Living as God’s People

Date: 15 June 2025, 9.30 am

Speaker: Ps Daniel Tan Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

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TRANSCRIPT

Introduction

In the 1960s and into the 1970s, the BP denomination was observed to be one of the fastest growing denominations in Singapore.

We were I supposed, the equivalent of ARPC 25 years ago and the Crossing Church and Redemption Hill church in the last 15 years.

In 2008, when I was in my first year as a seminary student at Trinity, I stood out for being the only one from a BP church. And my BP heritage became even more noticed when a painful and public conflict arose across our BP community.

The trustees of Life Bible-Presbyterian Church initiated a lawsuit against Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC), seeking to evict the college from its premises at Gilstead Road.

This legal battle escalated and became known in Singapore’s courts and Christian circles.

While the legal and theological complexities were significant, what disturbed many believers was this: Christian brothers were suing one another before secular judges, and the name of Christ was publicly shamed.

If the BP denomination was unknown at Trinity before that, this news, brought it to the forefront. Not only did my fellow students asked for my comments about it, even lecturers did.

Now, I’m sure that Life church and FEBC did try to meet to resolve their differences and it was only at a final resort that they felt compelled to go to the legal courts.

Because I don’t know enough of the case to comment, I cannot say whether they should or should not have gone to the law courts.

But to me, what it has shown is that going to the legal courts has a spiritual impact on our witness before a sceptical world.

Paul confronted a similar situation in Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 6, he calls the church to remember who they are in Christ. When believers take their disputes before unbelievers, they forget their gospel identity and undermine the church’s witness.

This blemish in our BP history proves the relevance of 1 Cor 6 even in the 21st Century.

We believers need to constantly remind ourselves, we need to be living as God’s people so that we can be His witnesses to a dying world.

Context of 1 Cor 6

As we all know, Paul was addressing the issue of divisiveness in the first 4 chapters of 1 Cor. Then last Sunday, in 1 Cor 5, he addresses sexual immorality. And he will go back to speak about it in the 2nd half of 1 Cor 6.

This will then logically transit for Paul to then speak about marriage in 1 Cor 7.

So it might seem a bit odd for him in 1 Cor 6:1-11 to speak about lawsuits.

One bible commentator has observed, his shift to address lawsuits is because Paul wants to highlight the irony, the contrast of the Corinthian’s action in 1 Cor 5.

In 1 Cor 5, they are refusing to take the necessary action to separate, to purge the sexual immoral person from the faith community.

In contrast, Paul says, in 1 Cor 6, they seem too trigger happy.

Ironically, they seem to be rushing to take the unnecessary legal action to take each other to task for their disagreements and to bring each other to the legal courts.

On one hand, they don’t seem to care about church discipline for a publicly known sinful behaviour, yet on the other hand, they are so eager to sue a fellow believer.

In understanding the world of the Corinthian society, the following has been noted:

“In deciding to sue, one first had to calculate the cost and chances of winning, not the basis of the merits of the case, but on the defendant’s social status and powerful connections. People in the ancient world contended for honour in the law courts. And one gained honour by beating down a rival. The pursuit of litigation often had little to do with the pursuit of justice.”

So in the Corinthian society, they were not interested in justice, they were interested in personal advancement in society at the expense of others who stood in their way.

By using the phase, ‘are you incompetent to try trivial cases’ (v2), Paul implies that it’s the little and not so significant stuff that they are bringing to the courts.

In v7, he uses the word ‘defraud’ twice. According to commentators, this is typically used in relation to money or property.

1 Cor 6:7 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!

Jas 5:4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

In James 5, the same word is used, the rich are admonished, you are defrauding your workers by withholding their wages.

We get the sense that since it’s about money or property, it is not significant enough for the law courts. Yet it looks like the rich and powerful are using this as an excuse the gain over their fellow believers.

I submit that Paul here is not saying Christians cannot appeal to the law of the courts at all. In criminal cases, in abuse, in embezzlement, these would justify the need for the law courts.

Rom 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Paul says in Rom 13 that the governing authority is God’s servant, ordained by Him for our good.

Paul himself appealed to his legal rights as a Roman citizen so that he could get access to the courts of justice for recourse and redress. We see that in Acts 22:25-27 and Acts 25:11.

So we should not think that Paul is rejecting the proper use of the law courts when necessary.

No what he is doing here in 1 Cor 6 is challenging the misuse of it for selfish and spiteful ends.

The Corinthian society was generally using it to get a competitive advantage over one another and always at the expense of the weaker sibling in Christ.

But as God’s people, believers are to live differently. We are to forgive as we have been forgiven. We are to love as we have been loved. We are to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.

Throughout 1 Cor 6, Paul seems very keen to remind them that they are forgetting how to live as God’s people.

