1 Corinthians 6:1-11, “Stop Acting Like Unbelievers!”

[hmp_player playlist=’1Cor6:1-11′]

Sermon Notes Below:

February 23rd, 2014,

“Stop Acting Like Unbelievers!”

Verse 1… When we have legal issues that need to be settled between believers, we should not take them before the court of unbelievers; but instead, it ought to be settled within the family of God.

Verse 2… The Bible says Christians will participate in helping to judge the world during the millennial kingdom (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21; 1John 5:5-13).

Why then, would those who will one day rule with Christ, those have been given God’s Spirit, wisdom, and truth, allow unbelievers, those without the Spirit of God, make judgments about the matters of this life?

Verse 3… God’s children “will judge angels?” The word here rendered judge, means to rule or govern. It would seem, that sometime in the future, we will take part in ruling over angels, although it isn’t real clear.

However, we do know (2Peter 2:4; Jude 6) that the Lord judges demons (fallen angels). We also know that (Hebrews 1:14), “God’s Holy angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who are inheriting salvation” [God’s people]. If angels are sent by God to serve us, then by definition we will in some way rule over them.

Verse 4… We who belong to Christ will assist Him in ruling over the nations, therefore, the very least in God’s kingdom, who obeys and honors God, is a better judge than the wisest unbelieving judge who lives apart from God’s Word and God’s Spirit (1Corinthians 2:11-16).

Verses 5-6… For a Christian to sue a brother or sister in the Lord is shameful! It is dishonoring to our Father in heaven to drag a dispute between two of God’s children before the courtroom of the unbelieving.
Paul is saying that regardless of how it turns out in court, whether we win or lose the suit, the fact that we don’t trust our Father’s provision and power to help us settle issues among the family of believers, is just asking for the Lord’s discipline to come upon us.

Verses 7-8… The fact that there are lawsuits among believers is a sign of spiritual defeat. In God’s sight, it is a big loss for His children to sue one another, instead of working it out between themselves; it would be better to suffer financial loss, rather than drag our dispute into the public court of the unbelievers, the arena of the unsaved.

It would be better to settle “out of court,” to do what is right in God’s eyes and to settle matters within the context of the family of God, the Church.

To fight with fellow believers over property or money is to dishonor the Lord. We should instead bring the matter before God, who is able to work all things for our good and for His glory (Romans 8:28), “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Verses 9-10… Last week we talked about patterns of sin, lifestyles that cause a person to be known as being immoral or greedy, as an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, a swindler, or even a lazy and idle busybody.

The list here (vv. 9-10) represents lifestyles of those who are unsaved, those who will not go to heaven.
People who live like this without remorse, unwilling to repent and to turn from their sin, will not enter the kingdom of heaven, they will be condemned at judgement and sent to an eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire.

Verse 11… May we never forget that all believers were at one time unbelievers, we all were dead in sin before confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus to remind them of this fact (Ephesians 2:1-3), “you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.”

All of us were guilty sinners before we came to the Lord, some of us lived in patterns of sin and were perhaps known as being immoral, greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers, or perhaps lazy and idle busybodies.

Paul is very clear that when you come to Christ and repent of your sins, confessing Him as Lord and trusting Him as Savior, you are washed, sanctified, and justified.

To be washed, is to be cleansed of sin’s penalty, being regenerated by God’s
Spirit (1John 1:5-10).

To be sanctified, is to be set apart to for God’s glory.

Romans 6:17, “Thanks be to God… 18, You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

To be justified, is to receive the righteousness that comes from God through Christ, allowing us to know God’s favor, now and forever, (Romans 3:21-26).

Your purpose as a believer and follower of Christ, is to to live for God’s glory, and to share the message of God’s Son, Jesus, the Christ, Who is both Savior and Lord. He was put to death to pay the penalty for our sins, and He rose from the grave to prove His authority to grant eternal life (Romans 8:1-9; 2Corinthians 5:17-21)

Christians are not to live like unbelievers, in patterns of sin that are shameful even to talk about, nor are we to allow such lifestyles to continue in God’s Church, where is dishonors the Lord and brings corruption to God’s people; instead, we are to be known by our love for God and our love for one another.

Colossians 3:12-15, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”