14 - Suing Saints - BridgeWay Christian Church

14 - Suing Saints

1 Corinthians 6:1-8

May 16, 2021 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

When Peter asked Jesus in Matthew 18 how often he should forgive a brother who sinned against him, the Lord replied, “seventy times seven” (vv.21-22), a figure that represented and unlimited amount. Then, to illustrate the principle, Jesus told the parable of the unmerciful servant. The point is self-evident. Because God in Christ has forgiven each of us for ours sins (for which restitution on our part was unpayable), no Christian has he right to be unforgiving, especially of fellow Christians. Even when we are clearly in the legal right, we do not have the moral and spiritual right to insist on our legal right in a public court against another believer. If the brother has wronged us in any way, our response should be to forgive him (seventy times seven) and leave the outcome of the matter to royal court in heaven.

01 - Introduction: Pitfalls Of An Imperfect Church

January 31, 2021 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

The one theme that drives everything Paul writes in 1 CORINTHIANS is the gospel. One way to define the gospel is that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for sinners and that, through Jesus Christ, God saves those who come to Him in repentance and faith. That's the gospel. That's the good news. And it permeates the entire letter. Christ crucified. Christ risen. Sinners forgiven. The gospel solves every issue Paul addresses in 1 CORINTHIANS.

02 - The Sainthood Of Believers

February 7, 2021 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

As Christians, we are no longer condemned by God as sinners but are declared holy by God as saints. And since our new nature in Christ is holy, Scripture teaches, our living should be also be holy. That Paul referred to the carnal believers at Corinth as saints gives us hope (since they were anything but saintly in their conduct). It tells us that the title saint has nothing whatsoever to do with one’s spiritual maturity or deeds. Paul called them saints because that’s who the Corinthians were (as well as all believers) by calling and position.

03 - A Church Divided

February 14, 2021 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • 1 Corinthians 1:10–17

The apostle Paul longed to see the practical outworking of Christian unity and spiritual oneness in the Corinthian church--a church plagued by division and dissention. Short of the salvation of all men, unity among the saints was his chief desire for all churches in all ages. We are to be of the same opinion with regards to the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, our standards as a local church, and our principles for Christian living. Short of that, petty fights and various disagreements are bound to occur from time-to-time, even among those with whom we are most united.