As we look at 1 Corinthians 6, we’ll see a repeated question. “Do you not know?” Paul is talking to the believers at Corinth and is trying to help them understand the truth about certain matters. Jesus used a similar question in his teaching in Mark 4:13 and 8:21. Paul teaches the believers about:

Lawsuits

The Greeks were known for their courts. Litigation was a part of everyday life. People would sue over nothing. Sounds like our day today! In verses 1-6, Paul addresses the believers who were doing business together and then suing each other. The church was losing its witness. This passage has been abused and misunderstood so let’s look at what it does and does not say. Paul says that the church should seek to settle family matters. Believers will one day judge the world. Jesus will rule and reign, and according to Daniel 7:22, Revelation 2:26-27 and 3:21, we will rule and reign with Him. We will also judge the angels (2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 6). If we will one day judge the world and angels, don’t you believe God has given us the wisdom, truth, justice, love, equity, and kindness needed to settle the “smallest matters”? These are matters that are trivial, frivolous, pretty. The context is believers taking each other to court for personal gain or revenge. This verse does not mean a Christian can never go to court. Some matters are not small or trivial and they have to be handled by a court. Additionally, the church should not try to handle matters that are crimes. We have to balance 1 Corinthians 6 with Romans 13, that government and courts are used by God. Verses 7-8 lead us to ask the question, “Is it worth it?” What will suing a fellow believer do to the name of Jesus? It is better to lose financially than to lose spiritually. Believers should settle out of court whenever possible.

Lostness

The next subject Paul addresses is lostness. In verse 9 he gives a long list of sins/unrighteous ways of living. People are not lost because they live this way. They live this way because they are lost. Paul urges the believers to “not be deceived.” Don’t get suckered in to believing a lie. Don’t think there is no heaven, no hell, and no judgement day. Paul is not talking about people who have ever committed one of these sins, but those are practicing these things. It is their habitual lifestyle. If you are a Christian, you have been washed! You have been cleansed and given a new start! He’s urging them to live like it.

Liberty

In verse 12, Paul addresses Christian freedom. Believers were using their freedom as a license to sin. “All things are lawful” was a common saying. Sin is never to our advantage! “Is it lawful?” is not the right question. “Is it helpful and beneficial?” is the right question. Sin will always bring you under its control. It will enslave you. If you can’t stop doing it then you are in bondage. Those who are free have self-control.

Lordship

As Paul concludes the chapter, we read that these matters and more are all a matter of lordship. In verses 13-20 he’s talking about sexual immorality. Believers can’t use the excuse that we all have needs. When you get hungry you eat. When you get thirsty you drink. When you get the biological urge you act on it. No! We are made in the image of God. A Christian cannot do anything that does not involve the Lord.  Wherever you go, you take the Lord with you because you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God. Think about this question: If Jesus was standing right beside you… would you do it? He is there! Our bodies belong to God. He created us and redeems us. We should flee anything that goes against His plan for us. Flee means run like crazy!

Jesus died and rose from the dead to be Lord of all. He is Lord over our business matters, legal matters, sexual matters, relational matters, physical matters, spiritual matters. Is he Lord over your life? One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father. On that day it will be too late to change your mind. Confess Jesus as your Lord today.

The benefit and blessing of preaching through books of the Bible is you cover all subjects, even ones that may be hard to talk about. Corinth was a populated port city where people came and went from around the world. It was known for sexual perversion and promiscuity. As we look at 1 Corinthians 5, we’ll read Paul’s message to the church regarding this; a message that is likely more needed that wanted.

The Report of Sin

Verse 1 says, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!” The word for immorality is a junk-drawer, catch-all word for any and all sexual sin. It is also the Greek word from which we get the word pornography. Did you know that Americans spend $10-14 billion every year on pornography? That is more than the combined revenue of pro baseball, basketball, and football combined. Paul says the immorality going on in the Corinthian church was common knowledge. The example he gave was of incest. The reports we hear of sexual misconduct today are all too common. Just look at the news headlines in a week! We must address the problem. Awareness is necessary.

The Response of Action

Paul says the church was “puffed up” about what was going on instead of “mourning” over it (v. 2). We expect the world to boast about sin and be proud of sin, but the church should mourn over sin. We should not gloat or gossip when a believer falls, but we should mourn. In this passage, the Corinthians were boasting that their church was open-minded and tolerant. Maybe they rationalized it, “After all, they both were consenting adults. They love each other. The other person did not say stop.” You can rationalize anything and call evil good. All believers struggle with sin daily. Paul is talking about those claiming to be believers who feel no guilt, do not repent, and are proud and public with their sin. When he says he judges them and that they should be delivered to Satan (v. 3-5), he is calling on the church to carry out Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18. When we find out a brother or sister is living in sin, we are to first talk to them privately. Stop talking about them and start talking to them. If that does not work, take some believers with you privately. If that does not work, have a family intervention and get the church involved. Finally, if that does not work, turn them over to Satan and sin. There is a certain protection from Satan and the world by being in the local church. You are under God’s protective umbrella. When you live in sin, you get out from under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and you are fair game for the enemy.

