Chapter 2 God Disciplines us By Showing us What We Have in Christ
God's Discipline and the Riches of Christ
As demonstrated especially in 1 Corinthians, we see the way God disciplines is by showing us what we have in Christ. Paul's letter to the church in Corinth is the example of how Paul, in Christ, rebukes carnal believers by reminding them who they are in Christ. In every case where Paul reveals or deals with a problem in this church, he deals with it by pointing them back to who they are in Christ. He points them to a positional truth.
Discipline is based on positional truth as is everything else in the Christian life. What is positional truth? It is truth regarding your position before God because of what Christ has done for you. Unbelievers have no place in positional truth. They do not have a position before God. Believers in Christ, who have the testimony of Jesus Christ and are born of God, have a position before God because of the blood of Jesus Christ. The believer's position is secure no matter what they do.
This concept causes problems for people who do not understand it, but it is the truth. The blood of Jesus Christ is the only way to deal with discipline from God. When He disciplines you and you discover you are in a mess because you have sowed to the flesh and are now reaping corruption from the flesh, and your whole life seems to be a bunch of consequences, do you know how to stay in the fellowship with the Lord? Do you know how to hide in the Lord and enjoy the Lord in the midst of your consequences? Or do you assume He has abandoned you and is "done with you"? Except in a limited set of situations, until you have the assurance concerning your position before God, you will be "useless" to God, because He cannot touch you. When we get grounded in our assurance, we learn to appreciate His discipline. Although we didn't enjoy it while we went through it, when we look at it with perspective, we realize it's the signature of His loving care.
In 1 Corinthians, we will see that some of the best, richest truths in the scriptures about our position in Christ and what we have in Him are in presented in the context of rebukes and disciplines! You must go through things in your life and be disciplined by the Lord to have a rich understanding of truth. It is in the context of these various situations that God exposes the flesh and you begin to judge it for what it is. At the same time, the flesh is being judged outwardly, but God is renewing inwardly (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Rejoicing While Living in the Consequences of Sin
King David's story is so liberating. He was able to live in the consequences God had decreed for his sin while still rejoicing in the Lord. This is the mature believer who can learn and be touched by the Lord and even used by the Lord to comfort people of every kind.
Until you hit the point where you see this, you will be under condemnation in your Christian life. You'll think, "I'm not even worthy to be called a Christian. My life seems to be a mess because of what I did." But seeing that the blood of Jesus is your only answer and refuge, your position before God has not been touched, and that you can have fellowship with God and He even implores you to be reconciled to Him, you will understand that He takes the consequences and turns them to your good. He works everything into an even more beautiful story.
David's story is even more beautiful because of what God did in his life even in the consequences. It becomes rich because we witness God working all things together for good. He works everything after the counsel of His own will to bring us into the enjoyment of what He has predestined for us, which is our inheritance (Ephesians 1:11). We are heirs of God to enjoy the riches of Christ as our supply, totally independent of ourselves.
Once you get to a point where you can accept the consequences and stay in fellowship with the Lord, what can anyone do to you? What can even do to yourself? You are still going to stand before the Lord. This is crucial to see. This is the only way to grow.
There are many believers who seem to never have been touched by the Lord and it is all theoretical. They are real believers, but they are not touched by the Lord and their appetite has been killed because they don't know how to deal with sin in their life through the blood of Jesus.
These believers attempt to come to God based their efforts to "fix" their situation, and not based on the blood. There are things in your life you are unable to fix. You will have to rest in the Lord and let Him deal with it. Yet, you have the right, as an heir of God, to enjoy Christ even in that situation. Believe it or not, you can have joy in the midst of your consequences!
Agreeing With God's Judgment of the Flesh
God desires to bring you to a place where you agree with His judgment on the flesh. "I am condemned, and yet I've been forgiven. Yes, I'm set free and I have Christ and I am an heir." This is critical because otherwise you think, "I lost my salvation and He can't even use me." He does not want to hear that! What He wants to hear is, "Thank you, Lord, for the blood! Thank you, Lord, that you have redeemed me! Thank you that I can come to you!"
