And that is on page 1147.
If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for justice, for judgment instead of before the saints?
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?
And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge tribal cases?
Do you not know that we will judge angels?
How much more the things of this life?
Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church.
If I say this to shame you, is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?
But instead, one brother goes to law against another, if this in front of unbelievers.
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already.
Why not rather be wronged?
Why not rather be cheated?
Instead, you yourself cheat and do wrong.
And you do this to your brothers.
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived.
Neither do sexually immorals, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offenders,
nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor the drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers.
Will inherit the kingdom of God.
And that is, some of you were.
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.
Thank you, Orvita.
Well, we're going to pray as we keep that section of Scripture open,
as we've been following along in our studies of 1 Corinthians.
Let's pray.
Our Father God, we thank you for the work that you have done in our lives
through Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
And we pray that we would continually know,
as we read and think about your Word this morning,
that we would know your Spirit at work in our lives,
changing us and bringing us on,
individually but also corporately together,
as your family.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
So,
are you a saint?
Or are you a sinner?
Well, maybe like me,
there's some days you feel like a saint.
Maybe there's other days when you feel like a sinner.
Well, if we are Christians,
if we're followers of the Lord Jesus,
we are actually both.
We are saints who sin.
Look at how this church is addressed in chapter 6.
We see at the end of verse 1
that they were to bring disputes before the saints.
Verse 2,
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?
So, the saints are the church,
the people of God.
You see,
a saint is not a dead person with a title.
A saint is a living person
who has been made holy,
pure and clean before God.
So, look at verse 11.
He tells us how that came about.
Just the second line into verse 11.
He says,
You were washed.
You were sanctified.
You were justified
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
and by the Spirit of our God.
It's telling us there that Jesus,
who was pure and clean and holy,
took our sin on himself,
cleaned us,
forgave us,
so that we could become pure before God.
So, the saints are the church of God,
the people of God,
who have been made holy.
But let's not forget,
we are saints who still sin.
So, back in verse 1 of chapter 6,
if any one of you
has a dispute.
In other words,
it is possible that saints
fall out with each other.
We are forgiven,
but we still struggle
with our sinful nature.
We all mess up privately
and publicly.
So, in this church,
in Corinth,
and indeed this church,
or indeed any church,
we shouldn't be surprised
to find saints
who are sinning.
And sometimes,
there will be sinful disputes.
Look at verse 1 of chapter 6.
If any one of you
has a dispute
with another Christian,
another believer,
another saint,
dare they take it
before the ungodly
for judgment
instead of
before the saints?
Now, perhaps this dispute
was over a land deal
that went wrong.
Maybe it was the promise
of work between
two believers
that never got finished.
Maybe it was two siblings
who were in the church family
and they were fighting
over an inheritance.
Whatever was going on,
it was not just the fact
that there was a dispute.
It was the way
they were handling
the dispute.
Rather than deal
with the dispute themselves
in love and forgiveness,
look at verse 6.
Instead,
one brother goes to law
against another.
They've been checking out
nowinnofee.com.
Bring each other to court,
suing and claiming damages.
Instead of dealing
with the matter
as fellow saints,
as fellow believers,
look at verse 8.
Instead,
you yourselves
cheat and do wrong
and you do this
to your brothers,
to your fellow Christians.
You see,
what should have been
worked out
in a private,
holy way
has been done
in a very public
and unholy way.
Not very saintly.
Well,
I hope that none of us
ends up in court
because somebody
has brought us to court.
But I think we can all
fall out with each other,
can't we?
In our own relationships,
our family relationships,
even within the church family,
we can fall out.
She never asks
how I am.
After all that I've done
for her,
that's the last time
I'm going to offer her help.
He really annoys me
the way he goes on.
I'm never going
to that study again.
Well,
they didn't vote
the way I wanted them to.
I'm not.
I'm going to stop
my involvement now.
If they don't choose
the elder that I want,
then I'm leaving
for another church.
Is it possible
that we could fall out
with each other?
I think it is sometimes.
But saints who sin
are also quick
to deal with sin.
Look again at verse 1.
So if any of you
has a dispute
with another,
dare we take it
to the ungodly
for judgment,
those outside
instead of before
the saints?
You see,
rather than voice
our complaints
to those outside
of the church,
unbelievers,
we should seek counsel
from those inside
the church,
the true believers.
Listen to this quote.
