DO YOU NOT KNOW?
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Opening Prayer
Coming to your Word today, Father, I ask that you do not let me simply read what it says—give me greater understanding and conviction to apply it.
Read 1 CORINTHIANS 6:1–11
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Lawsuits Among Believers
6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 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? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 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.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 6:9 The words men who have sex with men translate two Greek words that refer to the passive and active participants in homosexual acts.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are there issues left unresolved in your church? What steps are being taken to settle them?From Paul’s perspective, the Corinthian Christians’ divisions undermine their claim to maturity. Some conflicts are so bitter they’ve ended up in the state courts. Three times Paul uses the same question to show what a disaster this is: ‘Do you not know?’ (vv. 2, 3, 9).
The first truth they should know is that the Lord’s people will judge the world, including the angels (vv. 2, 3). So how can those who will judge the world ask the world for justice? Especially not in trivial matters. Better, Paul insists, that we accept being wronged than humiliate the Lord’s people like this.
Worse still, their actions show no confidence that such a matter can be handled fairly within the church. If that’s the case, how present is the Spirit who gives them access to the mind of Christ (2:16)? These disputes, ending up before the secular authorities, show their complete defeat (v. 7).
As dire as all this is, the second truth Paul insists they should remember is what God has done in them: they have been washed, sanctified, and justified in Jesus and by the Spirit (v. 11). They must remember these truths and resolve again to receive and live them out.
Apply
Read Romans 12:18. Where might God be calling you to be a peacemaker in your family or local church?
Closing prayer
Father, I pray for those who have not found justice or safety within the church. Forgive us for those times when we haven’t lived up to our calling.
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