“When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints? 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? Do you not know that we are to judge angels—to say nothing of ordinary matters? If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another, but a believer goes to court against a believer—and before unbelievers at that? In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—and believers at that. Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food,” and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, “The two shall be one flesh.” But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

Paul is warning the Corinthians against many evils, behaviors of which they had formerly been guilty. Paul carries a lot of authority and seeks to establish that point: “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?” All sin is sin; all sin, every actual sin, committed with knowledge, and not repented of, shuts out the kingdom of heaven. Humans are very much inclined to flatter themselves that they may live in sin, yet if they believe in Christ or at least repent once in a while, then all will be fine since all go to heaven. But Paul hopes to warn these people that they cannot hope to sow to the flesh, and continue to reap everlasting life. They are reminded that the gospel and grace of Jesus Christ is to make them a new people. The blood of Christ, and the repentance of the heart, can take away all sin. Our justification is owing to the suffering and merit of Christ; our sanctification to the working of the Holy Spirit; but both go together. All who are made righteous in the sight of G-d, are made holy by the grace of G-d.

Some among the Corinthians seem to have been ready to say, “All things are lawful for me”. I would say there are many among us today who live by this same banner — we are not much different than the people of Corinth. But Paul opposes such thinking. Yes, Christ has made us free, and in that banner we all must stand fast. But Paul also says that we should not continue to sin because Grace abounds. Our body is for the Lord; just like all we have is the Lords. It therefore makes sense that, just as Jesus Christ was raised bodily from the dead it will be our honor and glory to also be raised with him.

Pastor Dave