5/5/10 1 Corinthians 6 & 7
Examine
The beginning of chapter 6 Paul addresses lawsuits that were being brought before worldly courts. There was a Roman law that allowed differing ethnic or social groups to settle their own disputes among themselves. Paul rebukes some in the Corinthian church for taking their disputes outside the church. He says this suggest that you are already defeated (1 Cor 6:7). Why? Because the church, unlike any other group, by its very nature is to live on a much high moral lifestyle than the world, yet here they demonstrate that they are no different than the rest of the world.
Sometimes this passage is misinterpreted and people understand those who have been victims are to just continually be defrauded and abused with no legal recourse. When Paul speaks of those who are to consider being wronged and defrauded, he is condemning the actions of those who are using legal action and the courts to defraud others. After this charge Paul reminds them that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God and goes on to describe a partial list of some of the most common types of moral sins represented by those who are living unrighteously. Notice the final description of the unrighteous is a “swindler” or “extortioner” I think that Paul saved this sinful action for the last to make a point of indicating this is exactly how some of you are acting.
So this rebuke was to cause everyone to examine their life and consider if their living characterized unrighteous living or lives that had been washed, sanctified, and justified. No wickedness indicated by this partial list should be named in the church who has received washing, sanctification, and justification in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of God.
Paul then goes on to describe how the body is made for the Lord and his purposes and should be free from any sexual immorality, because the believer’s body is actually a member of Christ. This leads Paul in to chapter 7 which is a lengthy follow up discussion to a previous letter that Paul had written to the Corinthians concerning their sexual and marital conduct. A very important Christian principle is to given here “retain your place in life” after conversion. Consider all of the categories that Paul indicates a person is to remain and walk in after being called or converted (Rom 8:30). There was nothing additional needed to fulfill the requirements of the law, circumcision. They were to be content in their current social and marital statuses. Whether slave, free, married, divorced, there was no reason to change any of this as a result of their new relationship with Jesus.
This passage can teach us to examine our motives in relationship to our brothers and sisters in the church. We also need to examine our sexual conduct as it relates to the Lord. Finally, we need to examine our motives, desires, or discontent to change our religious, social, or marital status.
Prayer: Father I thank you for the word of God that instructs on in the very practical areas of life. I thank you for reminding me what unrighteous living looks like reminding me of my former manner of living. I praise you that as I have called upon you for salvation that you have washed, sanctified, and justified me not because I had anything worthy but because of believing on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.