Paul is writing to a church that is very carnal in nature. They are born-again believers but still functioning in the old nature of the flesh. They are fighting about who should be their spiritual leader. The Corinthians are heavily involved with selfish pursuits. They are suing each other over trivial matters in secular courts. In the gospel of John, we read this kind of lifestyle is worldly and will be judged by God for its foundation is the carnal activity of the fleshly world. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17) Paul knows this self-willed behavior of the congregants has split the church. Rather than being in unity with their fellow brethren, they have chosen the waywardness of the flesh, consumed by self-interests, selfish pursuits, greediness, and jealousy. In their disputations with each other, they have dimmed the light of God in a nascent church of the Living God. They are emulating the world that is incessantly fighting and bickering, even going to battle over issues that should have been solved by other ways. In the environment of the institution of the church, the nature of Oneness IN CHRIST should be seen by the world. Christians know that Jesus the Son and the Father function as ONE, together in directions, goals or desires. In Jesus’ prayer about the disciples He says, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be ONE, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. (John 17: 20-21) Christians are people of faith in God’s goodness and love through their faith in Jesus Christ and his works; they are to be ONE IN CHRIST, hidden IN HIM, possessing the characteristic of the family of God. In the Corinthian church we see disputation over leadership, the condition of suing each other in secular courts, and open sin, such as incest. Rather than being the light of God, they are displaying much of the corruption and contamination of the flesh. Paul is fearful for them because God will judge a wayward church severely, for such a church brings shame on the message of salvation through Jesus’ name. Paul reminds them that at the end of time, they will even judge angels. Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! He wants to know, why are you letting the nonessentials of this present life break unity within the church? The things of this life should not be considered so important, for faith in Jesus gives eternal life to you now. You are presently living a life that will never cease! God has forgiven you of your sins. You are his children, so grow up and take hold of the eternal life God has given you.
Sadly, the heart is deceitful and betrays our reality of eternal life now. The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) The Corinthian church struggled with the understanding that they are new creatures who should be living for Christ and not for themselves. They were functioning as infants in this new life, needing milk rather than the meat of the gospel. They needed to be reminded of who they really are IN CHRIST. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13) As children of God and as members of the family of God, the responsibility of revealing God's goodness and love rested on them. Jesus said Christians are lights to the world. Therefore, Corinthian believers should display that light to the world, not obfuscate it under the darkness of fleshly living. They must remember the basic facts of being a Christian. Paul tells Timothy. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (2 Timothy 2:8-11) The Corinthians are free in Christ, but they also must die to the endeavors of the flesh. Without dying to the pursuits of the old life, they will not reign with Christ. Their new lives ought to be entrenched in Christ and his purposes. Paul says he endures everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Paul is now asking the Corinthians to forgo or endure the wrongdoing that has been perpetrated against them in this life. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? For the elect's sake move on in your life--do not ask for the justice you might deserve in the court of law. Jesus tells the crowd that it is best to solve your disputes between each other before you go to court. He is talking to the unredeemed, but He advises them to seek peace rather than perfect justice. “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” (Luke 12:57-59) In the Christian environment, Paul is advising the Corinthians who have eternal life, just allow the injustice to stand. Your eternal life is much more important than any victory you might win in a secular court .
Anger towards another Christian or even disputes with people in the secular world are very dangerous in the eyes of the Lord. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Mathew 5:21-22) As with murder, uncontrollable anger is subject to judgment. God does not allow that kind of behavior to go unnoticed in the annals of your life. In the court system of the world, it is dangerous to display uncontrolled anger: judgment will fall on such words. To say Raca to someone, (empty-headed, vain or worthless) will reap correction or judgment from the courts of justice. Anger carries judgment with it. To say someone is a fool is a statement that can bring the fire of hell upon you. Paul is telling the Corinthian church that anger, disputation, conflict, quarreling are not something that should be found in the church of the living God. These kinds of behaviors display the works of the flesh. They do not indicate the presence of the Spirit; they reveal clearly the infiltration of the fleshly nature in the born-again believer. Such behavior will be judged. Since Paul is the founder of the Corinthian church, he wants them to be aware of their betrayal of God’s nature. If they continue in their fleshly ways, his work with them will be of no avail. His fear is that they will fall under the devil’s persuasive ways completely, living only under the influence of their flesh. Rather than battle others in the church, they should be sensitive to making things right with the loved ones of God. Jesus tells us how sensitive Christians should feel towards others who believe that we have done something wrong to them. He tells people not to offer gifts to God before they make things right with other people who believe they have been wronged. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. (Mathew 5:23-24) Paul realizes the Corinthian divisions even affect the church in their communion services. They are unaware that their disunity causes them to dishonor the body of Christ when they participate in taking the sacraments together as Christ’s body. Their lack of discerning the wholeness of the body of Christ is detrimental to the health of the church. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) Our breakfast companions open your hearts and minds to the necessity of being One in Christ. Be open to seeking unity before you seek God in these circumstances. Jesus said, BEFORE YOU SERVE GOD WITH A GIFT, FIND YOUR BROTHER WHO BELIEVES YOU HAVE WRONGED HIM AND MAKE IT RIGHT. Then you are discerning the body of Christ correctly. Often people fight each other by using the Bible against other believers or a special revelation they have had from God. But God says, a true believer will first go to the person who feels he or she has been hurt by the person's words or stance and make it right. Jesus says, make it right with the person whom you are in conflict with. The world is full of conflicts, battles, wars. This is the darkness of the world; we should not engage in this kind of behavior. Instead we should seek peace, kindness, gentleness, love, and grace. We should be LIGHTS in a very dark world. We know you will seek to shine brightly, for you are children of the living God WHO POSSESS THE NATURE OF GOD’S GOODNESS AND MERCY.
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