I Corinthians 6:1-11

- tonight we're going to be moving into I Cor. 6 and talking
about "Believers and lawsuits"

- I'd like to ask you two introductory questions tonight to
get our minds moving in the right direction on this subject

- INPUT - if you interviewed the average unsaved person
entering a courtroom to sue someone else, how do you
think he or she would respond to the following questions?
- What are you wanting to achieve in this suit?
- What concerns you the most about this case?
- What are your goals?
- What kind of answers do you think you'd get?

- I'm going to get a load of money
- I'm going to get revenge - be vindicated
- justice will prevail

- In this passage - Paul is going to say - there are some
things about this subject that:
- you are either not thinking about at all,
- or that are not nearly as important in your thinking
as they ought to be

- INPUT - Now, many here tonight know that one of the bottom
lines of this passage is that believers cannot take
other believers in the church to court.
- Let's say there was a person here tonight that said
- Well, PV, I know that and I don't plan on taking
another believer in the church to court - I have
a conviction in that area already. How can this
passage and this study help them?

1)- it's good to get more practice in thinking
through problems biblically (develop - some
folks have trouble being solution-oriented)
2)- the reasons that Paul gives for not taking
other believers to court have wider
applications that can be used in a variety
of situations.

- now, with those thoughts in mind - let's look at I Cor.
6:1-11 (READ)

- first of all, let's talk about:

I. The Problem

- what Paul is talking about in chapter 6 was a great
problem in the Roman culture

A. In their culture

1. with unbelievers

- the legal situation in Corinth was probably similar to
the city of Athens, where civil litigation was a part of life

- one ancient writer said that, in a manner of speaking,
every Athenian was a lawyer
- his point was that practically everybody in the city
was involved in a court case in one way or another
- in fact, for them, in was a kind of challenge and
entertainment

- when two people had a problem they couldn't resolve
between themselves, first they went into arbitration,
where each party was assigned an arbitrator along with
a third disinterested party
- where the two arbitrators and the third person
tried to come to an agreement
- as an aside, history tells us that every citizen had to
serve as a public arbitrator during the 60th year of
his life

- if that didn't work, the case was turned over to a
court of 40

- if that step failed, the case went to a jury court,
which sometimes had hundreds of jurors per case

- point is - the Corinthians had been so used to suing
each other and being involved in the legal system as
unbelievers, that they just carried that habit right
over into their saved lives

2. with the Jews

- one exception to what we're talking about would
have been the Jews that lived under Roman rule
at this time

- they didn't take other Jews to the secular
courts--in fact, they viewed it as a form of
blasphemy to do so
- as a result, the Roman government allowed them
to have their own court system, and levy
punishments except for capital punishment

- what biblical event gives us some insight into
the innerworkings of the Roman courts and the
Jewish ones? (the trials of Jesus)

- the point is - the Corinthians lived in a "suing society",
much like you and I do today.

- the problem is - they brought that right in the church

B. In the church

- just like in the last chapter, Paul said one of the
terrible things about the man living with his
father's wife was that it was happening in the
church and nothing was being done about it,
- Paul points out several times that believers
are taking other believers from the church to
court

- Now, we know that these aren't doctrinal or
spiritual arguments that are being discussed. We're
talking about disagreements about personal property
and civil matters.
- INPUT - what phrase in both verses 3 and 4 tells us
that we're talking about struggles regarding
personal property? (things pertaining to this
life)

- so the Corinthians are talking their problems and
disagreements over personal property with people in the
church and getting them heard and decided before
unbelievers

- INPUT - there are a couple of indications that Paul
views this as a serious situation. What are
they?

1) The placement of this passage. What are some
of the subjects discussed before and after
this passage?
- man living in fornication (and the more
serious charge of the church not
practicing church discipline) in chapter 5
- characteristics of individuals who are
not saved in verses 9-11
- discussion of immorality and abuses of
the body - at the end of 6
- point is - Paul puts this discussion right
up there with some of the most serious
serious sins a person can commit

2) use of the word "dare". Even today, we
reserve that word for serious situations.
"How dare you" is a phrase we reserve for
situations that are really far out.
- that’s the way Paul is using it here. How
dare you take other believers from the
church to the secular courts!

