1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

Introductory Thoughts

The scriptural form of church judgment was fashioned according to the practice that will take place in the future. However, the role of judgment in the early church seems to be much more involved than generally practiced in churches today. The spiritual believers took their disputes with other believers to be judged by the church. Those believers who failed to follow this guideline were considered to be the carnal believers at Corinth. They were unwisely taking their disputes before unsaved judges. Paul rebuked these believers and explained in context their future role of judgment: believers would take part in judging the world (1 Corinthians 6:2). Additionally, believers will have a lofty responsibility of judging angels (1 Corinthians 6:3).

Devotional thoughts

  •  (For children):If you and a sibling had an argument, would you go to a next door neighbour whom you did not know to settle the matter? Of course not, you would go to dad or mom. The same is true with our church family. God wants us to settle any problems we have with someone at church within our church family, not by those outside the church.
  •  (For everyone):How could our judgment within a local body of believers actually work to preserve the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ? How could it insure biblical solutions to our disputes?
  •  In our day, people love to sue others over the smallest matters. What kind of impression does it give the world when believers take part in this type of behaviour?

Prayer Thoughts

  •  Ask God to help you learn to judge now.
  • Ask the Lord to help you obey Him in all matters of life.

 

SONG: TBD

 

Quotes from the next volume

(VOLUME 3, WEEK 24)

Subject: The Home

As the world seeks to further dilute the distinction between men and women, it becomes ever more important to stand firm upon God’s principles. God has a defined order in the home and the world’s opinions do not alter God’s precepts.

A godly home follows the scripture even when it contradicts the generally accepted teachings of the day.

A man that will not pray for the family God has given him is really no man at all.

A godly man will always intercede between his home and impending danger.