Unified by the Love of God.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

 

1 Corinthians 6:1-2

When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? ² Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

(ESV)

 

A divided world full of hatred needs an infusion of love but is looking for love in all the wrong places. Government is not the answer for unification by the government requires one side forcing their values on others through the force of law causing more hatred and division instead of love and unification. Unification around issues also provides little resolution as proponents for each issue usually end up fighting over limited resources needed to promote their issue, leading to further divisiveness and hatred. The Church has the answer to the divisiveness and hatred in the world if it follows Jesus’ commandment to love one another (John 13:34-35) but as we will see in 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, can become divided and hateful if it does not obey this command.

 

Paul had heard more disturbing news regarding the Church in Corinth. When one of them has a grievance against another in the Church, they go to the law and the secular courts instead of resolving grievances among themselves (1 Corinthians 6:1). What disturbs Paul is that the saints are destined to judge the world yet appear incompetent to judge trivial grievances among themselves (1 Corinthians 6:2). Once again the believers in Corinth are showing immaturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). The saints will also judge angels, a calling to judge matters beyond this life, and cannot yet judge grievances between each other and take them to secular courts with no standing in the Church (1 Corinthians 6:3-4).

 

This inability to judge is a shame to the Church indicating that there is nobody in the Church wise enough to settle disputes within the Church (1 Corinthians 6:5). Instead of acquiring the wisdom to judge grievances within the Church, members of the Church go to secular courts, publicly displaying divisions in the Church, and a lack of love for one another (1 Corinthians 6:6). This also disturbs Paul for it illustrates disobedience to the new commandment of Jesus in John 13:34-35. To have these lawsuits at all is a defeat for the Church with members of the Church wronging and defrauding each other (1 Corinthians 6:7-8).

 

Paul then reminds the Corinthians that the unrighteous, from whom they seek resolution of grievances, will not inherit the kingdom of God, and not to be deceived (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Paul concludes this part of his letter by reminding the Corinthians that they too were once unrighteous but have received justification by the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11). The Corinthians are reverting to the flesh when it comes to grievance resolution instead of faith in God to provide wisdom for resolution within the Church.

 

Jesus gave the Church a new commandment, to love one another, and also taught that it was the believers' love for one another that would let the world know they are disciples of Christ (John 13:34-35). This is why it concerned Paul when he heard the Corinthians were settling grievances with each other in secular courts, putting on public display the lack of unity in the Church. Paul knew the mission of the Church was to be witnesses for Christ to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8), but with the inability to settle grievances among themselves the Church is no different from the world. Add to this the fact that the saints will judge the world and angels, but appears unable to judge trivial cases, the Church lacks the wisdom to manage grievances among each other.

 

A hate-filled and divided world seeks some way to unify. Some seek unification through government but only find more divisiveness between political parties and even within political parties. Some seek unification by rallying around an issue like the environment, LGBTQ, or Critical Race Theory (CRT), only to discover difficulty getting people to rally around their cause resulting in more divisiveness. Some even resort to fear tactics to bring people into agreement only to discover some do not succumb to fear, viewing it as not from God or a trap (Proverbs 29:25; 2 Timothy 1:7).

 

God loves the entire world because he sent His Son, Jesus, with anyone choosing to believe in Him receiving eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus said that if people lifted Him up, He would draw people unto him (John 12:32). Jesus also gave a new commandment to his followers, a commandment that they were to love each other with the love with which He loved them (John 13:34-35). It is this love the Church is to rally behind and what a hate-filled world needs to see from the Church, and not a Church divided by internal grievances.

 

If you are reading this post and are living in this hate-filled world without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

If you just prayed with me, you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the one that loved you so much He left heaven, came to this corrupt and evil world, and died for your sins, giving you eternal life. I urge you to find a Church teaching from the Bible so your relationship with Jesus can grow stronger and closer. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.