1. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
I Corinth 6:1-11 Legal Issues Among Believers
I Corinth 6:1-5: “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 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? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 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?”
Paul hits the nail on the head here doesn’t he; not much room for discussion is there? 1
April 24, Bob Eckel 1

2. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
I Corinth 6:1-11 Legal Issues Among Believers
Dare (present active indicative) is a strong term, i.e. Acts 7:31,32
Define matter
Pertains to legal issues, a case or suit.
Against whom, one of the brethren or the world?
Notice unrighteous vs. saints.
And all saints are righteous.
II Corinth 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Paul has said in I Corinth 5:12,13 that we have no business in judging unbelievers; why then, should we ask them to judge us?
Different citizenships.
Does this imply that Roman courts were unjust?
Do ye not know – eido is fact
the saints shall judge the world – future active indicative 2
April 24, Bob Eckel 2

3. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
I Corinth 6:1-11 Legal Issues Among Believers
Ruling more than condemning.
And when is this?
Luke 22:30; Daniel 7:21,22, 27; Rev 2:26,27
And if this is true you (we) should be shamed of your(our) unwillingness to judge small things.
What kind of small things are these?
Whatever, II Corinth 4:17,18 - For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Is there any reason to believe that this issue is not equally for us today?
Do you not know that we shall judge angels?
The highest order of beings under God, yet we are endowed a position that is honored above angels.
And these are the fallen angels – II Peter 2:4; Jude 6
And this should make issues that exist within the body on earth simple. 3
April 24, Bob Eckel 3

4. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
I Corinth 6:1-11 Legal Issues Among Believers
Then, why appoint the least esteemed by the church to resolve these controversies?
Is this least esteemed within or outside the church?
Is this statement somewhat ironic, i.e. that their differences were so petty as to be worthy only of the least witted?
Verse 5 implies that the wise man should be the one to judge, but apparently there were problems finding such wisdom within the body.
I Corinth 6:6-8 – “But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 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? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!
Paul notes that it is utter and unacceptable failure when a believer goes to the law with a grievance against a brother. 4
April 24, Bob Eckel 4

5. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
I Corinth 6:1-11 Legal Issues Among Believers
And this relates to how the world sees us.
Phil 2:14,15 - Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you
may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated (suffer yourselves to be defrauded)?
As believers, our position needs to be one of meekness - Rom 12:17-19
Col 3:12,13 - Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
II Cor 8:21 - providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
I Corinth 6:9-11 – “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor 5
April 24, Bob Eckel 5

6. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
I Corinth 6:1-11 Legal Issues Among Believers
adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers (scandalous), nor extortioners (swindlers) will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.”
Be not deceived – no unrighteous man will be an heir.
And again, what’s the kingdom of God?
Luke 17:20,21 - Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
I Cor 15:50 - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 6
April 24, Bob Eckel 6

7. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
I Corinth 6:1-11 Legal Issues Among Believers
And such were some of you (us)!
Eph 2:1,2 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
But look where they (we) were (are) now.
Washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
New creations in Christ Jesus!
Note the tri-unity here and the important role of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s envision the following:
John and Jill are members of the body of Christ and they go to an attorney to set up a trust with Jim, another member of the body who is an attorney. Jim fails to fulfill his obligation as executor and trustee of the trust, and John and Jill lose the life insurance policy that maintained the trust. Next steps?
So when do believers use the governmental court system? 7
April 24, Bob Eckel 7

8. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
I Corinth 6:1-11 Legal Issues Among Believers
A charge against us or to testify.
Clarification of agreements.
In response to a crime against us.
All the time keep looking down – Col 3:1-3! 8
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