I think it's helpful
as we reflect
on what it is
to bring matters
before the saints,
before the church.
Unrepentant sin
and those who
continually cherish it
are like cancers
that need to be removed
if the body
to us enjoy health
and engage
in productive work.
confessing sins
to one another
makes us bring
our sins
into the light
where they can be
dealt with
in the context
of mutually
sanctifying friendships
in which people
are strengthening
each other
through prayer,
encouragement
and application
of the word.
Bringing our sin
into the light
by confessing it
in the context
of personal
accountability
friendships
helps to prevent
the sins
we struggle
with now
from becoming
scandalous
later.
Churches grow
when sin
is nipped
in the bud.
Can we see
how that relates
to this particular
context?
You see,
instead of running
to those outside
the church
who agree with us
and will always
take our side
if we search
long enough
we'll always find
somebody who will
accept our sin,
we instead
turn to those
inside the church
to one another
to fellow believers
who will help us
fight our sin
and deal with
our sin.
It's in the context
of personal
accountable
friendships.
We don't go
to others
we go to
each other
within the family
of the church.
And we're given
three reasons
for dealing
with our sin
urgently
and quickly
within the context
of the church
family.
So here is the
first reason
why we need
to deal
with our sin.
First,
because saints
will be judges
of the world.
Because saints
will be judges
of the world.
Look at verse 2.
Do you not know
that the saints
will judge the world?
And if you are
to judge the world,
are you not
competent to judge
trivial cases?
Now that should
kind of jump out
at us as something
quite astounding.
Because of our
faith in Christ,
we are bound up
in what Christ
will do.
One day Christ
is going to come
and he's going
to judge the world.
He's going to bring
about justice,
correcting all wrongs.
And incredibly,
look at verse 2.
Don't you know
that the saints,
the church,
are going to be
involved in that
judgment?
Not because we are
perfect,
but because
we have been
made holy
by our repentance
before God.
We will be
judging
with Christ
the whole world.
Now if we're
going to be judges
of the whole world,
don't you think
that we can
manage to judge
sinful behaviour
within the church
family?
One author
likened this scenario
to a high court
judge dealing
with a case
of national
consequence,
who's ignoring
a dispute
between his two
little children.
You can picture
the high court
judge sitting
at home in
his armchair,
smoking a pipe,
reading the newspaper,
and in the room
beside him are his
two children
causing war.
Don't you think
a high court judge
could deal with
a simple matter
of his two
little children?
Well in the same
way,
if we are going
to be judging
the world,
don't you think
we can deal
with little matters
of life here
on earth?
Look at verse 3,
do you not know
that we will judge
angels?
How much more
the things of
this life?
The church,
the believers
are going to be
at the centre
of a universal
judgement.
So can't we
deal with
sinful squabbles
and sinful
behaviour now?
Verse 4,
therefore,
if you have
disputes about
such matters,
appoint as judges
even men
of little account
or people
who are just
young in their
faith
who can settle
these matters
between you.
So rather than
turning to
ungodly
solicitors
and counsellors,
and I don't
mean to say
that solicitors
and counsellors
can't be
Christians,
of course
they're good
Christian
solicitors
and counsellors,
but why turn
to unbelievers?
Turn to the
church,
to the saints?
Because the
church here
is not just
a gathering
on a Sunday
morning,
the church
is God's
ordained way
of dealing
with our
sinful hearts.
This is the
place where
we keep
each other
accountable.
This is where
we confess
our sins,
where we
build up
support and
point each
other to
Christ.
That's why
we always
say,
come along
on Wednesdays.
Why?
So we can
have accountability
with each
other.
The church,
the saints,
are God's
means of
healing damaged
relationships
and restoring
our broken
lives.
so we
deal with
our sin
because we
will be
judges of
the world.
The second
reason is we
deal with our
sin within
the church
because we
are witnesses
to the world.
Look at
verse 6.
You see this
church here that
we're reading
about in
Corinth.
instead,
we're told,
one brother
goes to
law against
another and
this is in
front of
unbelievers.
What should
have been
worked out in
a private
holy way has
been done in
a public
unholy way.
Rather than
the church
getting alongside
and praying and
supporting for
one another,
the community
is looking in,
laughing and
joking at the
church.
They're reading
about the
church on the
back pages of
their newspaper.
Look at this
event.
Did you see
what's happening?