Someone who remains encumbered by sin typically does not know how to come to God. When you come to the Lord in faith in the blood, you are washed...your feet are washed. Your body has already been washed and you are clean because you are regenerated, but your feet need to be washed (John 15:3). Most people just walk in the mud because they don't know how to come to the Lord. Coming to the Lord takes a bold faith that believes He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
"""Even though I was a sinner, He died for me. He commended His love for me in that while I was a sinner, Christ died for me (Romans 5:8). While I was weak, Christ died for me. While I was His enemy, He reconciled me to Himself (Romans 5:10). How much more shall I be saved from wrath through Him? God has sworn to never be angry with me (Isaiah 54:9) and yet He disciplines me to train me to partake of Christ in every situation." Sin begins to lose its power when condemnation and fear is rolled off (Romans 6:14).
The legalist does not understand these things. Why don't we talk more about consequences for sin? It's because the audience to which we are speaking needs condemnation rolled off them, because condemnation is the strength of sin (1 Corinthians 15:56). The law is the strength of sin. The legalist has not been touched by God. All the legalist has is a bunch of rules they try to keep, but they do not see their hypocrisy. The legalist makes videos about us, plagiarizing...reading an entire document written by someone else as if his own and take credit for it, while rebuking us for our supposed sins. Their conscience does not seem to touch them at all. They launch vicious personal attacks on people and air your news all over the world because they have no conscience. Yet, they think they are righteous. That is not how to live, but the reason they live this way is because they do not know the discipline of the Lord. They do not have the Spirit working on their conscience. All they have is the letter of the law which kills.
Pointing to Position While Addressing Sin
Let's look at a few examples in 1 Corinthians to see how Paul uses the Gospel to assure them of their position before God while rebuking their behavior. Assurance of your position before God is the way God deals with our sin. It is to give us a vision of who we are in Christ so that we will run to Him and let Him deal with everything.
We cannot deal with our sin. All we can do is judge it. We do not have the power to clean it up. But as we judge it, we come into the light we have Christ as living water to wash us. This is the power to strengthen us in our walk, so that the righteousness of the law can be fulfilled in us. This happens not as we try to "deal with it" in the flesh, but as we walk according to the spirit by setting our mind on the things of the Spirit. This is to behold and agree with Bible truth about who we are in Christ and believe it.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses some major issues. He tells the Corinthians they are carnal and divisive. He tells them they operate in natural wisdom, remaining babes in Christ, not growing properly, and he cannot talk to them about spiritual things. He deals with fornication in their midst, contentions and strife, lawsuits and going after each other in the courts, eating things sacrificed to idols, turning the Lord's table into a time of gluttony, and heretics denying the resurrection. Their situation is deeply concerning and yet, when he begins his letter, he states:
1 Corinthians 1:2-9 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (3) Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; (5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; (6) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: (7) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (8) Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Despite bad behavior and problems, Paul's address to the Corinthians is strong and complimentary according to the status they have before God, which is the reality of who they are in Christ. They are called saints. They are designated saints of God because they have been sanctified. When you read this, you would think he was talking to Philippi or Ephesus.
What is Paul doing? How can he say these things? Because they are true! When you speak to a brother in Christ who you know is regenerated, you must speak to them based on what you know about the faith. This is what it means to walk in love. It is to recognize the things true of a believer in Christ based on the Word and to apply this revelation to believers in Christ. These are believers in Christ, not people in the world. They are not unsaved. As a result, Paul speaks to them quite differently.
He tells them who they are in Christ, first and foremost, and thanks God for them. He says they will be blameless in the day of Jesus Christ. How can he say this to the guy participating in sexual immorality with his father's wife? It is the same reason he can say, "I delivered him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that his spirit may be saved in the day of Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 5:5). Because we are saved, we are going to be spotless before Him.
Paul knows everything will be greatly messed up because of this guy's flesh, so he is going to "Send him home." Why? Because it is a salvation to him. Paul's concern is for the salvation of the saints. He knows that for us to be in the presence of the Lord, is for us to be in our destiny with our bridegroom who loves us. It will be a time of rejoicing.
Looking Forward to the Lord's Coming
Many people are afraid for the Lord to come because they think He has a whipping post where they will be beaten mercilessly when He comes. You want to know why so many Christians are afraid to talk about the Lord's coming? It's not because they are "worldly", it's because they don't know how to deal with their sin and they think when they see Him, He's going to be angry with them. They do not see it's a salvation.
