Temple Baptist Church - 9-24-2025
1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Matthew 18:15-20
Introduction:
A. Within the Body of Christ, we find individuality, which is meant to be a blessing to the church but can become problematic at times. We are all human! Though our bond is perfectly joined in Christ Jesus, we are all perfectly different in our human nature.
1. The Blessing of Individuality within the Body of Christ. The blessing of our individuality is found in our necessary and individual use within the body of Christ. Each individual has specific responsibilities within the church to ensure its proper functioning.
1 Corinthians 12:12-18 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For the body is not one member, but many. (15) Ifthe foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? (18) But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
If every member were a Pastor, we would have a multitude of churches with NO congregations.
2. The Potential of Individuality within the Body of Christ. Though there is no problem intended in the Body of Christ by God, we are all human! And Humanity is born in sin with a sin nature. Therefore, we choose to do either the right or the wrong.
3. The Problem of Individuality within the Body of Christ. When personal conflict does come, and it will, we do not handle it Biblically! We often, when settling or battling in personal conflict with another brother or brethren, rely on our own wit or desires to resolve the problem to our individual benefit.
4. The Correction of Personal Conflict with the Body needs to be done according to the Scriptures. I have too often found that one party is good with Biblical intervention, but the other party is not. This is normally because the one who will not come to the “table” is afraid of the outcome!
B. Throughout the Bible, we find examples of personal conflict between brethren. I will not deal with all this, but here are two specific areas of personal conflict that we will address.
1. Conflict in Fellowship. Here we find the possibility that either or both parties may be wrong. Do not enter into mediation without understanding this principle. There is an old saying that “You cannot see the forest for the trees.”
Matthew 18:15-22 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16) But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (17) And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (18) Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (19) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst ofthem. (21) Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
a. Verse 15. First, try to resolve the issue with your brother or sister in Christ. The fewer people involved, the easier it is to fix and the better the outcome.
b. Verse 16. Second, involve a trusted brother or sister who can be unbiased with you. This will establish step three if it is necessary. If it can be resolved through an impartial third party, then keep it quiet and move on.
c. Verse 17. Third, if the offended or offender refuses to listen to reason, bring the matter before the church, starting with pastoral involvement and proceeding to Church Discipline if necessary.
d. Fourth, if the offender will not listen to you, the unbiased brother, or the church, FORGIVE HIM OR HER! Be instant to forgive. Learn to forgive and forget, even if the other is the guilty one or the unforgiving one. Forgiveness is for you as well as for the other.
2. Conflict in Finances. This should never be an issue between brethren!
a. Is it wrong for a Christian to go to court? The answer is both yes and no.
1) It is not wrong for a Christian to rightfully use the law.
a) We are to obey the laws of the land, thus giving us the right to live within the protection of that law - Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme.
2) The Apostle Paul used Roman law as a means of self-protection - Acts 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
Acts 23:3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
3) This chapter deals with lawsuits between Christians, not the unsaved. A Christian has the right to protect both himself and his interests in judicial law.
b. It is wrong for a Brother or Sister to take another before a civil court. I think that we are to understand also that these believers were of the same church and knew each other in both person and Christian testimony.
1) We live in a day of “generic” Christianity were everyone in the United States is supposedly one. By the term Christian, I mean those with a Christian testimony.
2) In dealing with the court system and the inability to know if someone is actually a Christian or not, we are to stay away from any civil suit that will in any way reproach the name of Christ.
b. How then are we to protect ourselves against such disputes?
1) It is not wrong for a Christian to rightfully use the law.
a) We are to obey the laws of the land, thus giving us the right to live within the protection of that law - Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme.
2) The Apostle Paul used Roman law as a means of self-protection - Acts 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
Acts 23:3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
3) This chapter deals with lawsuits between Christians, not the unsaved. A Christian has the right to protect both himself and his interests in judicial law.
c. It is wrong for a Brother or Sister to take another before a civil court. I think that we are to understand also that these believers were of the same church and knew each other in both person and Christian testimony.
1) We live in a day of “generic” Christianity were everyone in the United States is supposedly one. By the term Christian, I mean those with a Christian testimony.
2) In dealing with the court system and the inability to know if someone is actually a Christian or not, we are to stay away from any civil suit that will in any way reproach the name of Christ.
d. How then are we to protect ourselves against such disputes?
1) Never loan without being willing to suffer loss and forgive - Deuteronomy 23:19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy in brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thingthat is lent upon usury:
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
2) Never borrow from a brother without making prompt payment - Proverbs 3:27-28 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
3) If you are a Christian businessman, do the best work that you can, but require payment under law - 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
4) If you are dealing with a Christian businessman, make sure that payment is prompt - Luke 10:7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
5) Never deal with another Christian without being willing to suffer defraud.
1) The sin of defrauding - 1 Thessalonians 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
Some will borrow and fail to repay promptly or not at all. I would reconsider his salvation for openly defrauding a brother who is commanded not to take him before a judge.
Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Donot commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
2) The suffering of defraud - Luke 6:34 And if ye lend tothem of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
If you cannot lend without risking fraud, do not lend!
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Conclusion: Learn to settle disputes within the boundaries of the Bible to be beneficial, not detrimental to the local church.
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