1 Corinthians 6
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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.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
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Commentary
When through the lenses of the love of Jesus we witness our brother considering a damaging choice, it is our duty as saints to lovingly offer our guidance. God has declared that the unjustified do not have the same caliber of discernment which we have been gifted, and therefore the burden of judgement (i.e. to carefully guide someone to truth) falls with us.
The instructions are clear:
1.Do not take disagreements between brothers and sisters to a counsel of unbelievers.
2.We must care for our bodies in such a way that they will not be polluted.
We all must aspire to the perfected character of God, though the promise given for this battle with self is great! God has promised that what we desire and earnestly ask for in His name, He will deliver (Matthew 7:7)! So do not be afraid to ask for the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Then lay all temptation at the feet of Jesus and He will liberate you to lead others to the same light.
But remember, the log in our own eye may require rebuke in the same measure in which we rebuke another’s speck (Matthew 7:5).
Jeannie Thomas
Preschool Teacher, Hermiston Adventist School, Oregon USA
