By
Sam Nobles
Chapter 6 finds the Apostle Paul continuing to talk
about the sin within the Corinthian church. He specifically addresses two areas
in which the Corinthian believers were struggling – lawsuits and moral laxness.
Lawsuits
(v.1-11)
Paul’s rant against sinful behavior finds point on
Christians suing fellow believers in a court of pagan judges. The Apostle steps
up to condemn this behavior based upon three different grounds.
· First, on the grounds of it being illogical (v.2-6), Paul addresses the fact that
it doesn’t add up that believers can’t settle and judge differences between
themselves and other believers, but will one day be responsible for judging
angels.
· Second, on the grounds of it being illegal (v.7-8), Paul lets these Corinthian
believers know that they were defrauding one another with more wrong action.
The old saying is true, “Two wrongs don’t make a right”.
· Third, on the grounds of it being inexcusable (v.9-11), Paul reminds the Corinthian
believers that God had forgiven them of many horrible sins. Could they not
forgive one another of a few lesser sins?
Moral
Laxness (v.12-20)
In the same way that Paul addressed the Corinthian’s
lawsuit issue, he addresses the Corinthian’s moral laxness, but this time in
two regards.
· First, in regard to food (v.12-13),
the Apostle Paul discusses mastery. God created the human stomach so that it
can receive foods and digest them. In the same manner, God has designed foods
so they can be received by the human stomach. And yet we should not live for
foods, because they are only of temporary value. They should not be given an
undue place in the life of the believer. Don't live as if the greatest thing in
life is to gratify your appetites.[i]
· Secondly, in regard to sexuality (v.13-20), Paul urges the Corinthian believers to flee from sexual
immorality because it is a sin against one’s own body (v.18). Not to mention that our body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit, purchased by the blood of Jesus.
Scripture to Claim:
“’All
things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are
lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12
ESV)
[i]
William
MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Second Edition, ed. Arthur L.
Farstad, 2nd ed. edition (Thomas Nelson, 2016).