3) use of the phrase "do you not know?" He uses
that phrase six times in this chapter, which
would be strong words to anyone, but
especially to the Corinthians who prided
themselves on wisdom and knowledge.
- this is even more true when we realize
Paul is asking Retorical questions
- he's really saying - no - you don't
know! - and here's all the things
you're neglecting to consider in this
situation
- point is - this is a serious issue that every believer
needs to understand - important biblical truths are at
stake

- now, Paul gives a principle to solve this problem

II. The Principle

A. If two believers in a local church have a problem they
cannot solve, they should take the problem to their
local church to be resolved.
Paul makes that point in several ways:

v. 1 - ...go to the law before the unjust and not
before the saints
v. 2 - are you unworthy to judge the smallest
matters?
v. 5 - ...not one that shall be able to judge between
his brethren
v. 7 - there is utterly a fault among you, because
ye go to law one with another

- so the principle is (repeat point)

- now - I'd like us to spend the majority of the time we have
left looking at the reasons Paul gives - but let's talk
quickly about the objection someone might have of:

B. What about Matt. 7:1?

- (ask them to turn there)

- some might object to what Paul is saying about the
church being responsible to judge in unresolved
matters between believers saying, "well, I thought
we weren't supposed to judge each other?"

- let's talk about this verse for a minute

- INPUT - when we are seeking to understand a verse
in the Bible, especially one that that is
seemingly obscure, what do we always have to keep
in mind?
- (our interpretation must always bear the
weight of the rest of the Scripture)

- how do we know Matt. 7:1 can't mean that we never
judge in any sense?

- I Cor. 5 - church commanded to judge
- Matt. 7:5 - "First, cast the beam out of thine
own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to
cast the mote out of thy brother's eye.

- Matthew 7:1, Judge not lest you be judged means -
do not judge in an unjust way - in a way that you
would not want to be judged by someone else.
- That’s why later in this passage Jesus gives what we
often refer to as the "golden rule" in verse 12
- do to other men as you would them to do to you

- don't judge in a way that is different than the
way you would want to be judged by someone else

- so Paul's solution to this dilemma is: "If two believers in
a local church have a problem they cannot solve, they
should take the problem to their local church to be
resolved."

- now let's talk about the reasons Paul gives for this
command:

III. The Reasons

A. The church is able

- Paul is saying - the fact that you are doing what
you are doing is an indication that you are
forgetting some very important information about
the church
- in other words, he is accusing them of having a low
view, or a condescending view of the church

- let's see specifically what he says

1. the church will judge the world in the future

- the Bible teaches in many places that believers
in heaven will be involved in the judgment of
those who didn't accept Christ as personal
Savior and Lord

- Dan. 7:22 - ...and judgment was given to
the saints of the most high
- Matt. 19:28 - (to the disciples) - you
shall also sit on twelve thrones judging
the twelve tribes of Israel
- cf. Rev. 2:26-27, 3:23, 20:4

- Paul is saying - as believers, you have the
unique ability to make spiritual and right
judgments and that ability, of course
perfected after your glorification) is going
to be called upon in Christ's millennial
kingdom

2. the church will judge angels in the future - v. 3

- he makes the same argument as he did in verse
two
- if believers are going to be called upon to
perform such weighty judgment with eternal
consequences in heaven, surely you can handle
the petty civil cases that would occur between
church members here on earth

3. surely the church can judge its own now - vv. 4-6

- the overall point Paul is making in these verses is: "You
have a low view, a condescending view, of the church and
what it can accomplish."

- see, why should we bring unresolved matters between two
members of the church instead of taking them to the
secular courts?
- One reason is because the church can do a better job. The
church is uniquely qualified to handle these matters.

- INPUT - why is this true? Why is it true that the church is
uniquely qualified to handle the kind of matters we're
been talking about tonight?

- I think it would wise for us to pause here and broaden this
principle out by asking, do you have a low view or
condescending view of the local church and what it can
accomplish?

INPUT - what would be some evidences of a person who had a
problem in this area?

