1 Corinthians 6

1 Corinthians 6:1

Not only did the Corinthian believers have a problem with moral looseness, but they were filing meaningless lawsuits. According to Revelation 20 and other passages, as we reign and rule with Christ in the millennial kingdom, part of our job will be to govern and judge those who get saved during the Tribulation. You see, although we’ll be in a glorified state, Tribulation believers will still have fleshly inclinations. Therefore, we will be involved in the process of enforcing righteousness. Not only that, but according to the text before us, we will also judge angels. How? It is my personal opinion that we’ll say to the angels that rebelled with Lucifer, “How could you have rebelled against the Lord when you were in His presence daily? We were on earth. We didn’t see Him visibly. We couldn’t touch the things of heaven tangiblyyet we believed. Why didn’t you?” In light of this, Paul says to the church at Corinth, “You who will one day judge the world, you who will one day judge angels, how is it that you rely on the legal system of the world to judge yourselves? Even the person least esteemed in the church has more wisdom than the most highly esteemed of the world.

1 Corinthians 6:5

In addition to judging themselves, the Corinthian believers were to absorb the wrongs done to them, to turn the other cheek, to give up the cloak, to go the extra mile (Mat_5:39-41). Paul told the Corinthians that, rather than going through all the legal hassles to defend themselves judicially, the better way was to trust the Lord to solve the problem.

1 Corinthians 6:9

In verse 1Co_6:18, Paul will tell the Corinthian believers to flee fornication. Here, he gives them the first reason they should do so: Fornication jeopardizes one’s eternal state. Does this mean anyone who’s fallen into fornication or committed adultery is not going to make it into heaven? No, for the tense used in the original language would have made it clear to anyone reading this letter that Paul was speaking not of those who struggled with, or even failed in these areas, but of those who flagrantly and blatantly continued in them. On the basis of 1 John, some suggest that it’s not that those who continue in these sins lose their salvation, but that they were never truly born again in the first place. All I know is this: Whether a person loses his salvation or was never really saved, either way, he ends up in the same place. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes when he stands before the Lordfor no matter how often he came to church, or how big the Bible he carried, I can’t guarantee he will enter into heaven. The Bible makes it painfully clear that those who continue in these sins will not inherit the kingdom. The Greek word translated “effeminate” speaks of a passive role in homosexual behavior. The term “abusers of themselves with mankind” speaks of an active role. Either role places one’s eternal state in jeopardy.

1 Corinthians 6:10

Again, the tense in the original language indicates that Paul is saying that those who habitually practice these behaviors either were never saved or have greatly jeopardized their salvation.

1 Corinthians 6:12

Because he addresses the numerous problems of morality in the Corinthian congregation, one might think Paul led a restricted life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here, we see that, because he was not bound by rules and regulations of any kind, he was, in fact, the freest person on the face of the earth. It was for this reason that he refused to be in bondage to any person, activity, or substance that would compromise his liberty. The ethic we enjoy as believers is the largest ethic in the world today, for all things are lawful to you and me. Why would we want to do anything to compromise our glorious freedom?

1 Corinthians 6:13

The Corinthian culture held the position that the act of physical intimacy was nothing more than the satisfying of one’s physical appetiteno different than the need for food. Not so, said Paul. Physical intimacy involves the coming together not only of two bodies, but of two soulsthe very essence of one’s person, that which belongs to God.

1 Corinthians 6:14

Secondly, fornication not only jeopardizes one’s eternal state, but it agonizes our holy King. Paul says, “Don’t you understand that you’re bringing Jesus into that situation?” The concept is so shocking that Paul doesn’t even get into it very much except to say that if you’re in an immoral situation, you place Christ in that situation. God forbid.

1 Corinthians 6:18

Thirdly, fornication compromises one’s very being. Although the repercussions of every sin are serious, sexual sin is unique in that it’s the only sin against oneself. Solomon shed further light on this when he said, “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul” (Pro_6:32). Because we are made in the image of a triune God, we are comprised of three parts as well: body, soul, and spirit. The body relates to the physical world. The soul is one’s essence, one’s personality, and relates to people. The spirit relates to God and will live eternally. Thus, each time one engages in immoral activity, a part of his soul is permanently and irreplaceably forfeited. The tragedy, then, is that the one who continues to live in promiscuity becomes less and less of a person as a piece of his soul is stripped away with each encounter.

1 Corinthians 6:19

Whether it was Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. or Roman General Titus in A.D. 70, to destroy the effectiveness of Israel, her enemies burned the temple. So, too, what does the Enemy do to you? He comes time and time again to burn the temple of your body with lust in order that you might be burned-out and decommissioned from effective service. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.Rev_14:3-4 Used by the Lord, rewarded in eternity, the 144,000 evangelists in the Tribulation say, “We will follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” So, too, if you follow Jesus in a life of purity, God will bless you presently. He’ll reward you eternally. And you will never, ever regret fleeing fornication. I have yet to talk to one person who was glad he committed adultery, was happy he was into pornography, was proud that he was caught up with homosexuality. Never. And yet I have talked with a bunch of folks who said, “I would give anything if I could go back and live differently. I would flee that situation. I would resist that inclination. I would choose to follow the leading of the Lamb, for doing otherwise has destroyed, deceived, and undone me.” The Bible is profoundly simple when it says, “Flee fornication.” If you do, the Lord will be there to see you through. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.1Co_10:13 “Lie with me,” she said as she grabbed him by the coat. Who would ever know if he did? After all, having been mistreated by his family, he was far from his home country. But Joseph looked at Potiphar’s wife and said, “How can I sin against the Lord and do this thing?” as he slipped out of his coat and ran for his life (see Gen_39:7-12). “Flee fornication,” Paul says to the Corinthians. “Flee youthful lusts,” he says to Timothy, “and run to those who call on the Lord, seek after the Lord, walk with the Lord” (see 2Ti_2:22). In other words, run from sin to the saintsand you’ll do well.