1 Corinthians 6:1-11

“Watch out for a ‘demanding my rights’ attitude

In Christ’s church!”

Sermon Notes

 

Context: Jesus Christ purchased us - we now belong wholly to Him!

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.”  (1 Cor. 6:19b-20)

What they did: Paul’s rebuke of the Corinthian Church …

 

“When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?  Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?  And if the world is to be judged by you are you incompetent to try trivial cases?  Do you not know that we are to judge angels?  How much more then matters pertaining to this life!  So if you have such cases why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?  I say this to your shame.  Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?  To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you.  Why not rather suffer wrong?  Why not rather be defrauded?  But you yourselves wrong and defraud - even your own brothers!”  (1 Cor. 6:1-8).

How dare you sue one another in civil court!  Why?

A. In Christ we have been redeemed from the judgment of the world and instead will judge the world.

B. We will even judge angels.

C. Instead of taking each other to court the church is called to be peacemakers - the ministry of reconciliation.

D. Shame on you, church, for not understanding and applying the gospel.

 

Lawsuits among brothers mean we are living in gospel defeat.  What does this mean?

A. Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be cheated?

B. Selfishly we seek our rights and our way cheating and doing wrong to our brother to get our best life now.

C. This is wicked, anti-gospel behavior.  

What they should have done instead: apply the gospel … 

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you.  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 Cor. 6:9-11 

The gospel application:

1. We are new creations in Christ.

2. We are not our own, we are Jesus’ Slaves

Notes, Quotes & Scripture References:

“Where there is not sanctification of life, there is no real faith in Christ.  True faith worketh by love.  It constrains a man to live unto the Lord from a deep sense of gratitude for redemption.  It makes him feel that he can never do too much for Him that died for him.  Being much forgiven, he loves much.  He whom the blood cleanses walks in the light.  He who has real lively hope in Christ purifieth himself even as He is pure (James 2:17-20; Titus 1:1; Gal. 5:6; 1 John 1:7; 3:3).  [J.C. Ryle; Holiness] 

Characteristics of Jesus’ Gospel Kingdom People: 

‘Do not resist him who is evil, but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat, also.’ - Mt. 5:39-40 

‘For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised … If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.  The old has passed away, behold the new has come.  All this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.’  - 2 Cor. 5:14-19 

‘Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interest but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.’ - Philippians 2:3-8

 

Luke 22:24-30 - Who’s the Greatest? 

Religion vs. Gospel

Religion:

‘I obey, therefore I’m accepted.’ 

Gospel:

“I’m accepted, therefore I obey.”

“Motivation is based on grateful joy.”

I obey to get to God - to delight and resemble him.”

“My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for his enemies and who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace, so I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me.  It is only by grace that I am what I am.  I have no inner need to win arguments.”

[Tim Keller, The Gospel in Life]