Hebrews tells us that when He comes again, it is "without reference to sin" unto "salvation" to those who look for Him. This is the Church. His coming will be a salvation and His reward is "with Him". His reward is not condemnation, it is praise.
Some will have limited praise because they were not able to overcome, through faith, to have confidence before the Lord. They did not learn that He is for them, no matter what. This is really what it comes down to. Overcoming in the race we are running has to do with setting aside the sin that so easily encumbers us, looking to Jesus and running toward Him. We run toward Him, not away from Him.
Addressing Division and Glorying in Man
When Paul deals with sins in the church in Corinth, he does so by first describing who these believers are in Christ, giving them confidence in their position before Christ. He knows it's only by their position before Christ that they can have any power to deal with these things. After reaffirming their position, Paul begins to address the first problem:
1 Corinthians 1:11-13 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. (12) Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (13) Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
The people in Corinth were dividing into parties. If this had been allowed to continue, they may have started different churches: the Church of Paul, the Church of Peter, etc. How does Paul address this issue? He does not say, "You can't divide...it's going to mess everything up!" No, Paul asks them, "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 13:3). He points them back to their baptism in Christ and shows them that Christ is one body. He talks about this for a while --- we are one body in Christ. This is positional truth. Then he goes on to say a reason they are divisive is because they think mighty articulate men of God are worth boasting in, being associated with, and emulating. Paul's responds:
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence. (30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
The believers in Corinth were divisive, boasting in affiliation with certain teachers who they believed show evidence of being powerful and wise. How does Paul deal with people who glory in men? Paul tells them that God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things to confound the things which are mighty. Paul shows them that they can glory in the Lord. He shows them that they are in Christ. He shows them that Christ is everything to them. He tells them that they have everything already in Christ! This is our glory.
Preaching Christ Crucified
In Chapter 2, Paul continues saying that, "we preach Christ crucified."
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (2) For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Paul is dealing with the Corinthians' tendency to exalt natural wisdom and eloquence. The way he disciplines them about it is to point them to the cross and to the Spirit. Christ crucified, the cross, is how God deals with the eloquence and strength of men. Human wisdom and strength are put to an end with Christ at the cross so that no one should boast in flesh, but in the Lord only. Then Paul points them to the Spirit. Once human wisdom and strength are out of the way, we are ready for God to speak to us from His heart. Paul tells them that instead of the wisdom of man, the Spirit brings to us the wisdom of God, even the mind of Christ. He shows them they have a place of privilege because God has chosen to reveal to them a wisdom that was hidden from the foundation of the world --- a wisdom beyond even what the angels know --- a wisdom that can only be discerned by the spirit and must be imparted directly by the Spirit!
1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (8) Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
When we read this section, we are left with a sense of awe at what we have in Christ, and are renewed. This is the way the discipline of God works. He points us to the cross for the flesh and as we judge it, He brings us to the spirit and discloses something wonderful of Christ to renew us within!
Verse 6 says, "Who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." What is Paul's answer to exalting earthly wisdom, becoming divisive, jealous, and envious because of a desire to be associated with these "wise people"? It has all been brought to nought. No flesh can glory before the Lord. Paul reminds them they are in Christ, and Christ is everything to you. Of God you are in Christ who is wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Furthermore, you have been given the mind of Christ. You have received the Spirit, not from the world, but the Spirit that searches out the depths of God to reveal things to you that the principalities know not. Now these things have been revealed to you! You have the wisdom! You have the mind of Christ! Again, Paul points the Corinthians to positional truth in Christ to deal with a temporal problem.
Addressing Carnality
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul addresses carnality in the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (3) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (4) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Lordshippers will say there is no such thing as a carnal Christian. They do not see there truly is a group of people who can be confident they are going to stand before the Lord without spot in His presence with joy, and yet are carnal! How can such a thing be? Because salvation includes a wide range of people who are at various stages of growth. The way to help them grow, even through rebuke, is to point them to what they have in Christ. It is not to tell them they are not saved or are at risk of losing their salvation, but to instead point them to all the things that are true of them in Christ!
This is what Paul is doing. Paul says they are carnal because they are dividing over these people. How does he deal with the matter of divisiveness and exalting men? By exalting them!
