PAUL now addresses two more problems existing in the fellowship at Corinth. One is disputes and quarrelling between members of the fellowship, the other is concerning sexual immorality.

VESRSES 1-11 ? DISPUTES.

This problem seemed to be that a member had fallen out with another over some perceived wrong or hurt received, and was seeking their rights of restitution. To get this this, the offended member sought to get restitution by taking the offender to court. In doing this, as Paul indicates, the faults of the church were being aired in public before the ungodly ? those who were not Christians. This would mean that the cause of Christ would be undermined and Christ dishonoured. (v.1,6)

Paul indicates that Christians should be able to sort our such problems within the fellowship. He chides them by suggesting that even the least competent of the church members could deal with their dispute (v.4,5). This is irony and Paul speaks to shame them because of their dispute. Paul also points out that there must be someone in the fellowship who could help them in their problem.

In this rebuke Paul speaks about an amazing fact about the redeemed in heaven. In verses 2 and 3 Paul says that the saints (believers in Jesus) will judge the world and even angels. (cp. Matthew 19:23; Luke 22:30; Revelation 3:21, 4:4 & 20:4). Here we see, even though faintly, something of the exaltation believers in Jesus are raised to in glory through the salvation purchased for them by Christ.

In verses 7-8 Paul points out the disaster revealed in such quarrelling. The disaster is in what the quarrelling reveals, which is that Satan has already infiltrated the fellowship, and caused defeat and shame. Paul suggests that it is more Christ-like to suffer the wrong and forgive, rather than stand up for rights, and take the matter outside the church.

In order to move those is dispute to settle their quarrel Paul seeks to remind them of the condition of the unsaved, and of the blessing they have been saved to. We have been saved from the corruption of the world as described by Paul in verses 9-10. Paul tells us that this is what all of us were like before Christ saved us. Then Paul opens up something of the blessing of our salvation. We have been washed from this pollution by the blood of Christ. We have been sanctified ? that is set apart for God by predestination, election and calling of God. We have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus ? that is God accounts us totally just in his sight because Christ's righteousness is put to our account. Christ has lived a holy life for us, and he has satisfied the justice of God by taking the blame for our sins, and suffering the just penalty of God's law in our place. So he fulfilled all righteousness for us and this righteousness is put to our account and on the grounds of this righteousness we are counted and declared just in the sight of God. This great blessing should cause every believer to be forgiving and live in harmony with each other.

VERSES 12-20 ? SEXUAL IMMORALITY.

Paul now shows how incompatible sexual immorality is with the Christian life, and by doing it shows something of the exalted position all believers in Jesus are raised to. We have great freedom in Christ. All things are lawful, but this does not mean the right to license and to defile our bodies with sexual immorality.

There is teaching here about the body which is both obscure and exalting. The body is the dwelling place both for our sinful nature and for our new born self in Christ. In our new born self dwells the Holy Spirit. Because of this the body, which is neutral and not sinful of itself, becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. Because this earthly body can't be separated from our sinful nature, God will raise our bodies in eternity to new bodies where the sinful nature can't follow. This is because of the power of the resurrection Christ achieved for all believers (v.14).

Because of this we must not defile our bodies by sexual immorality. To do this is to be unfaithful to Christ whose bride we are. We have been bought with a price ? the price of the life of our husband Christ.

Sexual union is a very profound experience in the creative purpose of God. It makes us one flesh with the one we have sexual union with. For the believer to join the body which belongs to Christ to someone other than a married partner, is to defile our bodies which belong to Christ.