Living in Christ: Disputes, Liberty, and Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: Resolving Disputes Within the Church

Christians are encouraged to resolve disputes within the church community rather than taking them to secular courts. This approach not only upholds the integrity of the church but also serves as a testimony to the world of the unity and love among believers. By resolving conflicts internally, Christians demonstrate the higher standard to which they are held as followers of Christ. This practice reflects the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, fostering a spirit of reconciliation and understanding among believers. [40:36]

1 Corinthians 6:5-6 (ESV): "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?"

Reflection: Is there a conflict in your life that you can address within your faith community rather than seeking external resolution? How can you take a step towards reconciliation today?

Day 2: Christian Liberty and Responsibility

Christian liberty is not a license to sin but a call to live in a way that pleases Christ. Our freedom in Christ empowers us to overcome sin and live righteously, reflecting the transformative power of the Holy Spirit within us. This liberty should lead us to glorify God in our bodies and spirits, recognizing that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. By understanding the true nature of Christian freedom, believers are encouraged to live lives that honor God and reflect His love to the world. [49:28]

Galatians 5:13 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Reflection: In what ways can you use your Christian liberty to serve others and glorify God today? Identify one specific action you can take.

Day 3: The Transformative Power of Grace

Despite our past sins, we are washed, sanctified, and justified through Jesus Christ. This transformation is a testament to the power of grace, offering hope and redemption to all believers. It reminds us that our identity is no longer defined by our past but by our relationship with Christ. Embracing this new identity allows believers to live in the freedom and joy that comes from being a new creation in Christ, continually growing in faith and love. [53:28]

Titus 3:5-7 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: How has the grace of God transformed your life? Reflect on a specific area where you have experienced His redemption and consider how you can share this testimony with others.

Day 4: The Importance of Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth requires moving beyond the basics of faith and delving deeper into the Word of God. By confronting and dealing with sin in our lives, we align ourselves more closely with God's will and become better equipped to handle life's challenges. This growth process is ongoing, requiring continual surrender and obedience to God. As believers mature in their faith, they become more effective witnesses of Christ's love and truth in the world. [38:21]

Hebrews 5:12-14 (ESV): "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you feel called to grow deeper? How can you take a practical step towards that growth today?

Day 5: The Consequences of Sin

Sin, particularly sexual sin, has profound consequences on our relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit, and ourselves. It is a sin against our own bodies, hindering our spiritual growth and damaging our witness to the world. Recognizing the seriousness of sin should lead us to repentance and a renewed commitment to live according to God's moral code. By understanding the impact of sin, believers are encouraged to seek God's forgiveness and strength to overcome temptation. [01:00:28]

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (ESV): "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God."

Reflection: Is there a sin in your life that you need to confront and confess to God? What steps can you take to seek His forgiveness and strength to overcome it?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truths found in 1 Corinthians 6, focusing on the themes of lawsuits and lifestyles within the church. The chapter challenges us with the repeated question, "Do you not know?" which serves as a reminder of the knowledge we possess but often fail to act upon. This question implies that the Corinthian church, and by extension, we as believers, should be aware of certain truths and live accordingly. The passage highlights the importance of resolving disputes within the church community rather than taking them to secular courts, emphasizing the higher standard to which Christians are held.

The message also delves into the concept of Christian liberty, clarifying that it is not a license to sin but a call to live in a way that pleases Christ. We are reminded that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price, and therefore, we should glorify God in both body and spirit. The list of sins mentioned in the chapter serves as a mirror, reflecting our need for grace and the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. Despite our past, we are washed, sanctified, and justified through Jesus, highlighting the hope and redemption available to all believers.

Furthermore, the message underscores the importance of spiritual growth, urging us to move beyond the basics of faith and delve deeper into the Word of God. It challenges us to confront and deal with the sin in our lives, recognizing that growth comes through the continual process of sanctification. By doing so, we align ourselves more closely with God's will and become better equipped to handle the challenges of life.

