1. Saints will Judge the World Lessons From the Courtroom 1 Corinthians 6

2. 1 Corinthians 6:1-2
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 

3. The Issue at Hand
Specifically, members of the Lord’s Church at Corinth were taking their disputes to the pagan courts of Corinth for resolution
This issue was representative of a much larger concept that the Corinthian brethren needed to learn

4. 2 Corinthians 6:17
 Therefore
“Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

6. If you lived in the first century...
…where would you have want to worship?
Jerusalem
Antioch
Rome
Smyrna or Philadelphia
Philippi
CORINTH

7. Let’s talk about Corinth
Extremely important and strategic city in ancient Greece
Crossroads city with extreme influences of evil

9. Corinthian “korinthizomai” – to live like a Corinthian
Sexual Immorality
Stereotype

10. Frequent Correspondence
It is agreed that 1 & 2 Corinthians were written in a relatively short time period
(AD 56)
“in my epistle…” (1 Cor. 5:9)
“you wrote to me…” (I Cor. 7:1)

11. The Serious Issue – A Spiritually Immature Church
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;3 for you are still carnal.

12. The Theme of the Corinthian Epistles
Stay separate and pure despite the sin and wickedness around you!
Avoid the wisdom of Corinth (3:18)
Avoid the immorality of Corinth (5:1)
Keep the affairs of the church out of the world (5:9)

13. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 

14. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

15. Lessons from the Courtroom
Specific – Christians should not sue one another
Broad – Christians should not mix that which is holy [church] with that which is not holy [Corinthian courts]

16. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

17. Paul’s Argument
Why would you take an issue between righteous brethren before an unrighteous court?
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?
What does this mean?

18. Judge
From Vine’s Expository Dictionary: KRINO – (f) to be involved in a lawsuit, whether as plaintiff or as defendant
DEFENDANT
WITNESSES
PLAINTIFF
JUDGE

19. Matthew 19:28
 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

20. Luke 22:29-30
And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

21. The Judgment of the Apostles
Duty of the Apostles
Preach the gospel and pen the inspired epistles
During their lifetimes, they served as judges by presenting the truth
They still serve in this role when we study the Holy Scriptures

22. Matthew 16:19; 18:18
To Peter: And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” To All Apostles: “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

23. Saints will judge the world
Likewise, the saints serve as an example to the world through:
Words they speak
Lives they lead
Examples they share

24. Matthew 12:41-42
The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

25. Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

26. Q: How did they judge and condemn the world?
A: By being a righteous example in the midst of an unrighteous world. Like a plaintiff, they offered the evidence to convict the lost

27. John 12:31
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 
The judgment of the world began with the preaching of the gospel and it continues until this day!

28. How/When will Christ judge the world?
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

29. How will Christ judge the world?
2 Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
On the Day of Judgment, Jesus will serve in the role of final judge!

30. WE MUST JUDGE IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER!
The Key to Judgment
WE MUST JUDGE IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER!
DEFENDANT
WITNESSES
PLAINTIFF
JUDGE

31. Lessons from the courtroom
As Christians, think of judgment through the eyes of the plaintiff, not the judge. As saints, we embody the truth by upholding the standard of God’s covenant. We stand as plaintiffs, living as law-abiding citizens of the kingdom. Jesus will serve in the final role of judge, executing the sentence on mankind on the Day of Judgment.

32. Conclusion
Anyone who submits to the authority of Christ and His apostles joins in His reign
By living righteous lives, we serve as judges to the lost
The saints will also be judged on the Day of Judgment (Matthew 25:31-33)
Fits perfectly with the context from Corinthians – Be separate!