Dealing with Conflict

Paul Allen

Godly Living in the World Today: A Study in 1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

1 Corinthians 6:1–11

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Legal Disputes

1 Corinthians 6:1–8 (NIV)

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? 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? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 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? I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!

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? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.

Our position in Christ is that we have been made coheirs with Christ. We have been exalted to a position that is far above our pay grade. We have been placed positionally alongside Christ.

We have been instilled with the Holy Spirit, God Himself, our guide and our comforter. We have been instilled with the perfect judge, God Himself.

The world judges in accordance with cost/benefit analysis. The Lord judges in accordance with unity and reconciliation.

The world is full of unbelievers who are limited by their own wisdom, finite to the moment.

When we turn to the world to make decisions concerning our conflicts, we are already defeated because we have turned our back on God. Who is God that He can even settle our petty disputes? This is what we proclaim to the world. And we proclaim it to our heart.

We settle for lesser things. We settle for earthly justice. Do we not know that we have already been justified before the Lord?

The church has to be different. Our hearts should be for reconciliation at all cost, even death on a cross.

Luke 6:29 (NIV)

If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

We Are Not Who We Once Were

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (NIV)

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 men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.

Paul moves us to see the brokenness in earthly justice. Take note of those included on the list. These are ones who have given themselves over to the pursuit of the world.

Are we given over to the rulings of the world? No, we have been transformed. We have been washed clean, sanctified and justified in Christ. There is no justice in the world that holds value because we are in Christ and citizens of heaven.