Kress Biblical Resources :: The Wisdom of the Cross and Christian Morality (1Co 5; 1Co 6)

Detailed Outline of 1 Corinthians

The Wisdom of the Cross Purifies and Unites Believers, the Wisdom of the World Pollutes and Divides

3. The wisdom of the cross and Christian morality (1Co 5; 1Co 6)
   1. The church must deal with unrepentant sin (1Co 5)
      1. The particular case of church discipline detailed (1Co 5:1-8)
         1. The appalling report—incestuous immorality of a church member (1Co 5:1)
         2. The arrogant response of the Corinthians Church—insensitivity to sin and inactivity (1Co 5:2)
         3. The apostolic response—intense interest in the purity of the church and well-being of the offender (1Co 5:3-8)
            1. Such sin must be dealt with immediately (1Co 5:3)
            2. Such sin must be dealt with authoritatively (1Co 5:4-5)
               1. In the name and power of our Lord Jesus (1Co 5:4)
               2. With the motive of love and the ultimate restoration of the offender (1Co 5:5)
               3. • No more spiritual safety within the body of Christ
                  • Not wanting him to perish but to be saved
            3. Such sin must be viewed as affecting the whole church (1Co 5:6-7)
               1. Tolerance of such sin is toxic (1Co 5:6)
               2. Taking action is true to the gospel (1Co 5:7)
            4. Such sin must be dealt with appropriately (1Co 5:8)
               1. Deal with sin (1Co 5:8a)
               2. Not in wickedness in malice (1Co 5:8b)
               3. But with sincerity and truth (1Co 5:8c)
      2. The proper realm of church discipline clarified (1Co 5:9-13)
         1. The clarification (1Co 5:9-13a)
            1. The prior instruction—separate from immoral people (1Co 5:9)
            2. The particular clarification about separation (1Co 5:10-13a)
               1. This is not about separation from non-believers (1Co 5:10)
               2. This is about separation from a so-called brother living in sin (1Co 5:11)
            3. The proper perspective on dealing with immoral people (1Co 5:12-13a)
               1. Those within the church are subject to the judgement of the church (1Co 5:12)
               2. Those outside the church God will judge (1Co 5:13a)
         2. The command—remove the wicked man from the church (1Co 5:13b)
   2. The church must deal with disputes among its members (1Co 6:1-8)
      1. The reasons for not taking disputes before unbelieving judges (1Co 6:1-4)
         1. Believers will judge the world—so why let unbelievers judge between believers now (1Co 6:1-2)
            1. The incredulous question (1Co 6:1)
            2. The instructive questions (1Co 6:2)
         2. Believers will judge the angelic realm—so why let unbelievers judge believers in this life (1Co 6:3-4)
            1. The incredible reality—we will judge angels (1Co 6:3)
            2. The incisive rebuke (1Co 6:4)
         3. Believers bring shame upon the church when they take other believers to unbelieving courts (1Co 6:5-6)
            1. It brings into question the wisdom of believers (1Co 6:5)
            2. It brings into question the family relationship we have as believers (1Co 6:6)
      2. The results of taking disputes to unbelieving judges (1Co 6:5-8)
         1. Dishonor in the realm of wisdom and fellowship (1Co 6:5-6)
            1. It brings into question the wisdom of believers (1Co 6:5)
            2. It brings into question the fellowship we have as believers (1Co 6:6)
         2. Defeat in the realm of witness and faith (1Co 6:7)
         3. Damage in the realm of justice and love (1Co 6:8)
   3. The church must discern that liberty does not lead to lawlessness—freedom does not lead to fornication (1Co 6:9-20)
      1. The reminder concerning righteousness and the gospel that cleansed you from all unrighteousness (1Co 6:9-11)
         1. Do not be deceived—the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 6:9-10)
            1. The rhetorical question (1Co 6:9a)
            2. The imperative—do not be deceived (1Co 6:9b)
            3. The illustrative list (1Co 6:9c-10ab)
            4. The repeated emphasis (1Co 6:10c)
         2. Delight in what God has done for you through the gospel (1Co 6:11)
            1. Remember who you were (1Co 6:11a)
            2. Remember what God has done for you (1Co 6:11b)
               1. You were washed
               2. You were sanctified
               3. You were justified
            3. Remember how God accomplished this for you (1Co 6:11c)
               1. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
               2. In the Spirit of God
      2. The reality about our freedom in Christ (1Co 6:12-20)
         1. Freedom is only freedom if it is exercised to keep you from the bondage of sin (1Co 6:12)
            1. You must use your freedom to benefit from it (1Co 6:12a)
            2. You must use your freedom to avoid becoming a slave to your own desires (1Co 6:12b)
         2. Freedom does not lead to fornication (1Co 6:13-20)
            1. The desires of the body are temporal (1Co 6:13a)
            2. The destiny of the body is eternal (1Co 6:13b-14)
               1. The body was not made for the purpose of immorality, but for the Lord (1Co 6:13b)
               2. The body will be resurrected as was the Lord (1Co 6:14)
            3. The determinative factor for the use of the body is union with Christ (1Co 6:15-20)
               1. Remember you are part of Christ’s body (1Co 6:15-17)
                  • A part of Christ’s body should never be joined to the body of a prostitute (1Co 6:15)
                  • One who is joins himself to a prostitute has an intimate union with her (1Co 6:16)
                  • One who joins himself to the Lord has an intimate union spiritually with Him (1Co 6:17)
               2. Repeatedly flee immorality—drunkenness and gluttony are sins of too much of something that is not sin in and of itself, but immorality is always sin, even in moderation (1Co 6:18)
               3. Remember that God the Holy Spirit dwells in you and owns you (1Co 6:19)
               4. Remember that you were redeemed to glorify God in your body (1Co 6:20)