Paul in the beginning of chapter 6 of 1Corinthians talks about those within the congregation as taking others to public court for trial. Lets see what a renewed mind-set sees about this.
1Corinthians 6:1-6 "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 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? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 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? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers." (KJV)
1Corinthians 6:1-6 "When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 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? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 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, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?" (ESV)
1Corinthians 6:1-6 "It alarms me that you even consider to have law-people decide on disputes within your fellowship, while these so-called "judges" have no clue of the basis of our righteousness in Christ. ( Now keep Paul's introduction in mind from 1Corinthians 1:2: I address this writing to the Ekklesia of GOD in Corinth. You have been restored to the harmony of your original design; made holy in Christ Jesus; no wonder then that you are surnamed Saints. His name relates us to one another in a global family. Look also at Revelation 14:10 and 1Corinthians 1:30) Having discovered how thoroughly GOD sanctified us in Christ (1Corinthians 1:30), we now represent the principle of righteous judgment wherewith the whole world is to be judged; how can we possibly shrink from deciding a trivial matter within our own ranks? If the judgment we are entrusted with extends even into the spiritual realm where we are to judge angles, how much more relevant is our judgment now in deciding on day-to-day matters! Since you are fully competent to judge such matters in the light of the gospel of grace, why bother to involve people who judge according to the standards of this world? I mean this is most embarrassing! Are you expecting more justice from the world than from your own family? Is there not even one wise person in your midst that is able to settle in-house disputes? Do you see how foolish it would be for Friends to sue one another and reduce justice to a system that is founded in unbelief. (A system based on the Law of works and personal performance and not faith in the finished work of the cross.) (The Mirror)
In our next post we shall look more and farther into this matter, the LORD willing. Until then may the LORD increase His divine faith within you as he also placed his faith in our Fathers faithfulness.
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