In this passage, the Apostle Paul addresses a problem that has existed in every generation of the church: believers quarrelling with one another before the world. Sadly, this is not only a first-century problem. People call themselves Christians yet publicly attack one another. Entire nations call themselves Christian yet wage war against each other. Members of the same church sit in the same service, sing the same hymns, and take the same communion — and yet sometimes they turn against each other, argue publicly, and even take their disputes to court.
There is hardly anything more destructive to the church’s witness than when believers openly quarrel before unbelievers. And the culture around us often encourages precisely this. We live in a time when disputes are very often resolved through the legal system. According to reports from the Australian Productivity Commission, Australian courts handle hundreds of thousands of civil disputes annually, including approximately 400,000 civil cases per year across all federal and state courts. For many people, if they feel they have been treated unfairly, the first reaction is: “I’ll take you to court.”
Courts themselves are not the problem. Governments establish courts to maintain justice and order in society. But the problem arises when Christians begin to treat fellow believers exactly the way the world treats its enemies. This is precisely the problem Paul addresses in this passage.
But in our time, there is yet another place where conflicts unfold publicly — the internet. Platforms such as Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram have become arenas where disputes and accusations happen before the entire world. Christians argue in the comments. Church members publicly criticise one another. Leaders attack other leaders. Sometimes church conflicts that should be resolved personally and within the church are brought online, where thousands of unbelievers watch.
In the first century, believers in Corinth brought their disputes to pagan courts before unbelievers. Today, conflicts often play out both in courts and online — both become public arenas where the world watches how Christians treat one another. And the result is often the same: unbelievers watch, read the comments, see Christians attacking each other — and conclude: “Christianity changes nothing.”
This is why this passage matters so much. Paul is not only speaking about lawsuits. He is speaking about the reputation of the Gospel before the world. Our text can be divided into three parts:
- The problem of Christian lawsuits (vv. 1–6)
- The attitude of a true Christian (vv. 7–8)
- The marks of genuine conversion (vv. 9–11)
I. The Problem of Christian Lawsuits
“When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?” (1 Cor. 6:1–6).
Paul begins with a shocking question: “Does he dare go to law before the unrighteous?” The word Paul uses for “go to law” was a technical legal term for filing a lawsuit. The situation was clear: Christians in Corinth were taking each other to court in public courts.
To understand the seriousness of the problem, we need to understand the culture of Corinth. Corinth was one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire — a major trade centre, a wealthy commercial city, full of travellers, merchants, and businessmen. But Corinth was also known for its competitiveness, pride, and pursuit of social prestige.
One commentator explains that lawsuits in Corinth were often a public spectacle, where large crowds gathered to watch the disputes. Trials were not the quiet legal proceedings we often imagine. They were public performances: people gathered to watch, arguments were made dramatically, and reputations were destroyed. For many wealthy citizens, lawsuits were a means of acquiring honour and prestige.
But the problem was even more serious. Roman courts often depended on wealth and social standing. The Roman philosopher Cicero once said: “The courts will never condemn a man if he has money.” Another ancient writer, Petronius, complained: “Where only money rules, the poor can never win.” Justice could often be bought.
Imagine two Christians from the same church coming to one of these pagan courts. They stand before unbelieving judges. They publicly accuse each other. They attack each other’s character. They expose the church’s internal conflicts. And unbelievers sit and watch.
This is why Paul says: “Does he dare do this?” The word “dare” conveys the sense of brazen, shocking audacity — “how could you even think of doing such a thing?”
Paul then reminds them of something astonishing: believers will one day judge the world and judge angels. If Christians will one day participate in God’s judgement over the universe, then they should certainly be able to resolve small disputes right now. But the Corinthians were doing the opposite. Instead of resolving problems within the church, they were humiliating the church before the world.
II. The Attitude of a True Christian
“To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud — even your own brothers!” (1 Cor. 6:7–8).
Paul goes even deeper. He says remarkable words: “To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you.” Paul is not merely criticising where they resolve their disputes. He is saying that the very existence of these lawsuits is already a spiritual defeat. Why? Because Christians are called to live by a different ethic — the ethic of God’s Kingdom.
Then Paul asks two astonishing questions: “Why not rather suffer wrong?” and “Why not rather be defrauded?” This is the complete opposite of worldly thinking. The world says: defend your rights, protect your reputation, prove that you are right. But Paul says something radically different: sometimes a Christian should be willing to bear loss and accept injustice.
Jesus taught the same thing. Paul is not inventing new teaching — he is applying the teaching of Christ. Jesus said: “And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” (Matt. 5:40). This is teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explained that the Sermon on the Mount describes the character of the citizens of God’s Kingdom. This is not for special “elite” Christians. This is the normal Christian life for citizens of the Kingdom of God.
But the Corinthians were doing the opposite. Paul says: “But you yourselves wrong and defraud — even your own brothers!” Instead of bearing injustice, they themselves were committing injustice.
Imagine two brothers in Christ who sit next to each other every Sunday. They pray together. They take communion together. But during the week, they go to court and accuse each other. The judge is an unbeliever. The lawyers are unbelievers. The spectators are unbelievers. And the church is publicly disgraced. What does this say about the Gospel? It tells the world: The Gospel does not change people.
III. The Marks of Genuine Conversion
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:9–11).
When we come to verse 9, Paul continues his argument. He writes: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” The word “or” connects this statement to everything said before. Paul is saying: your behaviour raises a serious question — do you truly belong to God’s Kingdom?
Then he warns: “Do not be deceived.” Some people thought they could call themselves Christians and yet continue to live exactly as the world lives, as the city’s culture dictated. Paul says: this is self-deception.
He then lists sins: sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexual practice, theft, greed, drunkenness, slander. Notice something interesting: many people focus only on the sexual sins in this list. But Paul also includes the greedy — covetous people driven by the desire for gain. The greedy person is placed right alongside the sexually immoral. Why? Because greed also reveals a heart that belongs to the world. The greedy person says: my rights, my money, my advantage. This was precisely the attitude behind the lawsuits in Corinth.
But then Paul utters one of the most beautiful statements in the New Testament: “And such were some of you.” Notice the word “were.” In the Corinthian church there were former adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, idolaters, and greedy people. But something happened. Paul says:
- But you were washed — your sins were cleansed.
- But you were sanctified — you were set apart for God.
- But you were justified — God declared you righteous.
True salvation changes a person. Christianity is not merely believing certain doctrines. It is a transformed life. Changed actions reveal a changed heart. A person cannot say, “My heart is right before God,” if they continue to live exactly as they did before their conversion. If a person continues to live in greed, injustice, deception, and harms fellow believers, then Paul says: “Do not be deceived.” Such a person needs to examine their heart.
Conclusion
Imagine a courtroom. Two believers are arguing. They are fighting over money. They accuse each other. But the real question is not who will win the case. The real question is something else entirely: “What does this say about Christ?”
When Christians quarrel just as the world does, the world concludes: “The Gospel changes nothing.” But when Christians forgive, are willing to suffer loss, and pursue peace — then the world sees something supernatural.
Paul’s message is simple. Christians must live differently. Instead of suing one another, instead of destroying their witness before the world, instead of demanding their rights — we are to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom.
Remember who you were. But also remember what Christ has done.
- But you were washed.
- But you were sanctified.
- But you were justified.
Therefore, live as people who belong to Christ.
Amen.