1 Cor 6:1-11 – New life, new lifestyle (sermon notes)
Text: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
You should be ashamed of yourselves!
- Down the Lechaion Way – neighbours locked in a boundary dispute
- Alexandra’s jewelry business – unpaid invoice
- In the family of Fabius – a feud over inheritance
And these are all Christians suing one another! What are the godly doing, asking the ungodly to resolve their differences?
‘Why not rather be wronged?’ (v7)!
Root problem: Christians are using worldly means to settle their petty disputes.
Norwich in 2021 is not the same as Corinth in AD50. I’m not aware of law suits between us. And our small claims courts are not biased, as their Corinthian counterparts were.
But we have
- church members who fell out years ago and are still not on speaking terms.
- pastors who experience toxic relationships with certain people in their congregations.
- worship wars.
We can all say or do things that leave others feeling hurt, let down, under-valued, cheated, exploited, taken for granted, offended, demoralised.
We react by firing off angry emails, harbouring grudges, allowing resentment to fester, obstinately standing up for our rights. Or simply going off in a huff.
For a remedy, consider:
1. What we were, vv9-11a. These most revolve around sex, our tongues, and our material possessions. They represent an attitude, according to which I can be who I want, do what I want, have what I want, say what I want, sleep with who I want.
It’s all about me, my entitlements, my freedom, my happiness.
This prompts us to ask: what has each of us left behind in order to become a follower of Jesus?
2. What we became, v11b. ‘Washed, sanctified, justified.’ Cleaned up, set apart, put right before God.
Each person of the Trinity is involved!
The gospel does not say, ‘Try harder’; but, ‘Be transformed.’ Not, ‘turn over a new leaf’, but ‘receive a new life.’ Not ‘a new start’, but ‘a new heart.’
Jesus meets us where we are. But he does not leave us there. You have been launched into a new life and a new lifestyle.
3. What we now are. ‘Saints’, vv1,2. ‘Brothers and sisters’, vv6,8.
‘To dwell above with saints we love, Oh that will be such glory. But to dwell below with saints we know, well, that’s another story.’
Do we care enough about one another to do something about our disputes and disagreements?
4. What we will be. A tantalising glimpse into our future destiny! Judges of the world, v2, and of angels, v3!
If God’s people will sit alongside Christ judge the world in the hereafter, then surely they are competent to settle everyday disputes here.
We haven’t arrived yet. ‘We all stumble in many ways’ (James 3:2).
John Newton: ‘I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.’
What does victory (v7) look like?
It looks like Jesus…
…who has left you an example, that you should follow in his steps…
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…
…who did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many…
We should all please our brothers and sisters for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith. For Christ did not please himself…
Forgive each other, therefore, just as in Christ God forgave you.
(Mk 10:43-45; Rom 15:2; Eph 4:32; Phil 2:1ff; 1 Pet 2:21-23)
It looks like love (1 Cor 13)
I am patient with you because I love you and want to forgive you.
I am kind to you because I love you and want to help you.
I do not envy your possessions or your gifts because I love you and want you to have the best.
I do not boast about my attainments because I love you and want to hear about yours.
I am not proud because I love you and want to esteem you before myself.
I do not dishonour you because I love you and care about your feelings.
I am not self-seeking because I love you and want to meet your needs.
I am not easily angered by you because I love you and want to overlook your faults.
I do not keep a record of your faults because I love you, and “love covers a multitude of sins.”
Might there be a need to approach a brother or sister, and ask:
‘Have I said or done something to upset you?’
‘I’ve noticed a bit of tension between the two of you. Is there anything I can do to help?’
Or make use of your ‘forgetory’. Clara Barton, when asked if she remembered being treated unkindly by someone: ‘I distinctly remember forgetting that!’
I invite you to the greatest adventure of your life: to begin, continue, and complete the new life which God offers you in Jesus Christ in the power of his Spirit.
Let’s bring delight to the heart of God, horror to the Devil, and astonishment to a watching world, as they see the words of Jesus fulfilled among us:
‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ (Jn 13:35)