Daily Bread

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

You Were Justified

Date: Aug. 21, 2015

Passage

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Lawsuits Against Believers

6:1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or 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? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. 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.

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you. 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.

First, the saints will judge the world (1-6). When disputes arose among the brothers in Corinth they were quick to resolve the matter-by suing each other! They denied what God had made them in Christ. Christ died so that they could be made holy. More than that, he calls them to be at his side on the day of judgment-even those "of little account in the church." Instead of submitting to their reality as brothers in Christ, they submitted their disputes into the hands of unbelievers for judgment. It was truly a shame.

Second, why not rather be wronged? (7-11) When Christ was crucified he prayed from the cross, "Father, forgive them." He teaches us God's justice. He teaches us how to defeat the power of sin that always threatens to come between those in the church, and to live in union with our brothers in Christ. Sin had produced the fruit of corruption in them in the past, but now they were justified in the cross of Jesus. The brothers in the fellowship were not ones to sue; they are those for whom Christ died.

Prayer: Lord, teach me your justice daily. Help me to honor Christ and love my brothers in the gospel.

One Word: But you were justified

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

Today's Question

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