City Life Starter

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another – and this in front of unbelievers!

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. 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.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Proverbs 9:1-6

Wisdom has built her house with its seven columns. She has prepared the meat and set out the wine. Her feast is ready. She has sent her servants to announce her invitation from the highest hills: Everyone who is ignorant or foolish is invited! All of you are welcome to my meat and wine. If you want to live, give up your foolishness and let understanding guide your steps.

Genesis 2:21-24

 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman, for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Genesis 1:31a

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

By Jason Schezer

This week in Starter, we have looked closely at the sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians. Today’s Starter will serve as a summary. Last week, in the fifth chapter of 1 Corinthians, we saw Paul discipline the church through his writing concerning specific sexual sin among members of that church, and the related arrogance (towards God) of members who had refused to exercise church authority to address and discipline sin among the church. Keep in mind that the relative sophistication and highly educated nature of society in Corinth had a tendency to give people reason to believe that they had “seen it all,” and that they were tolerant of all kinds of new ideas.

A saint is a person who has been sanctified or is in the process of being made sanctified, or holy. He or she is a person set apart for God’s service, in any area of service that God sees as a good fit. Paul says that a saint is adequately qualified to judge at least trivial cases of disputes that occur between people in the church, with the possibility of fairly judging more complicated cases. The goal of settling at least trivial disputes within the church allows the church to maintain appropriate moral standing; it is not an organization which can have unresolved disputes.

It is necessary, for a proper understanding of Paul’s words, to hold a high view of the Church’s spiritual authority. Any genuine believer in Christ, who has repented of their sins and turned toward Christ in faith and obedience, holds an important measure of spiritual authority that is given by Christ. Consider for a moment, Jesus’ words: “I AM the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing… If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.” (John 15:5, 7). Consider also Paul’s words to the church at Rome: “… in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37). It is more than evident from Scripture that if we declare on earth that any disputes within the church must be resolved in a manner that is fair, equitable, and God-honoring, then it shall be done on earth, just as God’s will is done in heaven. The world (people standing just outside the church, for example) should see the Church as a group of people who are drastically different from the selfishness and darkness that is in the world.

The Church must be unified, not divided, because she represents the very body of Christ on earth, the manifestation of God working to save His people from their sins. Thus the Church is not a group of people who are free to belong to themselves and do as they please, but rather are free from the enslavement of sin leading to death. This is total freedom, which cost everything to Christ Jesus, so we are slaves to Him while also being completely free of enslavement to sin. This is why relationships in our church need to be characterized by a godly unity, without any ongoing disputes.

Proverbs 9 characterizes wisdom as a woman who prepares a great feast for guests. The invitation to gain the treasure of wisdom is announced from the highest places and goes out everywhere. We also know from the book of Proverbs that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Godly wisdom, including a healthy fear of God, will keep us from bickering, gossip, disputes, and foolish talking in the church (and outside the church, for that matter, because we are never outside the church if we belong). We may need an extra dose of humility to admit if we have been foolish by making the church unattractive to others. If so, come back to the Lord quickly, and sooner rather than later. He is our only source of wisdom.

Paul continues to say what we know to be true: God does not allow wickedness in His presence. The wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. His list includes sexual sin (which is a destructive sin against one’s own body) and also includes those who are thieves, greedy, drunkards, slanderers, and swindlers. Each area of sin represents persons who fail to exercise self-control over an area of temporary pleasure. Some sins are a lack of control over the body, others a lack of control over the tongue, and others actions. The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of power over sin and conquering over death. Only conquerors, through Christ, are allowed to enter.

The Scripture from Genesis helps us to see God’s original plan which has not changed: Woman was taken out of the man as the equal partner to rule over (manage) creation together, as well as a helper perfectly suited to him. The two cling together and become one flesh, which is a great mystery. God saw all that He had made, and it was all very good. In particular, God’s creation of mankind was very good. Sin keeps us from seeing just how incredibly good is God’s creation.

III. Application:

Stand strong in the spiritual authority that Christ has given you, yet with a heavy dose of humility. God always gives greater authority, greater responsibility to those who are pleasing to Him. As Paul says: Do you not know that we will judge the angels? Yet one must be humbly standing in a position of authority, per the authority of Christ, to be appointed by Him in this way. As you live this out, be close enough to your brother or sister so that you can lovingly and humbly direct them away from sin and towards Christ. 

Always keep in mind that the world is watching us, while many people outside the church know instinctively that Christ is Lord, yet will not come to Him unless they see an example of genuine truth intermixed with grace. Be willing to let others have the better position or to be wrong by someone; it is small by comparison with the rich rewards that await in heaven. Realizing that the church is made up of imperfect people, who will at times have disagreements, we need to depend upon Christ. He is head over everything, He will show the way to preserve unity and also sound doctrine in His church.

Stay away from every type of wickedness: whether sexual sin, greed, drunkenness, or any of the limitless forms of idolatry that are available in the world. The Lord is near and He has an indescribable reward with Him for those who are truly saints. Seek wisdom by seeking oneness with Christ. A close walk with Him will reveal unimaginable strength to stay far away from all kinds of sin while enjoying far better pleasures than sin can ever afford. 

IV. Prayer: 

Lord, strengthen us to be Your holy church so that we long to please You in every way, and stay far away from every kind of evil. Give us the wisdom to judge rightly between people, with mercy. Don’t let us hesitate to hear your voice clearly and to obey you quickly. Let us exercise the spiritual authority that you have given, to resolve disputes, and to warn others of the perils of falling into sin. Keep us holy, for Jesus’ sake. Amen