The Reason for Correction

In verses 6-8, we read that those who continue in sin should be separated out from the church. Family and home should be a safe place. The church should be a safe place. Leaven is a picture of sin. Sin spreads like yeast in bread. It is like cancer in the body. It spreads, and it kills. One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. In verses 9-13, Paul makes it clear he is not talking about an unbeliever, but believers. We cannot avoid contact with sin, but we can avoid contamination. Don’t ever get mad or upset with the world for living like the world. Sinners are going to sin and be proud. We are never to isolate ourselves from the lost or judge them, but we are to confront sin in our own lives and in the family of God. The purpose is always to bring the sinner to repentance. The goal of church discipline is always restoration. It is never to punish or banish, but to comfort, reprove, correct, and restore.

Since our passage is on sexual sin, while it may not be pleasant to talk about, I wanted to share with you some staggering facts: 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually abused before age 16. There are 730K sex offenders registered in the US. Of those convicted who prefer boys, they have an average of 150 victims before conviction. Of those who prefer girls, 52 victims before conviction. 90% of children are abused by someone they know and trust.* Paul says sexual sin was happening in the church. We hear the same reports today. If a child reports to you that they have been abused, report it immediately! Report it to your supervisor and to authorities. Jesus said that it would be better to put a millstone around the neck and drown in the sea than to hurt one of his little children (Mt. 18:6, Lk. 17:2). The church has to take action. I mentioned on Sunday steps Liberty has taken when it comes to preventing abuse. The church must show the world in a courageous and convincing way that we not only support the sanctity of human life but also the dignity of human life. We must show them that they can count on the church to be safe and to do what is right.

As your Pastor, I pray for you and I use spiritual weapons for you every day! We have to guard against sin in our own lives and we have to be aware of what is being reported around us. If it’s abuse, we must do all we can to prevent it and to report it. If it’s other sin, we must confront our brothers and sisters in love, the goal being their restoration, for the glory of God.

*Statistics from Ministry Safe

Memorial Day is a time for honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. These men and women were faithful to the end. In light of what we learned in 1 Corinthians 3 (that every believer will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ) and what we observe through Memorial Day, we too should desire to be found faithful to the end. In 1 Corinthians 4, we see that we should be faithful as:

A Steward

Jesus taught His followers to be humble servants and faithful stewards (v. 1-2). Everyone wants to be a star, and no one wants to be a servant. Servants do not do what they want to do. They do not march to their own drumbeat. Their theme song is not “I Did It My Way.” As servants of Jesus Christ we do not live our lives our way, but God’s way! The word steward means one who manages everything for his master. When the master returns, the steward will give an account. The steward is held responsible. Our gifts, talents, abilities, real estate, opportunities, and potential do not belong to us, but to Jesus. You are a steward of your life, time, money, influence, kids, etc. In verses 3-5 we are reminded that it’s not our place to judge others. The one who judges is the Lord. Only God knows what is in a person’s heart and He is the only one who has the right to judge. Likewise, we shouldn’t live our lives for the opinion of others. Ultimately, there is only one opinion that matters. It is not the court of public opinion, or even our own personal opinion, but we answer to God. Paul says we shouldn’t think “beyond what is written” (v. 6). The bible is our final authority. Stewardship is about responsibility and requirements. God’s word gives us some requirements – faith, baptism, attending church, giving, witnessing, prayer, bible reading, daily devotions. God requires faithfulness. Whatever your stage of life, wherever you serve, keep the future, final judgement in mind. We want to hear Jesus say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

A Spectacle

In verse 9, Paul uses the word “spectacle.” No matter the translation you read, it’s the same word. We are fools for Christ (v. 10). This world will look at us as foolish. Rome had amphitheaters where they would bring Jews, Christians, and prisoners to fight wild animals. They had dirt floors to soak up the blood. The world would watch. We must be willing to suffer for Christ. Pastor Brunson, who was imprisoned in Turkey for two years for his faith, said we in America are not prepared. We don’t have the mindset. 1 Peter 4:12-13 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though somestrange thinghappened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” The disciples were martyred as spectacles before a hostile world. They were beheaded, crucified upside down, stabbed, stoned, boiled in hot oil. How did Paul respond to persecution? With endurance and grace (v. 12-13). Life is hard. The Christian life is not easy, but it is worth it. God has not called us to be popular, but to be faithful. 

A Student

Paul says he teaches everywhere he goes (v. 17). We too are teaching everywhere. Not only are we teaching, but leaders are lifelong learners. The Bible says, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). No one has arrived. If we are not going to go “beyond what is written”(v. 6), we have to know what is written! Paul could only say, “Follow me,” because he was following close to God, spending time in the word and time in prayer. He was a student as well as a teacher. Timothy had traveled with Paul on his second missionary journey. In verse 17, we read that Paul had sent Timothy to them to teach them. We need the help of others to get the job done. The teachers who meant the most to us were like a loving parent. They warned us, loved us, poured into us, set an example for us, taught us. They made practical application and they disciplined us. We wanted to imitate them! Paul encouraged the Corinthians to imitate him (v. 16). Are we being faithful stewards, spectacles, and students? Be faithful and finish well!