Introduction

First Corinthians 6 addresses two issues: believers suing one another in pagan courts and sexual immorality. Both reveal a failure to understand who they are in Christ—judges of the world and temples of the Holy Spirit.

Lawsuits Among Believers (verses 1-8)

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare you take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord's people? Don't you know that the Lord's people will judge the world? If you are to judge the world, aren't you competent to judge trivial cases? Don't you know we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! If you have disputes, appoint even those of little account in the church to judge! Is it possible that there is nobody wise enough among you to judge a dispute between believers? Instead, one brother sues another—and before unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong—and you do this to your brothers and sisters.

• Future Judges: Believers will judge the world and angels
• Internal Resolution: The church should handle its own disputes
• Accept Wrong: Better to be wronged than to sue a brother

The Unrighteous Will Not Inherit (verses 9-11)

Don't you know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, practicing homosexuals, thieves, greedy, drunkards, slanderers, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

• Past Identity: "That is what some of you were"
• Transformation: Washed, sanctified, justified—complete change
• New Life: Former identity no longer defines you

The Body for the Lord (verses 12-20)

"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but Paul will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. God raised the Lord and will raise us by His power. Don't you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should you take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Don't you know that he who unites with a prostitute is one with her in body? But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against their own body. Don't you know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Key Takeaways

• Competent to Judge: The church can handle its own disputes
• Former Life: Sin was your past, not your identity
• Body for the Lord: Physical life has spiritual significance
• Temple Indwelt: The Holy Spirit lives in your body

Reflection Questions

• Are you willing to be wronged rather than damage Christian witness by suing a believer?
• How does remembering "that is what some of you were" encourage you about transformation?
• How does knowing your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit affect your choices?