We see that in the repeat phase ‘Do you not know’.  It is repeated 6 times in this chapter. We see it in v2, v3, v9, v15, v16, v19.

This is a rhetorical question. It does not require an answer, for the answer is clear, you don’t know.

Paul is admonishing them, you think you are so wise, yet you are so foolish for you are forgetting how you should live.

Maybe this is a reminder and a warning also for us today.

Living as God’s people means forfeiting your entitlement and being gracious (v1-8)

Paul begins with a strong rebuke in verse 1: “does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?” 

The word “dare” expresses shock and indignation.

Paul views their behaviour as incredulous because taking internal disputes to civil courts betrays a failure to understand the radically new social and spiritual reality that believers now live in.

Litigation was very much a part of life in Corinth. It was a form of challenge between people and to some extent entertainment for the society at large.

Now for the Jews, for centuries, all their disputes have been settled either privately or in a synagogue.

They did not take it to the pagan court for if they did, it would imply that God, through his own people using his own scriptural principles was not competent to solve every problem.

To the Jews it was considered a form of blasphemy to go to the pagan courts.

Under Roman law, the Jews could administer their own justice and punishment but not the death sentence. That was reserved for the Roman courts.

Christians, at that time were considered a Jewish sect so they had the same judicial privileges.

Under this context, we see why Paul was so saddened that litigation was going on. The Corinthian Christians had brought their pre-believing pagan ways into the church.  

Paul then reminds the Corinthians of their future destiny: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?... Do you not know that we are to judge angels?” (vv. 2–3).

So in response to what he sees them doing, he says, do you not know your status as believers in God’s kingdom?

Do you not know that you are meant for greater things? Do you not know that when Christ comes again, you will sit with him and judge the world?

The background of this truth is found in Jesus addressing his 12 disciples:

Mt 19:28 “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And it is emphasized again by Jesus in Revelations.

Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

The implication is clear: if the church is destined to judge in the age to come, she is surely competent to resolve present disputes.

Paul then challenges their boasting in wisdom by sarcastically asking in verse 5, “Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers?” 

This seems a directed response against their self-perceived intellectual and spiritual elitism. O you think you are wise, then how come you can’t find one truly wise person to mediate?

In ironic contrast, Paul says, to the watching world, v6 happens - “brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers” 

To Paul such actions are a scandalous betrayal of the gospel community.

Remember 1 Cor 1:7, Paul tells them, you have been given every spiritual gift. You lack nothing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you not know then that you and I are competent to judge our fellow believers?

As fellow Hermonites/ Horebians, are we confident enough in God’s Word that we have sufficient wisdom within our midst to mediate between believers?

When we have grievances, we don’t just walk away, leave for another church or stop coming to church.

Instead, we seek out mediation from the leaders or wiser members of the church.

Church, we will exhibit belief in God’s Word when we willingly bring our grievances to the church community to mediate and willingly also to submit to their counsel.

What we see more of this happening, I submit that it will be a sign of growing spiritual maturity in our faith community.

What’s the Singaporean thing to do when we see a dispute? We usually try to look the other way right? Don’t know then no need to get involved.

What do you think 1 Cor 6 speaks about our spiritual responsibility in all this?

If believers are to find mediation within the faith community, then are we not irresponsible when we don’t provide it?

We all know that it is difficult, it’s also going to be time consuming and it will affect us emotionally as well.

But we are the body of Christ, do we not want to love them by making the effort to help? Are we not called to the ministry of reconciliation?

Here’s where those of us who are more matured believers, need to step up. Don’t stand back passively.

Instead see yourself as a spiritual peacemaker and a model of humility in conflict.

Paul goes on to say, bringing fellow believers to court for trivial things is a defeat in victory. You win the battle but lose the war.

V7 tells us in the eyes of God, even if a believer wins the lawsuit in court, he has already lost because he has undermined the unity and witness of Christ’s body.

So Paul says, the believer is a radical human being. Imitate Christ instead. “Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” 

Apostle Paul presents this radical response not as weakness but as Gospel living. This instead is a mark of spiritual maturity, for it reflects Christ and the Cross.  

Because the Gospel witness is at stake, would we consider yielding to the Spirit’s power to not insist on our rights, to not fight back?

Scripture’s appeal to us this morning is don’t behave like the world, instead live out Romans 13:

Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Living as God’s people means actualizing our given Identity in Christ (vv. 9–11)

Paul begins in v1 identifying them as ‘saints’. This is who they are in Christ.

Now in these few verses, he reminds them of what is at stake. Your eternity is at stake.

The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Check yourselves, are you living like the unrighteous or are you living like saints?

A story was told of a missionary who was evangelizing in an Indian city. The missionary was speaking with a university student about Christ.

