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1 Corinthians 6: Seeking Justice
When should a matter be settled by the courts and not church leadership?
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1 Corinthians 6:1 Would you dare take a case seeking justice to a judge in the outside, unjust world? Of course not. The saints must judge.
6:2 Don’t you know that the righteous will judge the world? The world in its unrighteousness is in no position to judge righteousness in even the smallest matter.
6:3 Aren’t you aware that one day we will judge the angels? Since that’s true, we should certainly pass judgment upon evil in this life.
6:4 Why would you go outside the church to settle a dispute, seeking judgment from those you least respect?
6:5 You should be ashamed, for you must certainly know people in your fellowship who are wise enough to settle an issue.
King James
1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
How does the basis of judgment differ between the courts and church?
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1 Corinthians 6:6 To expect believers to be righteously judged by the unrighteous
6:7 is a bad mistake. You would be better off to accept the injustice and not present your case at all.
6:8 In seeking justice from the unjust, you are only cheating yourselves.
King James
1 Corinthians 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
What should we do when the government’s laws contradicts God’s law?
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1 Corinthians 6:9 The unrighteous will have no part in the Kingdom of God. Don’t think for a second that God will condone homosexuality, promiscuously indulging in sex, or placing anyone or anything above him in worship.
King James
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.
Is it possible for lying, greedy, abusive, cheating people to be saved? Why or why not?
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Romans 8:30 Seeing the desires of people’s hearts, he called all those who would listen, made them blameless in his sight, and revealed his glory in them.
1 Corinthians 6:10 Lying, greedy, abusive, cheating people will have no place in Heaven.
6:11 Some of you were once in that group, but not anymore—not if the Holy Spirit has cleansed you, setting you free from all unrighteousness by living under the direction and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:26 As Christ made his family special, bathing us with kind, supportive words,
5:27 so he would have a glorious community without wrinkles or blemishes.
King James
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
As long as something is not legally or morally wrong, is it okay to do it?
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1 Corinthians 6:12 All things might be okay, but I am looking for what most pleases the Lord, because that is most beneficial. I cannot allow myself to be enslaved by social pressures or selfish desires.
King James
1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
In general, what was God’s purpose in creating people?
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1 Corinthians 6:13 Food is made for our stomachs and our stomachs are made for food, but neither one will satisfy God’s eternal purpose. We might think the body was made for sex, but actually we were made for our relationship with the Lord.)
Revelation 4:11 O Lord, creator of all things, you are worthy of all honor, power, and glory, because everything that exists was created for your good purpose.
King James
1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
By what means was Jesus raised from the grave?
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John 10:18 No one will take my life from me. I choose to give it up. I have the power to lay it down and to take it up again, because this is what my Father has commanded.
Romans 8:11 If the Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, is dwelling in us, then our fleshly bodies will experience abundant life in the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:14 God will raise us to everlasting life by the same power through which he brought Jesus up from the grave.
Galatians 1:1 Paul, a special messenger of Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Christ from the dead—not sent by men or under the authority of any man.
King James
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
1 Corinthians 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.)
What does “belonging to Christ” have to say about what we should be doing?
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1 Corinthians 6:15 Since your body belongs to Christ, it should not be prostituted for independent pleasures.
King James
1 Corinthians 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
How should being “one with Christ” affect our being “one” with a someone on Earth?
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Genesis 2:24 Therefore, a man will leave his parents and become one with his wife. They shall be one flesh.
1 Corinthians 6:16 Don’t you know that sexual unions bring people together as one? For Scripture says, A man will leave his parents and become one with his wife. They shall be one flesh.
6:17 Anyone who is joined to the Lord is one in spirit with him.
King James
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
1 Corinthians 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
What is the consequence of sex outside of marriage?
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1 Corinthians 6:18 Avoid sex outside of marriage. Beyond the consequence of wrongdoing outside the body, promiscuity damages one’s own physical being.
King James
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
What kinds of concerns should we have for our bodies if they are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit?
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1 Corinthians 6:19 Don’t you know that your body is like the Temple, a place where the Holy Spirit resides? You do not belong entirely to yourself, for you belong to God,
6:20 purchased at great cost. Therefore, glorify God in body and spirit, which both belong to him.
King James
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.