1) involved in all kinds of "Christian groups" but no
time for the church.
2) evangelistic efforts that don't "plug" converts back
into a strong local church for discipleship.
3) people who bypass the church in their giving.
4) those who believe the "real problems" of people
can't be handled by the church.
5) not getting help with personal problems from someone
at the church
6) not getting counsel about major decisions

- see, one of the questions we need to deal with tonight is:
- what evidence is there in your life that you have a
high view of the local church?
- cf. young people - car wash - they believe a local
church outreach like that could have eternal
consequences
- the fact that you are here tonight - you believe
God's business is done at the church
- people who get involved in other outreach ministries
- Purdue outreach
- College ministry (doughnuts, decision to move)
- living nativity

- Paul is saying - its alarming that you are taking other
brothers and sisters to court - but what's especially
alarming about that is what it reveals - and that is your
low view of God's church

- the church is able....its able to handle these situations
in a way that pleases the Lord

- a second reason Paul gives for obeying this command is:

B. It protects your testimony to the unsaved world

- Paul makes this point in several ways

- v. 1 - (you do this) before the unjust
- v. 4 - you set them to judge who are least esteemed
in the church?
- v. 6 - and that before the unbelievers!

- this gets back to the question we asked at the
beginning of the message
- think of the kind of things that are important to
the average person entering a court room to file
suit against someone else
- the things that concern him or her the most
- the kind of things they really wanted to
accomplish and get out of that situation

- Paul says - what in the world are you thinking?
- what ought to concern you
- what ought to be right at the forefront of your mind
is the impact this situation is going to have on
the unsaved world

- not only are unbelievers unequipped to give right
judgments, but you're not getting them any closer to
changing that by being saved - because you're not being
a very good representation of the difference between a
believer and an unbeliever

- my mother and father-in-law recently bought us a
devotional book that takes you through the whole Bible
where it has you read a passage of Scripture and then
it explains that passage and helps you identify ways to
change and grow
- So I just recently had the opportunity to read through
Leviticus and it's amazing all the things God
instituted in his law that were intended to accentuate
the difference between those who worshipped Jehovah and
those who didn't
- and while those ceremonial laws are no longer in force
for the NT believer, the principle is surely there that
God wants believers who are different than the world

- He wants individuals who are looking for opportunities
to accentuate the difference between those who have
have been saved and those who haven't

- Paul is saying - by handling the way you've been
wronged just like the unsaved world, you've missed a
great opportunity for evangelism

- let me ask you to think about this for a moment - when
you are wronged - what things are you concerned
about the most?
- now I'm not saying you shouldn't be concerned at
all about that other person making things right.
- but what are you concerned about first? most?

- when the attendant gives you the wrong amount of
change?
- when the contractor doesn't come thorough when he
promised he would?
- when someone's child throws a rock and hits your car?
- when someone made an appointment with you and they're
late?

- obviously the immediate context is talking about what
you do when that happens with believers and the
testimony that is to unsaved folks who might observe
- but we could broaden this out and talk about any
situation where you're wronged or you believe
you're wronged
- what kind of things are most important in your
mind?

- Paul says - we ought to focus on how our response will
impact those around who don't know Christ as Lord as
Savior.

- Proverbs 22:1 says it this way - "a good name is rather
to be chosen than great riches"
- see, some believers have gotten the riches - they've
gotten their pound of flesh
- but they marred any effective testimony for
Christ with that person
C. It gives you an opportunity to grow

- verse 7 gives an option to this situation that
apparently the Corinthians hadn't even considered
- READ 7

- Paul says - you could look at this as an
opportunity to grow by taking the wrong - or
absorbing the loss

- INPUT - can you think of some other passages of
Scripture that would teach this same idea or a
related truth?

- I Peter 4:8 - love covers a multitude of sins

- Phil. 2:5-11 - Let this mind be in you which
also was in Christ Jesus...

- Matt. 5:39-40 - "...whosoever shall smite thee
on the right cheek, turn to him the other
also. And if any man will sue thee at the
law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy
cloak also."

- I Peter 2:20 - what glory is it, when you are
buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently?
But if, when you do well and suffer for it,
this is acceptable with God.

- see, in these kinds of situations we can get so anxious
about getting or way, making the other person make things
right and all the rest
- that we miss an opportunity to take a step of growth
and become more like Christ