Studies in 1 Corinthians - Lawsuits & Sexual Immorality

Just a note, most of this will be based on the English Standard Version of the Bible. If I use a different version, I'll let you know :)

Chapter 6 is divided into two sections: the first is the apostle Paul discussing the recent issue of the Corinthian Christians pressing lawsuits against fellow believers in secular court. The second touches on the topic of sexual immorality.


Lawsuits Against Believers (v. 1-11)

"When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?" (v.1)

There are two main things wrong here:

1. A believer is bringing a lawsuit against his brother in Christ, a fellow member of the church body.
2. A believer is bringing a lawsuit against his brother in a secular court, rather than trying to resolve the issue within the church.

To address the first point, we are called to live at peace with one another (1 Cor. 1:10 says "that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment"). It is already a terrible defeat for us to have lawsuits at all. Paul asks the Corinthians in v.7 why we wouldn't rather suffer wrong or be defrauded (we have no right to seek money in legal battles). It is better to trust in God's sovereign purposes and lose money than to disobey him (by taking matters into our own hands) and suffer spiritually in sinful shame.

The second point is the fact that the Corinthians would consult a secular court, filled with pagan judges who are unbelieving and unsaved (v.9-10). They are severely unqualified to settle Christian matters. This course of action is ludicrous to Paul, because even the most untrained believer is more qualified than the most trained unbeliever... he says that Christians "are more than qualified with the truth, the Spirit, the gifts, and the resources they presently have in him to settle small matters that come up among themselves in this present life." Christians are even destined to be judges along with Christ in the millenial kingdom (Rev. 2:26-27 "The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron... even as I myself have received authority from my father.") and will judge angels (Heb. 1:14 "Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation."), so why shouldn't they be able to settle small disputes within the church?

At the end of this first section, Paul reminds the Corinthians of their former lives (following v.9-10, v.11 says, "And such were some of you."). The only difference is that "[we] were washed, [we] were sanctified, [we] were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God" (v.11b). Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. "washed" - gaining new life through spiritual cleansing and regeneration
2. "sanctified" - being transformed by Christ and completely changing our behavior to one of obedience and holiness (rather than being totally dominated by sin)... 2 Cor. 5: 17, NIV "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" However, it's important to note that that this is not a free license to sin because of God's grace... more on that later.
3. "justified" - being made righteous by Jesus Christ


Flee Sexual Immorality (v. 12-20)

The reason Paul brings this topic up is that the Corinthians erred in their way of thinking. They, like the Galatians, believed that they had free license to sin (primarily in committing sexually immoral acts), because they were covered by God's grace. They also believed that their sexual immorality was a natural, biological process, comparing it to eating (v.3 "Food is meant for the stomach, and the stomach for food"). However, Paul warns them as he does the Galatians, "do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh" (Gal. 5:13); basically, do not take advantage of God's grace.

Instead, "the body is... meant... for the Lord, and the Lord for the body" (v.13). Our bodies are members of Christ, and whatever we associate our bodies with associates Christ with it as well. If we sleep with a prostitute, we become "one flesh" (Gen. 2:24) with that prostitute, thus involving Christ in sexual immorality, which is a horrible, horrible sin. But if we join with the Lord, we become one spirit with him (John 17:21-23). Remember that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that we should glorify God with our bodies (1 Cor. 3:16).

Therefore, Paul tells us to FLEE from sexual immorality. This command is very radical and strongly put, because sexual immorality requires that kind of treatment. It is one of the most ensnaring and persistent sins, because while "every other sin a person commits is outside the body,... the sexually immoral person sins against his own body" (v.18). Satan knows that 99% of the time, if we even court the idea of a sexually immoral act, we'll end up committing it. It is a powerful temptation (especially in males), and we  must run in the opposite direction if we are to have any hope of resisting that temptation. Just remember that "you are not your own, for you were bought with a price" (v.19-20) - Jesus' blood.


Verses to Remember

"Or do you know 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 the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, 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

"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." 1 Cor. 6:18


Closing Remarks

Wow, that was really long... sorry, I just sort of threw it all out there. This was a rough first time out, it took me almost 2 hours to write (and I have finals on Monday... what!), but it was definitely an interesting experience. I got kinda fatigued at the end, so if something doesn't make sense, it was probably because I couldn't see straight anymore... but yeah. As much as this is for you to see what I'm learning and thinking about these days, it's also for me to further internalize and apply the Word and God's teachings. I hope you are blessed by this, please leave comments, suggestions, etc. below!


God bless,

Joe Mak
Colossians 3:23-24