The missionary got to know from the student that he had heard a bit about the Gospel and so the missionary built on what the student knew and was able to give the student a comprehensive Gospel presentation.

At the end, the missionary asked the question – would you like to believe in Christ?

To that the student replied, what you have told me about Christ is really great. I would like to believe in Christ but I have never seen a Christian who is like Christ. How do I know that this transformative power of your Christ is real?

1 Cor 6:9 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.

So we are strongly warned, do not be deceived. Do not think that you can be in and of the world and still inherit God’s Kingdom.

The list Paul provides is not a random list. No, v11 tells us that this was what some of them were.

It is also significant to note that Paul does not just name the sin - adultery, but names the sinner – adulterers.

Meaning, people whose identity is such. Meaning its those who continue to live as such and do not think it is a sin.

Last week, Ps Luwin spoke about being greedy. A sin of covetousness which is very prevalent in consumeristic Singapore.

In the context of today’s text, I submit that for those Paul had in mind, he would classify them as thieves, greedy and swindlers.

Do not be deceived. This is a warning for us too in 21st Century.

Have our 21st century sensibilities dulled our spiritual senses towards what is wrong in God’s sight?

The Corinthian believers were acting like their pre-believing days. They didn’t seem bothered. Would we today also justify that such sinners are okay as well?

That I can be a gay Christian, that I can be a drunk Christian, that I can be a greedy Christian?

I think not right.

In 1876, a vine called the Kudzu made its American debut in Philadelphia. It was a vine that could grow a meter a day. At that time, it was promoted as a plant that could grow anywhere and make the countryside more beautiful.  

Some also embraced it as a tool against soil erosion.

Soon however, they realized that not only did it cover the ground, it started to cover everything such as signs and telephone poles.

50 years later, they were beginning to regret that they had ever introduced it. They were now investing millions in people to get rid of it and scientist to kill it.

Fellow believers, the sins listed in v9-10 is a bit like this kudzu plant. It starts off promising to fill a need, but then grows wild until it becomes damaging. And it will then be very hard to eradicate.

But here is the Good News. V11 is sweet words to hear, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Chrit and by the Spirit of our God.

Our Triune God, Father, Son and Spirit is involved in our transformation. Our Triune God has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into God’s Kingdom of light.

By the blood of Jesus, we have been washed. We have been cleaned. Ours sins have been washed away, we have new life in Christ.

Because of Christ, we have been Sanctified. We have been made holy inwardly and are now able by the power of the Holy Spirit to live as God’s people. Sin’s domination over us has been broken. We have the ability now to walk in holiness.

Finally, in Christ, we have been justified. We now have a right standing before God. In God’s eyes, we stand not condemned, but we are righteousness, we are saints.

The whole of v11 is in the past tense. It has already happened.

When we put our faith in Christ, God gives us a new identify, a new heart and we become a new creation.

Our old life, the life of the world is past. We are now in Christ, we are now saints.

Therefore, actualize what you truly are in Christ Jesus. As a believer, don’t live like a hypocrite, live authentically as a Christ-follower.

If you are not yet a believer today, whatever you feel is your identify today, nothing will prevent you from coming into God’s presence to accept His Son Jesus Christ.

The Corinthians were where you are, yet, by God’s grace they have crossed over when they put their faith in Jesus.

When you put your faith in Jesus, the Gospel promise is that you are washed, you are sanctified and you are justified.

If you are a believer today, it is both a warning and an encouragement.

It is a warning if we find ourselves identifying with what is happening to the Corinthians.

May it enable us to pause and reflect. Maybe godly counsel should be sought. Maybe there is a more godly way of resolving our disputes.

It is also an encouragement, God has given the Christian community, empowered it with all spiritual gifts so that we can settle disputes amongst ourselves.

You and I, when needed, when we help mediate and solve disputes, we are helping to give a good Gospel witness to a dying world.

Conclusion

Fellow Brothers and sisters in Christ, think of Jesus.

He had every right to condemn us—and yet He bore our condemnation. He did not stand up for His rights before Pilate or the Sanhedrin. He laid them down for our salvation.

And by His blood, we are washed. By His Spirit, we are sanctified. By His name, we are justified.

If this is who we are in Christ, let us not allow our disputes to divide what Christ has united by His blood.

Let us determined instead to live as God’s people, forfeiting our entitlement and being gracious to one another.

Let us determined to live instead as God’s people, not living like the world, but actualizing our given identity in Christ.

May we resolve our differences in love, in the church, with Gospel humility.

Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Take time to reflect on Romans 13:8-10 and allow the Holy Spirit to speak into the disputes you are observing around you.

2. How might we be tempted to seek advice or resolution beyond the church and what are the dangers of doing so?

3. How might this passage challenge our approach towards resolving disputes between one another in church? How might putting on “the mind of Christ” be helpful in such situations?