Verse 7.
The very fact
that you have
lawsuits among
you means that
you've been
completely defeated
already.
In other words,
your witness to
the wider
community is a
mess.
Why not
rather be
wronged?
Why not
rather be
cheated?
You see,
the church
is meant to
be a witness,
this visible
demonstration to
the world and
the community
around us of
the cross of
reconciliation.
Because when
Jesus died on
the cross,
he brought
about our
reconciliation to
God.
Jesus, as he
died on the
cross with his
arms hung on
the cross,
took our
wrongs on
himself and
was willing to
be treated
as a
wrongdoer for
us.
He was
willing to
be cheated
for us.
Why?
So that
people like
you and me
could be
forgiven and
welcomed and
accepted and
reconciled to
God.
He did not
treat us as
our sins
deserve so
that we might
be treasured
as his
child.
Now,
if God
has healed
and restored
our relationship
with him,
shouldn't the
church family
be a place
where our
relationships are
also healed
and restored?
What does it
look like if
we're saying
to people,
Christ reconciles
sinners,
Christ makes it
possible for us
to be friends
with God,
when we can't
be reconciled
to each other?
What are we
saying?
Well, we're just
acting as
hypocrites.
Verse 8,
instead,
you yourselves
cheat and
do wrong
and you do
this to
your brothers.
Can you
see in the
context here
of what's
going on,
how serious
it is when
we don't
deal with
sin in the
right way?
When we
take it out
into the
public realm,
we push
people away
from Christ
rather than
draw them
in towards
Christ.
And again,
we mightn't
be taking
people to
court or
we mightn't
be writing
about it
in the
newspaper,
but we
can sure
gossip to
our friends
and talk
about other
people behind
their backs.
What are we
saying?
We're dragging
Christ through
the dirt.
But,
when we
apply the
work of
Christ to
our lives,
the church
becomes this
visible
demonstration of
Christ and
his cross.
As people
look in,
they see the
power of
Christ at
work within
our lives.
As they
look amongst
us,
they see
relationships
that have
been healed
between one
and another.
They see
friendships that
have been
renewed.
They see
family relationships
that have been
broken for
years, put
back together
again.
They see
wrongs
forgiven.
Instead of
revenge,
they see
grace and
love.
Now,
doesn't that
look like
something beautiful
to you?
Isn't that
something very
attractive where
relationships are
healed and
friendships
renewed?
We are
witnesses to
the world as
we apply the
gospel to our
lives and
live out what
it is to
forgive and
work with
each other.
So we deal
quickly with
our sin and
urgently to
reflect the
beauty of
Christ to
the world
around us.
sins.
So we
deal with
sin because
we'll be
judges of
the world
and because
we are
witnesses to
the world
and third
because we
are to be
holy in
the world.
You see,
there is a
serious matter
to all of
this.
There's a
serious matter
when we
don't deal
with disputes
or any
other kind
of sin.
Look at
what it is
in verse
nine.
Do you
not know
that the
wicked will
not inherit
the kingdom
of God?
The wicked
there being
the unrepentant.
Don't you
realise that
unless you
face up to
your sin,
you too
will be
judged.
Look at the
rest of
verse nine.
Do not be
deceived.
Don't think
that God is
just going to
overlook it and
say,
it really
doesn't
matter how
you behave,
it's all
right.
No, it
does matter.
Do not
be deceived.
Neither
the sexually
immoral,
nor
idolaters,
nor
adulterers,
nor male
prostitutes,
nor homosexual
offenders,
nor thieves,
nor the
greedy,
nor drunkards,
nor slanderers,
nor swindlers
will inherit
the kingdom
of God.
God.
Now, the
shocking thing
is, as I
read through
that list,
is not that
these are kind
of big
sins,
but if we
look and read
carefully enough,
we're all in
that list,
in one way
or another.
But this is not
talking about
people who are
repenting of
their sin,
and people who
are seeking to
change their
lives.
This is
addressing those
who claim to
be followers of
Jesus, but
continually persist
in their sinful
behaviour.
The reality is
those who claim
to be followers
of Jesus, but
show no sign
of change,
no desire for
accountability
within the
church family,
there is no
genuine repentance,
look what it
says at the end
of verse 11,
will not
inherit the
kingdom of
God.
The evidence
is simply
not there.
If we are not
taking sin
seriously, if we
are not dealing
with it in our
lives, then we
do not inherit
the kingdom of
God.
