I Corinthians 6

For this lesson, we will continue our study of the book of I Corinthians, with Chapter 6

In our study of I Corinthians 5, we concluded with these statements:

A clarification of two cases of immorality: Those on the outside, and those on the inside.

There is a difference.

(I Cor 5:12) For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? {13} But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

That doesn’t mean we should not try to convert them, but we have no authority of any kind over them.

The lessons of Chapter 5

Take decisive action against those of the church who are in serious sin.

The purpose is to save their soul.

Leaving sin in the church is like leaven:

It spreads to others.

So let us begin I Corinthians 6

Do not take a fellow Christian to Court:

Saints are to judge the world.

Part II:

The sanctity of the body:

(1 Cor 6:1-19 NKJV) Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

Simply stated, Paul is telling them they should settle things among themselves without involving non-Christians in their disputes.

Christ gave a procedure that should work, even for such cases.

(Mat 18:15-17 NKJV) "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. {16} "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' {17} "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

The question: How often do we do this today? Can we settle matters among ourselves?

(1 Cor 6:2) Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

This is a concept that we do not study much.

There are similar concepts taught elsewhere.

(Luke 19:15-19 NKJV) "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. {16} "Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' {17} "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'

This is a concept that we have talked about before regarding how things will be in the world to come. Having authority and being in a position to render judgment is assumed by Paul.

(I Cor 6:3) Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

We know that the evil angels will be judged.

I’m not sure where we can turn for additional information as far as our role is concerned.

(Jude 1:6 NKJV) And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;

(1 Cor 6:4) If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?

Christians are to be saints. The ones you will be judged by are not saints if you go to a state court.

(1 Cor 6:5) I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? {6} But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

The world today is far from going by this principle. Instead, we have people suing McDonalds because their food made them fat, and numerous other ridiculous suits.

I’m glad to say that I haven’t heard of many suits where members of the church have been sued by fellow church members.

If you can’t get a fair settlement, what do you do?

(1 Cor 6:7) Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?

But they would not accept that!

Instead of suffering possible loss, he says:

(I Cor 6:8) No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!

The Sanctity of the Body

– Not a Gnostic teaching!

The Body is Important.

(1 Cor 6:9) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, {10} nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

We’ve listed the sexual sins in green. They are sins of the body that will be stressed later.

Paul says this describes some of them.

(1 Cor 6:11) And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

(2 Pet 2:18-22 NKJV) For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, [by sensuality, NASB] the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. {19} While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. {20} For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. {21} For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. {22} But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

(1 Cor 6:12) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

“All things are lawful for me,” If Paul had asked me about this, I would have said, “Paul, please say that a little differently. Perhaps: “[Assume that] all things are lawful for me,”

I believe that is Paul’s intention here. Obviously, murder, sexual sins, etc. are not lawful for Paul or anyone else. I think Paul is just saying, for a moment, forget about whether or not something is lawful, here are some other considerations.

(1 Cor 6:13) Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

“Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods,” Food is to satisfy our hunger. Food is a proper thing for the stomach.

We can satisfy the stomach with food, but we are not to satisfy our sexual desires in an immoral way.

(1 Cor 6:14) And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

(1 Cor 6:15) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! {16} Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." {17} [Use the body for the Lord] But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

(1 Cor 6:18) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Paul was speaking by inspiration. We know that there are sexually transmitted diseases that are very serious, and in some cases fatal. These were vitally important words both physically and spiritually.

1 Cor 6:19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

(1 Cor 3:16-17 NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? {17} If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.