1 Corinthians 6:1-11

1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord's people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord's people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 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.


Questions to consider:

• What in the Corinthians’ legal practices upsets Paul?
• What reasons does Paul give to confirm the principles he suggests?
• What attitude does Paul commend to the aggrieved party?
• What determines whether a person will inherit the kingdom of God?
• Explain how you have been washed, sanctified and justified. How are these happenings obvious in your life today?

Possibilities for prayer:

Paul’s mention of being washed, sanctified, and justified is encouraging to me. We all have dark places in our lives, places of sin. But fortunately, we have the gifts of grace and forgiveness from Jesus, which means that those dark places, the bad things that have a hold on our lives, can be broken and given over to God. Today, let’s confess to God those broken places within us, and ask for healing and restoration. Let’s also take some time to thank God for the blessings that grace and forgiveness are, especially when we are so often unworthy of either.