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (6) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (7) So then neither is he that planted any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (8) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. (9) For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
He says, "Paul is nothing! Apollos is nothing! We are your servants! God is the one that gives the increase!" Then in verse 9, he exclaims, "YOU are God's husbandry. YOU are God's building!" He is saying, "You are the object of God's delight and the focus of the work. You are trying to associate with and gain the favor of these false ministers of righteousness: these apostles of Satan. You're all jealous of each other because some have their favor, and some do not. Don't you understand that you are the object of God's heart and we are just servants for you? You are God's building!"
This is in the same principle as when Jesus said, "Who is greater, the one who sits at the table or the one that serves the food" (Luke 22:27)? The Apostles are the servants, and the saints are the ones at the table. They think they are less than and this is why they contend, backbite, strive, and become divisive. They believe there is something they need to add to themselves in order to be complete. But Paul is saying, "No, you are already complete! You are already the object of God's heart. You are already wise! You already have the Spirit. You have the mind of Christ! We are just servants dishing out the food. You are the ones that are eating it! You are the heirs at the table."
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; (22) Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; (23) And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
You already have everything. You do not need something else! This is how Paul deals with carnality. He rebukes them for it, while telling them they already have everything! Is this how a Lordshipper talks? Not at all!
Building Materials and Reward
Now consider the matter of reward in the same chapter.
1 Corinthians 3:10-17 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (16) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The judgment seat of Christ here is presented as a salvation. That is why Paul later says, "I have determined to deliver this one over to the destruction of the flesh so that his spirit may be SAVED in the day of Christ." In the day of Christ, when He is revealed, we will be baptized "through fire" and our flesh and all its works will be burned off, never to be mentioned again. They will disappear. They will not be there at the judgment seat. You say, "He's going to judge everything I say!" No, if it is burned off, it's not going to be mentioned. What remains, however, will be praised. Christ is coming with rewards and praises, not with rebukes. There will be some who are saved and yet as though through fire, however, they will be glad to be there!
Through this passage, Paul also shows what it looks like to build with gold, silver, and precious stones. These are incorruptible things. In First Peter, there are four incorruptible things: 1) the incorruptible seed of the Word of God (1st Peter 1:23) 2) the imperishable inheritance reserved in heaven for us (1st Peter 1:4); 3) the faith which is more precious than gold that perishes (1st Peter 1:7); and 4) the blood of Christ which is more valuable than silver, or gold, or anything that perishes (1st Peter 1:18-20). So, the imperishable things are the Word of God, the faith, the inheritance, and the blood. The blood redeems us and secures the inheritance for us. The inheritance is what the Gospel describes through the incorruptible seed of the Word that regenerates us. Our faith that lays hold of these things is imperishable. This is the realm of the Gospel. This is in what we operate. When you build with these materials, you are building with gold, silver, and precious stones.
By confirming people in the faith, describing their inheritance, giving them the gospel, giving them the nourishing Word, the milk and the meat of the Word (which is imperishable), and building up their faith and assurance in Christ is how you build with gold, silver, and precious stones. This work abides. When the fire tests everything, these are imperishable and will pass through the fire, untouched, and remain as a reward.
Paul then contrasts building with wood, hay, and stubble. Such things include teaching worldly wisdom, the flesh of men, gaining men's favor, working for God's favor, thinking you have nothing, and doubting your salvation! You can be a saved person and talk like this --- if you are, you are working with wood, hay, and stubble.
This passage reveals what it looks like to build with precious materials. Paul is the pattern. Look how he deals with sin! He deals with sin by preaching the Gospel. Can you believe that? Yes, he is rebuking them...he just called them carnal, but at the same time, he assures them they have everything in Christ. The way Paul deals with desiring to be prized in the eyes of the ministers was to tell them, "Look, the ministers are nothing. They are just your servants. Everything is yours. You are the ones sitting at the table. You are God's building and God's husbandry, and those who touch you better be careful how they're building!" Paul contrasts himself to the false apostles who he says later, "You'd tolerate them if they slapped you in the face and gave you another gospel, another spirit, and another Jesus!"
