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1 Corinthians 6:7-11
The Apostle Paul pleads with those of the church at Corinth to stop doing wrong to one another to such a deep concern that he actually instructs them that it would be better for them to simply accept the wrong that is being done rather than to reach out to the secular world for guidance in these matters. He declares very similar words to the church at Corinth as he did with the church at Galatia as we noted in the previous lesson on 1 Corinthians 6:1-6. In 1 Corinthians6:7-11 it is as if Paul is so desperately seeking to find a way to reach the Corinthians so that they will realize and understand that they should not be against one another but for one another. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NKJV) Paul states, “9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” But thank God that he does not stop there as he adds in 1 Corinthians 6:11a, “And such were some of you”, which many of us were as well. But he leads the church at Corinth in the way of the Lord Jesus with a very important reminder, “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11b).
This is a command to leave our old life behind and seek the new life that God has called us to in Christ Jesus.
The Bible reaches out to us and pleads with us to learn from these lessons of the early Church. These people were some of the first generation Christians and had a lot to learn of what was expected through accepting the salvation that Jesus died to give us. But we have these lessons to lead us and help us to not make the same mistakes. Jesus gave a new commandment to those who first believed in Him, and it holds true for us today that we should follow and strive to be in our salvation in Christ Jesus. He declared in John 13:34-35 (NIV), “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Many people have held to the truth of “Jesus said it; I believe it; That settles it.” But we really do need to wrap our minds and hearts around this truth. If we are not striving to follow in the footsteps of Jesus as Christians, then what exactly are we claiming to be? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no other way (John 14:6).
Dear LORD,
Jesus taught us what You would have us to be. Jesus showed us what You would have us to be through His own example. And Jesus gives us the power to follow in His footsteps through the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit in our hearts, minds, and lives. Please help us to not be a reflection of the secular world but that others would see Jesus…in us. In Jesus name I pray, amen.