I Corinthians 6:1-8 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.
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?
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
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We are shown in above scripture not to go to worldly courts against another believer in Christ.
Paul said: why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
Jesus said: My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36
Our position should be the same. All that the people strive over pertaining to this world will be destroyed anyway in the days to come for all heaven and earth will pass away.
II Peter 3:10-14 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Rather than fight over this world and the possessions of our eyes, can we instead trust God to care for us as long as HE leaves us here on this earth? If we are defrauded, won't God repay us if we choose to turn from the wrong against us and trust God?
This is a far better way to go if we can have faith in God to go this way.
I Timothy 6:17-18 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
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The wisdom of this world is: "I want to have something to leave to my children." I've heard people fret over this more than once. This thinking can lead us wrongly.
Instead we need to do that which is righteous in the sight of God and trust God in everything pertaining to this life, knowing that HE only is wise. When God opens a door for us, we go through that door.
How do you know it was God opening the door?
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
When we follow these guides concerning God's wisdom, committing everything in prayer to God and waiting for God to establish our thoughts on the situation, all will work well for us and for everyone around us.
The examples of the Bible, especially the examples in the OT show us how all are blessed because of the presence of that righteous person. Consider Noah's family. And even the family of the prostitute Rahab was blessed by her action toward the men of God.
Therefore all will be blessed because of our godly, righteous choices.
Scripture shows us what to do:
II Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
By faith in God, follow the scriptures.
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I Corinthians 6:9-11 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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
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.
Choose to go in the way of God, set forth by the Holy scriptures, while living on this present earth.
This earthly life we are now in is very temporary.
All that matters here is: What does God want me to do?
The Bible shows us that. The scriptures are instruction in righteousness by faith in God through HIS Spirit.
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I Corinthians 6:12-14 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.
Expedient:
- advantageous
- beneficial, useful
- suitable for the purpose
- helpful to my goal in life
Many things trouble us needlessly, for example:
It is "lawful" for us to watch TV news but often such troubles me needlessly. Occasionally I will check the list of headlines on CNN on Internet. I rarely read any of the stories, not wanting to take on these issues. I know they would trouble me without purpose if I did read them.
Sometimes I will be reading a secular book and see they are about to enter a subject in which I do not care to participate. In such cases, I sometimes discard that book and hunt another pastime book, and in some cases I skip forward, passing the part of the book I do not want to take into my life.
Certainly we want do heed Paul's words: I will not be brought under the power of any.
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I Corinthians 6:13 Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
I know of no place in NT where fornication is approved. Rather we are told those who do these things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So if you are a Christian and committing fornication, you condemn yourself.
The church goes by Bible. We do not live as this world lives and if we try to do such, we bring God's judgment upon ourselves, for we have been enlightened by God. To turn from that enlightenment is very serious.
And if we are Christians, having been given God's Spirit as have all Christians, we must not be following other spirits, going in the way of evil, for there is scripture telling us that to sin willfully puts us into the vengeance of God, the Wrath of God.
Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know HIM that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
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I Corinthians 6:15-20 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.
What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh.
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
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?
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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One of the most important things to learn and to teach you children is this:
Concerning sexual intercourse: The two become one flesh.
You make that person "a part of you" which you can never escape except through death.
This is a very serious consideration.
I believe this is the power needed to keep one from fornication. If you really believe this, you will not be so quick to join others as they look about for sexual mates.
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While many of us are long past the age for fornication and that is not a problem for us, there are other works of the flesh which continue to try to rise up in us as long as we are left on this present earth and we deal with these when we see we are in danger of going a wrong way of our flesh.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness (defrauding another), lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
* variance: to vary: argue, debate
* emulations: to try to outdo another person
* wrath: ill will toward another: wanting to see a person get what "he deserves"
* strife
* envy
If we stay alert and see this coming upon us before it can rise up and do harm, then we have opportunity to stop this work of the flesh by turning to God and asking HIM for help, asking God not to allow us to do "that", asking God not to let me say "that". When I pray this way, God always answers my prayer and stops me from allowing my flesh to gain control over me.
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