Scripture Reading : 1 Corinthians 6
Theme : Following the Old Ways
The Corinthians believers were so taken with human philosophy and insistent in doing what they wanted that they had allowed their old ways of thinking and acting to reinvade their lives, as seen in this passage.
- Old way #1: Lawsuits against one another (6:1-11). Paul’s grief and concern for the Corinthians believers who were bringing lawsuit against one another before unbelievers was not that believers will get an unfair hearing in the public courts, but that they had so little respect for the church’s authority and ability to settle its own disputes. In doing so, they had become more concerned with revenge and gain than with the unity of the Body and the glory of Jesus Christ. Hence, disputes between Christians must be settled by and among Christians. Besides, these Christians had already lost spiritually before the case is heard. Hence if a brother has wronged us in any way, it is better to lose financially and forgive him (cf. Matt. 18:21-22) in order to protect our relationship with our Lord and with our fellow believers.
- Old way #2: Sexual immorality (6:12-20). A Christian has freedom in Christ (cf. Gal. 5:1, 13; Rom. 8:21) and can commit no sin that is not already covered by God’s grace. Yet the Corinthians had perverted this truth to justify their sexual sins, that sex is just a biological function like eating, just as food was used to satisfy their appetites. Here, Paul shows the three evils of sexual sin: it is harmful to everyone involved; it gains control over those who indulge in it; and it perverts God’s purpose for the body. Therefore, Christians are to flee sexual immorality continually rather than rationalising it, and to use our body to bring honor to God, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Praying the Scripture
- When Jesus Christ returns to set up His millennial kingdom, believers from throughout all of history will be His coregents, sitting with Him on His throne (cf. Rev. 3:21, Dan. 7:22). Therefore, if we are to judge and rule over the world and over angels in the age to come, we are surely able, under the guidance of Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, to settle any matters of disagreements among ourselves today. As long as we are faithful to seek the counsel of God’s Word and Spirit, the poorest equipped believer is much more competent to settle disagreements between fellow believers than is the most highly trained and experienced unbelieving judge devoid of divine truth. Let us learn to settle our own disputes and give testimony of our resources, unity and harmony before the world.
- Sexual allurement is extremely enticing and powerful, promising pleasure and satisfaction. Yet there is no sin that has more destructiveness than sexual sin. God is not against sex. He created and blessed it when used exclusively within marriage as He intends. Therefore God looks on sexual immorality with extreme seriousness and severely judges all who commit it (cf. 1 Cor. 10:8, 2 Sam. 12:10-11, 14). Let pray that we will be sanctified by abstaining from sexual immorality and learn to possess our own body in sanctification and honor (1 Thess. 4:3-5).
经文：哥林多前书6
主题：跟从旧形式
哥林多信徒对人类哲学如此着迷，如此执意做他们想做的事，以致容许他们过去的行为思想再次占据了自己的生命。
- 旧形式（一）：彼此告状（6:1-11）。保罗对哥林多信徒在非信徒前诉讼彼此而产生的悲伤和关注，不是因为担心信徒会在公共法庭前得到不公正的审判，而是他们的举动藐视了教会解决自己纠纷的能力和权威。他们这么做，反倒加深了对彼此怨恨，更轻视教会的合一及耶稣基督的荣耀。因此，信徒之间的纠纷必须是在信徒之间，并由信徒解决。这些信徒已在审判前在灵性上输了官司。所以，若有弟兄错怪我们，我们宁可在钱财上受损，也要原谅他（参：太18:21-22），以保护我们与主及其他信徒的关系。
- 旧形式（二）：淫乱（6:12-20）。信徒在基督里有自由（参：加5:1,13；罗8:21）；一切罪愆都由神的恩典遮盖了。可是，哥林多人却歪曲了这真理以理顺他们的性罪，说性行为只是一个生物功能，好比吃饭时，食物是来填饱肚子一样。这里，保罗表明性罪的三种罪恶：它对凡参与的人都有害；它会掌控凡放纵于性的人；这不是神造身体的用途。所以，信徒当持续避开性罪，而不是尝试理顺它，并使用我们的身体荣耀神，因为那是圣灵的殿。
用经文祷告
- 当耶稣基督再来设立祂的千年国度时，历代的信徒都将同祂摄政，与祂同坐在祂的宝座上（参：启3:21，但7:22）。因此，我们将来若要审判与统治世界及天使，我们今日必能在圣经与圣灵的指引下解决彼此之间的纠纷。只要我们忠于寻求神话语及圣灵的教导，即便装备最差的信徒也能解决信徒之间的纠纷，且比没有真理但又是最专业、最有经验的法官更能胜任。让我们学习如何解决我们自己的纠纷，向世界见证我们的资源、合一及和谐。
- 性诱惑是非常有力及诱人的，让人错觉会有享乐及满足感。然而，无罪比淫行更有害的了。神不是反对性行为。祂造性，而当性仅在婚姻里存在时，即在神旨意内，神也为此赐下祝福。因此，神对淫行非常厌恶，且严厉审判凡犯淫乱的（参：林前10:8，撒下12:10-11,14）。让我们祷告我们会成为圣洁，远避淫行，学会怎样用圣洁、尊贵守着自己的身体（帖前4:3-5）。