Addressing Fornication
1 Corinthians 5:1-8 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. (2) And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. (3) For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, (4) In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (5) To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (6) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (7) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: (8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Notice Paul states this issue is something commonly reported. It means the churches know it, the world knows it, everyone knows it! Not only does everyone know about it, but it appears the church is glorying and even boasting in this ridiculous situation among them! How does Paul deal with this awful situation? He tells them to put the wicked man away and deliver him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved. What will delivering him over to Satan do? It will save him! It is for his salvation, not his destruction. It is for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of Jesus Christ. But despite instructing them to not fellowship with this man, he is still recognized as a brother. Paul never says this man is not saved or is going to lose his salvation. We know by reading 2 Corinthians that this action of delivering him over brought this brother to repentance.
Paul further rebukes the Corinthians, "Your glorying is not good." But then he says, "You are unleavened!" He instructs them to purge out the old leaven that they may be a new lump. They need to be renewed. Paul reminds them that Christ has been sacrificed, that they are a new lump, they are unleavened, and they are at the feast! He always points them back to Christ, showing them what they are in Christ. "You've been invited to a feast. All you have to do is believe in this One to enjoy the feast!" Even that brother having relations with his father's wife could enjoy the feast, all he had to do is repent and judge himself.
Addressing Disputes Before Gentiles
"1 Corinthians 6:1-4 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? (2) 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? (3) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (4) If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church."
In the next chapter, Paul deals with saints who are taking their matters before Gentile courts of law. They are suing each other. What does he say to this? "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If you can judge the world, aren't you worthy to judge the smallest matters among you? Know you not that we shall judge angels? How much more the things pertaining to this life!" He even says, "Let the one least esteemed among you judge!" Once again, Paul deals with their behavior by showing them their exalted position in Christ! The least esteemed among the church is more worthy to judge than these Gentile judges!
1 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, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) 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.
Is Paul telling the Corinthians they are not going to inherit the kingdom because they are carnal? No, he is telling them that the judges (the Gentiles) before whom they are taking their matters, are not going to inherit the kingdom. "So, set the matter before the least! Do not set this matter before those who will not inherit the kingdom! You are heirs! You were one of them, 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!" To whom is he saying this? He is saying this to the carnal church in Corinth having fornication in their midst, suing each other before Gentiles, full of division and strife, envying, and jealousy. He already called them carnal and yet he is saying they are washed, they are sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God.
Being One in Christ
Now he is going to come back and speak to fornication again.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 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. (13) Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. (14) And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. (15) 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. (16) What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. (17) But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (18) Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. (19) 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? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
You can do anything you want. Do you believe that? Everything is lawful, but not everything is profitable. Some things are very harmful. Do not be brought under the power of anything. Here Paul talks about people who are going to temple prostitutes! Can you believe this? What is he saying? God has raised up the Lord and will raise us up by His own power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot?! God forbid! He is joined to the Lord is one Spirit! Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which you have from God and you are not your own? You were bought with a price!
These are things you can only say to a believer. You cannot say them to an unsaved person. Yet, it is possible for a saved person to fornicate with a temple prostitute. What does Paul do? Does he say, "You're going to lose your salvation. You're not even saved!" No, he says, "You are one spirit with the Lord. Your body is a temple of God. Your body is a member of Christ. You're taking Christ and involving Christ Himself in fornication! You are making HIS members that of a harlot!" What is Paul doing here? He is again pointing the Corinthians to what is true of them in Christ. These are some of the richest revelations in the New Testament, revealed in the context of discipline from the Lord!
Concluding Word on Discipline
Discipline is a good thing! This letter of 1 Corinthians is full of discipline. We tend to focus on the negative, neglecting the understanding of how God implements discipline. God deals with negative things in our life by bringing our attention the Gospel and telling us, "Please be reconciled to Me! Run to Me! I will take care of it! I will, meanwhile, show you more about what you have in Christ. Even while I'm 'yelling' at you, I'm also comforting you and revealing the riches of Christ to you!"
If you want to build with gold, precious stones and silver, you have got to know how to do this. Most people do not know how to deal with sin and, as a result, never grow. They cannot address it. Many say grace people cannot talk about sin. People are under condemnation and are not in a good place to talk about sin because they are not assured. They do not know how to deal with sin without assurance. In many cases, grace teachers do not know how to use the Gospel as the basis of discipline. This is what it looks like!
I recommend everyone read through this 1 Corinthians, not to see how bad the Corinthians were, but to see how Paul uses the riches of Christ as the solution for every negative thing.