Key Takeaways

1. Resolving Disputes Within the Church: Christians are called to handle disputes within the church community rather than taking them to secular courts. This approach not only upholds the integrity of the church but also serves as a testimony to the world of the unity and love among believers. By resolving conflicts internally, we demonstrate the higher standard to which we are held as followers of Christ. [40:36]
2. Christian Liberty and Responsibility: Christian liberty is not a license to sin but a call to live in a way that pleases Christ. Our freedom in Christ empowers us to overcome sin and live righteously, reflecting the transformative power of the Holy Spirit within us. This liberty should lead us to glorify God in our bodies and spirits, recognizing that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. [49:28]
3. The Transformative Power of Grace: Despite our past sins, we are washed, sanctified, and justified through Jesus Christ. This transformation is a testament to the power of grace, offering hope and redemption to all believers. It reminds us that our identity is no longer defined by our past but by our relationship with Christ. [53:28]
4. The Importance of Spiritual Growth: Spiritual growth requires moving beyond the basics of faith and delving deeper into the Word of God. By confronting and dealing with sin in our lives, we align ourselves more closely with God's will and become better equipped to handle life's challenges. This growth process is ongoing, requiring continual surrender and obedience to God. [38:21]
5. The Consequences of Sin: Sin, particularly sexual sin, has profound consequences on our relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit, and ourselves. It is a sin against our own bodies, hindering our spiritual growth and damaging our witness to the world. Recognizing the seriousness of sin should lead us to repentance and a renewed commitment to live according to God's moral code. [01:00:28]
** [60:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:20] - Introduction to Lawsuits and Lifestyles
[31:58] - Understanding Our Identity in Christ
[33:20] - The Question: "Do You Not Know?"
[34:47] - A Personal Story of Transformation
[36:00] - Paul's Frustration with the Corinthian Church
[38:21] - The Call for Spiritual Growth
[39:28] - Layers of Sin and Growth
[40:36] - Resolving Disputes Within the Church
[41:18] - Judging Actions, Not Motives
[43:28] - The Higher Standard for Believers
[44:36] - Handling Disputes Biblically
[45:57] - A Testimony of God's Provision
[49:28] - Christian Liberty and Responsibility
[50:12] - The List of Sins and Redemption
[53:28] - Washed, Sanctified, and Justified
[55:14] - Christian Liberty and Overcoming Sin
[56:32] - New Creations in Christ
[57:25] - The Temple of the Holy Spirit
[58:28] - Living for Christ, Not Ourselves
[59:12] - The Increase of Sexual Sins
[60:28] - The Consequences of Sin
[61:16] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Sermon Clips

"Do you not know that, number one, the saints will judge the world, we shall judge angels, the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, your bodies are members of Christ, don't you know that he who is joined to a heart is of one body with her, and then the last thing, your body is the temple, don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, and you're not your own anymore, that you're bought with a price." [00:33:20]

"It's not what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we do know and don't do that gives us trouble. That's what gives us real trouble. Now, the second thing is this, they were either ignorant of something or they were negligent of something. That's what that implies, do you not know? And then the third thing is this, that a corrective measure was going to follow." [00:34:08]

"Paul was frustrated with the immaturity of those Christians at Corinth. In 1 Corinthians chapter 3, he said, and I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual people, but as unto carnal or as unto worldly people. He said, I couldn't give you the truth because you're too worldly to receive the truth. Paul corrected the Corinthian church. Here's what he said." [00:36:06]

"Something had happened along the way that they had ceased to grow and they had their eyes on men and not on Christ. Listen, you will, fail in your spiritual life if you put your eyes on people. Everybody I know has failed me at some point at somewhere along the line. And everybody will fail you somewhere along the line. Don't put your, look, I love you as a congregation and I want you to love me, but don't you look to me for all of your spiritual help and spiritual growth because I will fail you somewhere along the way." [00:37:28]

"We don't, if all you know is Jesus saves then that's what you have and you don't grow in grace and knowledge. I guarantee you that many of the churches around this morning, and I thank God for every preacher that preaches, on salvation. But salvation is not the message every Sunday. You need to grow in Christ. You need to be growing up into him and you need to be able to take some meat and not always having milk. You need to grow in him. Now, what's wrong?" [00:38:21]

"They were not willing to admit that they had sin in their life and they were not willing to deal with the sin. Listen, you will not grow any further than you are until you deal with what's on surface there. And once you deal with that, you're going to, it's like Shrek said, it's like an onion. And now that's, if you don't know Shrek, he's a great philosopher. Okay?" [00:39:28]

"Christian conduct and civil matters between Christians are not to be exposed to unbelievers. They're not to be exposed You'll discourage the world from trusting Christ if you let them see the difficulties that happen between believers. If you two get in, if you guys get in a fight over each other, do you know that's why people don't go to some churches? There's always a fight. There's always a fuss." [00:43:28]

"Christians were once just, some of the Christians in this room were just, once just like that. But, ye are washed. That's part of the verse. We've been washed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and declared holy by Him. That's, when I say washed by the blood, that's figuratively. Nobody's actually been dumped in a bucket of blood." [00:53:28]

"Not only are we washed, it says we're sanctified. Now, this is a tough word. It means that we are being made holy. You say, well, I don't see no holiness in you. I ain't all I'm going to be. I may not be exactly what I need to be, but I'm not all I'm going to be. Amen. He is in the process of making you, if you know Jesus, He's in the process, of making you holy. Not only that, we have been justified." [00:54:08]

"Christian liberty means that we are free to please Christ. You see, before you, before you came to Christ, you did not have the power to overcome that sin in your life. You didn't have the power. But when you came to Christ, you, you now have that power because He is in the process of making you holy." [00:55:14]

"2,000 years ago, the lamb himself carried a cross and he went on the cross. He went all the way to Calvary and he laid down on the cross. No man took his life from him. The Bible says he laid it down freely. The lamb gave up his life for us sinners and made it possible for God not to live in a building of stone but for him to live in a building of flesh. If you know Jesus, when the moment you got saved, the person of the Holy Spirit moved in and said, and I believe he began to sing on the inside, now I belong to Jesus." [00:57:25]

"It's sad when Christians think they can violate God's moral code. And have no consequences. Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Sexual sins are sins against Christ who purchased our bodies. They're sins against the Spirit who dwells inside our bodies. And a sexual sin is a sin against your own self." [01:00:28]

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