“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

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?

For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons— not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge? God will judge those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.” 1 Cor. 5:1-13

As we have seen with the issues in the Catholic Church and sexual improprieties by their priests (and of course every church has its problems with pastors and indiscretions), it is indeed troubling that crimes should sometimes be committed by ministers of the gospel — crimes that even the un-churched would be ashamed. Spiritual pride along with false teachings can tend to allow such scandals to exist — if not perpetuate. Sin is sin — and the devil reigns where Christ does not. And when we are not in Christ, then we try to live by our own man-made rules and regulations — which when compared to the kingdom, is a poor example indeed.

The bad example of leaders in the church is very grievous; it spreads far and wide — and its influence can be systemic. Corrupt principles and examples, if not corrected, will hurt the whole church. Believers must have new hearts, and lead new lives — we are to be transformed and renewed by the Gospel. All of our conversations and deeds should be holy — or at least have holy intent. Without holiness we can neither live by faith in Christ, nor be leaders asking others to join us with any sense of integrity.

Pastor Dave