The next problem in the Corinthian church that Paul addresses is one to which most Christians can relate. As we approach this topic, let's first look at the cross to gain the perspective we need.
At the cross, we see Jesus relinquishing His rights and sacrificing Himself for us. Jesus said, "No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded" (John 10:18).
Our minds can only hope to grasp a hint of the enormous passion of our Lord. Can you even fathom the depths of this love that took Jesus from heaven to earth, through the humility of humanity, and then ran Him up a tree, there to hang in agony for six hours to endure the fierce wrath of God for you? Can you even imagine His intense devotion to you that He would willingly and joyfully receive nails in His hands and feet, thorns in His head, and a spear in His side?
And when you, in some measure, start to comprehend how Jesus' rights were entirely violated, and He let it happen, no wait, He made it happen! And you see that Jesus was willingly defrauded, gladly cheated out of His own life for you, well, then you begin to grasp the heart of God for you in the best way possible.
And if you and I want to live and grow in the gospel, then it becomes essential for us to look at, consider, and meditate on the cross to such an extent that we become willing to give up our rights, accept injustices, and suffer loss for the sake of the gospel. For as we do, we feel so close to Jesus; we begin to "spread the aroma of Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:15) and look like Him.
Question 1. How does surrendering your rights for the benefit of others reveal the gospel message to the world? Please describe it here:
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For the next several days, we will see how Paul addresses the issue of lawsuits within the body of the Corinthian church, and as usual, he does this with the cross of Christ.
“When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! 2 Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? 3 Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 6 But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!”
1 Corinthians 6:1-6 NLT
I’m not sure there is ever a more incongruent picture than a professing believer clinging to their rights, for it denies the message of the cross in their lives and takes away their gospel voice in the world. And for that believer to then go so far as to sue another believer in a court of law? Well, Paul says, “I am saying this to shame you!”
Question 2. According to 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 NLT, what alternative path should a believer pursue when he/she has an issue/disagreement with a fellow believer?
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To be clear, Paul is not saying there is never a time when a believer should use a court of law, only that we are not to handle interpersonal problems between believers in that way.
In the next section, we will see how Paul displays the cross before the Corinthians to encourage them to repent from the sin of dragging fellow believers into court.
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