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"It is already an utter failure for you..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 6:7

THE TEACHING OF SUFFERING

One of the teachings of the Lord Jesus centred on “suffering”. This was taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. He also exemplified it in His own life. However, the Corinthians did not practise this teaching at all.

“Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you
that you go to law against one another. Why do you not
rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let
yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong
and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!”
1 Corinthians 6:7-8

1. “An utter failure”

a) The very idea of going to the secular law courts was to be frowned upon.

b) Paul called it “an utter failure”.

2. Two questions were raised?

a) Why do you not rather accept wrong?

b) Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?

3. This was a tall order!

a) Paul noted the following: –

i) A believer may have been wronged.

ii) He may even have been cheated.

b) What was Paul’s recommended response?

i) That the believer must be prepared to accept the wrong done to him!

ii) That the believer must even be prepared to accept being cheated!

4. “You yourselves do wrong and cheat”

a) Some of the believers had done wrong to others and had cheated.

b) But if they feel they have been wronged and cheated, they resort to the law courts to resolve their grievances.

5. “And you do these things to your brethren”

a) This was a very serious comment made by the apostle Paul.

b) It would be fair to say that Paul had verified things before he made this serious allegation.

c) What the Corinthians were doing amounted to nothing less than hypocrisy.

d) They were doing things that no believer should be guilty of!