings to the dust; revive me by Your Word!
My ways I have declared to You; teach me Your statutes, LORD!

Make me to understand Your precepts and Your ways,
as on Your works I meditate with wonder and with praise!

Read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 6.1-3.

Preparation
1. To what did Paul object?

2. What are saints supposed to judge?

Meditation
We can imagine the Corinthians, upon hearing these verses read aloud, turning to one another with a quizzical look as if to say, “What?”

In all his epistles, Paul makes two things very clear: God is the final authority in all matters of truth and falsehood, right and wrong, beauty and goodness. And second, believers must live unto the Lord and for His glory. We are new creations; everything of the old leaven must be allowed to pass away.

Even if that means turning our world upside-down (Acts 17.6).

By taking their disputes and disagreements—yet more indicators of their dividedness—“before unrighteous judges”, the Corinthians were choosing to be governed by the fallible and often unjust laws of an unbelieving society. Why should we do that? We are citizens of an eternal Kingdom and subjects of an infallible King. Is not His Word sufficient to resolve our disagreements so that justice and love prevail? And ought we not seek the counsel of other believers to help in such matters?

The believing community is a new Kingdom with an ancient and unchanging Law, as Paul demonstrated in chapter 5. If we are to restore justice, truth, goodness, and love to the world, we must begin in ourselves and our churches. Indeed, believers are called to exercise divine judgment on all matters, whether of this world (v. 2) or the unseen realm (v. 3), where John calls us to test every spirit (1 Jn. 4.1-3). Believers must so feed on God’s Word that they become filled with Jesus, Who then fills the world with Himself through them (Eph. 4.7-10). Then everything in the world will become subject to the sanctified judgment of God’s people, and the beauty, goodness, and truth of God will declare the knowledge of His glory (Hab. 2.14).

God’s Law and all His Word are sufficient for every good work (2 Tim. 3.15-17). It’s time we believed this and acted accordingly.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
Let’s work our way backward for a moment:
1. If everyone in the church was keeping the Law of God, there would be no need to go to court.
2. If there was an occasion of sin in the church, and the church dealt with it, there would be no need to go to court.

So Paul’s concern regarding the church publicly embarrassing itself and going to court about anything having to do with problems within the church, is well founded (1 Cor. 6.1).

Think of all the horrific things that have happened within the church and that the church has not dealt with.

Not only does the world know the worst about the church, but they see that it is intentionally impotent to deal with it. And any thoughts they may have had about coming to church are put on the back burner—revulsion and fear keeping them from the loving Savior.

The Church is meant to be the “joy of the whole earth” (Ps. 48.2); and
Jesus longs to “draw all peoples to” Himself (Jn. 12.32).

But unconfessed and undealt-with sin within the Body is the blockade that keeps those things from happening.

“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice” (Prov. 21.3).
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jms. 4.17).

Righteous living takes the willingness and participation of the whole congregation. Moses tried to lead the people all by himself, to judge between this person and that, and to make good decisions for everyone. It was an impossible task. So his father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself” (Ex. 18.17, 18).

He went on to make this suggestion: “Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers…and let them judge the people at all times…for they shall bear the burden with you…and all this people will also go to their place in peace” (Ex. 18.19-23).

We are all called to be “Moses’ helpers” in keeping and sustaining the Law within the bounds of the church. Peace among the brethren is certainly one goal; and our witness to the world another; but the main goal is to prove our love for God and to honor and glorify Him—thus participating with Him (1 Cor. 3.9) in causing the church to be the joy of the whole earth; and getting out of the way so that Jesus can draw all peoples unto Himself. Going before an unrighteous court being a moot point.

Dare we do otherwise?

For reflection
1. We don’t keep the Law to be saved but because we are saved. What does it say about us if we refuse to learn and keep the Law?

2. In what sense are all believers called to be “righteous judges”?

3. What can you do to improve your ability to fulfill that calling?

The Corinthians were wrong in two ways. First, they were unfaithful, and second, they were expounding God’s laws with a show of respect but in reality attributing their authority to idols. Ambrosiaster (fl. 366-384), Commentary on Paul’s epistles.

Pray Psalm 119.28-32.
What judgments—decisions, choices, courses of action—will you take today? Ask God to fill your soul with Jesus, direct your steps by His Word, and empower your choices by His Holy Spirit.

Sing Psalm 119.28-32.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
My soul weighs down with woe, I need Your strength, O LORD!
Remove from me all lying ways; grant me Your holy Word!

I choose the way of truth; Your judgments I proclaim.
Your testimonies I embrace, LORD, put me not to shame!

Command my course, O LORD; Your gracious truth impart.
I cling to You and know You will enlarge my seeking heart.

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.