Strange Temples Series

Chico Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“A Defeated Church” 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

Review

I. Reproof for fleshly behavior 1-6

A. Reproof for a divided church 1-4

1. Opening appeal for unity 1:10-17

• He encouraged them to unity

• He exposed their disunity

• He confronted their man-centeredness

2. The Biblical foundation for Unity 1:18-4:5

a) Focus on the priority of Christ and the cross 1:18-31

(1) Stop focusing on mere men with their limited power and wisdom

(2) God established Christ and the crucifixion as the focal point of the universe

(3) God deliberately uses the weak things of the world to keep the focus on Christ.

(4) If you are going to speak or boast or unify around someone, let it be Christ

b) Depend on the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit 2:1-3:4

(1) Paul preached in the power of the Holy spiritual growth

(2) The Holy Spirit enlightens believers to the truth

c) Faithfully serve as partners for the Kingdom of God 3:6-4:5

(1) All are servants of the same Master 3:5

So keep focused on your part.

(2) God alone generates growth

So make sure He gets the credit.

(3) All Play on the same team 3:8a

So focus on kingdom growth

(4) Each servant will be individually responsible and rewarded

3. Closing appeal for unity

B. Reproof for a defiled church 5

1. Paul concisely exposed the sin

a) Sin in the church - immorality

b) Sin of the church -- arrogance

2. Paul clearly explained a Biblical response to the sinner 3-5

a) Severely judged the erring member

Turned over to the to Satan for the destruction of the flesh in order to preserve the soul,

b) Soundly admonished the erring church to deal with the sin

(1) Removed the sinner from inside the church 6b-8

• An arrogant attitude is not good

• Unaddressed sin breeds more sin

• Deal with sin in order to demonstrate the righteousness of Christ

• Christ died to make us clean on the inside.

• Continually celebrate the Lord’s Supper with sincerity and truth not the old sins.

• Remove the sin from the church

(2) Disassociate with the sinner outside the church.

• You can’t avoid associating with unbelieving sinners

• We must disassociate with those who continually sin and still claim to be believers.

• We must judge those within the church NOT outside.

C. Reproof for a defeated church 6

1. Defeated by lawsuits before unbelievers 1-8

a) Principle #1 Don’t you know that we will judge the world, angels and the matters of this world?

b) Practice

(1) We dare not got to court before the unrighteous 1

(2) We should be able to judge these matters in the church 2-3

(3) The unrighteous are of no account in church matters 4

(4) It is a shame that no one in the church can arbitrate 5-6

(5) It is a defeat for believers to sue each other 7

(6) It is better to suffer wrong than sue 8

c) Principle 6:9-11

Don’t you know that the unrighteous have no part in the kingdom?

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

In the context Paul is not trying to make a statement about specific actions that keep you out of the kingdom. He is trying to make a point about the absolute folly of allowing the unrighteous to judge arbitrate the matters of the church. The unrighteous have no place in God’s kingdom. Paul amplifies the unrighteous in character by specifying the kind of character that characterizes the unrighteous. It Paul were teaching that committing any of the above infractions disqualified one from the kingdom, not one of us would be qualified.

In contrast to those who are stuck in a destructive pattern, saints have been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Christ and by the Spirit of God.

2. Defeated by improper behavior 5:12-20

a) Principles of freedom 12

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

It is not a question of legality or even right or wrong. It is a question of benefit.

It is a question of control. Two questions among seven we will encounter along the way that should be asked concerning any action or behavior.