It's a serious
matter.
So if that's
you here this
morning, if
there is sin
that is undealt
with, do
not leave
without getting
your life right
with God.
Do not leave
without talking
to another
believer and
seeking their
help and
support for
the things that
you struggle
with in your
life.
But this is
not the full
story.
Look at
verse 11.
And that
is what
some of you
were.
That is what
some of you
were.
You see, we
all have a
past, don't
we?
We've all
fallen and
failed.
We've all
got skeletons
in the
cupboard that
we don't
want anybody
to know
about.
We've all
sinned in
all kinds
of different
ways.
But, look
at the rest
of verse 11,
sinned, but
you were
washed.
You've been
made clean
before God.
Jesus has
taken your
sin and
he's washed
you and
cleaned you
on the
inside.
But you
were sanctified.
You've now
been set
apart for
God, to
live for
God and
for his
desires.
But you
are now
justified.
You've been
put right
with God
in that
relationship
where you
are now
his child
and God
is your
father.
And all
of this
in the
name of
the Lord
Jesus
Christ and
by the
spirit of
our God.
Isn't
that incredible?
Washed and
sanctified and
justified.
But notice
the change
here that's
taken place.
Look at
verse 11
again.
That is
what some
of you
were.
This is
the kind
of life
you used
to live.
This is
the way
you were.
So this
church was
made up
of people
who were
sexually
immoral,
adulterers,
male prostitutes,
homosexual offenders,
thieves, greedy
drunkards.
This church
in Corinth was
full of all
these kinds
of people,
but now
they've been
changed.
They've been
transformed
by the
grace of
God.
And now
they live
a new
life
completely.
Not that
they don't
struggle with
their sins,
they're still
struggling and
still working
it out,
and they're
bringing it
before God,
and they're
working it,
and they're
trying,
and they're
accountable to
one another.
That's
the difference.
Again,
look at
verse 11.
To be
sanctified
means to
be set
apart for
God.
You've
now changed
your direction
of life.
You're no
longer seeking
to go this
way.
You are
now seeking
to live
God's way,
a holy
life.
no longer
ignoring
sin,
but dealing
with it
in your
life.
No longer
tolerant
with sin,
but repentant.
You see,
we are a
church that
quickly and
urgently deals
with our sin
because we
have been
made the
holy people
of God.
It's not
saying we
are the
perfect people
of God,
but we're
working on
it.
with one
another,
accountable
to each
other,
going to
the
saints.
So let
me ask
the question
that we
started with
this morning.
Are you
a saint
or are you
a sinner?
Well,
if we are
Christians,
we're both,
aren't we?
We are saints
who sin.
But the
saints who
sin are
those who
deal with
their sin.
Instead of
running to
those outside
the church
who accept
our sin
and who
will agree
with us
and take
our side,
we seek
support from
those inside
the church,
the saints,
those who
will help
us fight
our sin,
those who
will confront
us and hold
us accountable.
And it's
within the
community of
the church
family where
we begin to
confess our
sins to
each other,
where we
seek that
personal support,
where together
we walk
alongside each
other,
hand in
hand,
not looking
down in
superiority,
but walking
as equals
towards the
cross of
Christ,
seeking
forgiveness
for all
of our
lives.
We are
saints.
but sadly
we sin.
But we're
saints who
deal with
our sin.
Let's pray
together.
Our
Father God,
we thank
you that
when you
show us
our sin,
we are
not in
despair,
for we
have a
saviour,
the Lord
Jesus Christ,
who died
for us
on the
cross,
who has
washed
us,
who has
sanctified
us,
who has
justified
us.
We thank
you that
we are
now your
children through
faith,
and we
ask for
the help
of your
ongoing
work,
the power
of your
Holy Spirit
to deal
with our
sin,
that we
might become
the Holy
Church of
God.
We thank you
for one
another.
We thank you
for the people
that you have
placed around
us,
the people
sitting next
to us,
in front of
us,
and all
around,
your fellow
saints,
to support
us and to
encourage us.
We thank
you,
Father,
for your
church,
and for
your family.
In Jesus'
name we all
pray.
Amen.
We're going
to sing
together.
If you
know the
forgiveness
of the
Lord Jesus
Christ,
then what
can we
say then
to say
thank you
for saving
me.
You
took
me
to
me.