Judgement+mercy=discernment Series

Judgment + Mercy = Discernment

1 Corinthians Series

August 31st, 2025 CCCAG

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1–11 (CSB)

Introduction: Misunderstanding Judgment

If I asked you what the most quoted bible verse in America is-

What do you think would be the answer?

Some might say John 3:16: “For God so loved the world…” But I don’t think that’s true. I think the verse most people know—and ALMOST ALWAYS take out of context—is Matthew 7:1: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

This is especially true if you’ve ever tried to talk with someone about the bible. Sooner or later, you touch on a subject that brings conviction of sin, or touches a sensitive part of their lives and the immediate response is; “Don’t judge me! The Bible says not to judge!”

Would you agree with that?

But here’s the problem: when the world hears the word “judge,” they think only of condemnation. They think of a gavel slamming down, a cold face behind a bench saying, “Guilty!”

But when Scripture talks about judgment, it means something richer and deeper. It means to weigh something.

It means to separate truth from lies, to identify what is righteous and what is sinful.

That is the crux of what we are going to be studying today, how to judge like God judges, not only with the letter of the law, but also with mercy.

With that in mind, Let’s open together to 1 Corinthians 6:1–11.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:1–11 (CSB)

If any of you has a dispute against another, how dare you take it to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the trivial cases?

3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels—how much more matters of this life?

4 So if you have such matters, do you appoint as your judges those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between fellow believers? 6 Instead, brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers!

7 As it is, to have legal disputes against one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves do wrong and cheat—and you do this to brothers and sisters! 9 Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males,, 10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 And some of you used to be like this. 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.

PRAYER

My goal today with this message is that I want us today to see what God has to say about using judgment, because the world today seems to tell us that we are not to judge any behavior or action.

But that isn’t biblical, it isn’t even practical for a civilized society never to judge wrongdoing.

In fact, think about this for a moment- the less a culture judges what is right and wrong, the more uncivilized the behavior becomes.

Think about what happens when we go soft on crime. What happens?

More crime, in even greater degrees.

That’s human nature.

This is why it’s very important for us to be able to judge right from wrong.

Now in the church, we have the bible to show us what is right and what is wrong.

That bible shows by defining what is right is if it is a reflection of God’s nature and character.

Conversely, we can define what is wrong as something that does not reflect God’s nature and character.

That helps us not only judge with the letter of the law, but the reason behind that law.

So how do we see the law in action? How do we apply it to judging what is right and what is wrong?

The first step is to realize that-

I. Law Is Law — God Sets the Standard

Here’s the principle: righteousness demands that law breakers be dealt with appropriately. God doesn’t wink at sin. He doesn’t excuse it. He is holy, and His law reflects His holiness.

- If someone steals, it’s sin.

- If someone lies, it’s sin.

- If someone commits sexual immorality, it’s sin.

And the law demands a consequence for its violation.

The consequences or wages of sin is death. That’s God’s Law.

It is irrefutable, immovable, and will always be applied to every situation.