HOW CAN I KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG?
1 Corinthians 6:12-13a
April 25, 2007
Mike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro: How do we determine what is & is NOT sin?
Some things are easy… the commandments, murder, lying, gossip…etc.
Questions… "Pastor is it "right" to _______________?"
Or "what is our churches stand on ______________?
Dancing, r-rated movies, have a beer with my pizza… grey area questions
Sometimes the questions changes because e culture changes.
* My question for you is, "how can we answer these questions".
What criteria do we have for answering "questionable" actions in our lives?
* Do base your standards on what someone has told you?
Do you know what the bible says?
* Our culture changes (evolves) but God's word does not.

1 Corinthians 7 challenges that we face everyday…
Chapters 1-4 relationships
Chapter 5-6 deals with SIN.
- Context- deals with an enormous sex problem in Corinth & spilled over into the church.
- Deals with principles not rules & regulations…
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 read

* Identify three common tendencies- that every one of us has on a daily basis…
1. We all have a tendency to justify the sins that we commit.
- Some sins we LIKE, a problem for us…"besetting sins" some that stick to us like glue.
* The city of Corinth was filled with sexual sins like today (they were doing it then)
* Many of the Christians in Corinth just did NOT want to let go of their sexual sins.
- They tried to justify them by pointing out the liberty they had in Christ.
That they & we are no longer under OT law.
They wanted to use the bible to justify their sin…
(When counseling to justify their sin they fire bible verses back at me out of context)
See 6:13 Expression in Paul's day…
How it worked, "Meats for the belly & the belly for meats". (Sacrifices to idols)
* In other words it doesn't matter what I eat because God made the meat & he made the belly.
Se God gave us the belly & it gets hungry (& God made it) therefore it is ok to eat the meat.
* So- God made the body & it needs sex so…
* Paul said "NO". Your belly & meat are temporal- they won't last…
But God made your body to last & for His purposes- Holy Spirit might live in it!
* How you satisfy those sexual desires is of great importance to God.

*** So we try to dig something in the bible so we can arrange justification for their sin.
*** "Bad doctrine does NOT lead to SIN, SIN leads to bad doctrine."
*** Thus weird doctrinal teaching- why? To justify the sin.
2. Second tendency- We all tend to ask the wrong questions. (1 Cor. 6:12)
The real question is NOT what is WRONG with this______, but what is RIGHT with this.
- All little children begin life with mom & dad teach them… but the day comes when he is supposed to know.
* A 35 year old man shouldn't have to call home & ask if it is right to __________.
* A new believer no problem asking questions about _________, & we should be able to give them some guidelines.
* But as we grow in Christ we ought to be learning biblical truth (discipleship).

3. We all have a tendency to ABUSE God's grace.
- The Corinthian's were abusing God's grace- "I have liberty so I can _________."
Gal 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
1 Peter 2:16 "As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."
* Paul never backed up and inch about the liberty & grace of God.
But people like to make up laws when somebody abuses the liberty in Christ.
We like rules & regulations instead of teaching them principles & biblical truth.
So they can make decisions on their own using the bible as their guide.
1 Cor. 6:12 Paul say twice "all things are" wording exactly the same in Greek, KJV translators used two different words so we could have the full force of the text.
* Important we no longer live by LAW but by GRACE, but we must NEVER lose the high ground of grace no matter what would be easier.
*** Paul talks @ the danger of falling from the high ground of GRACE, never let it go.
NEVER go back from that point.
Rom. 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

.
Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

There are 7 questions you need to ask. "What's right about ___________."
1. Does it violate scripture? 6:12
1 JN 3:4 " Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
1 J 5:17 "All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death."
* Reflection of God's holiness & righteousness.
* There are something that are clearly a SIN- the bible is clear, repent of it and stop it
* But what about grey areas? How do we handle those?
We don't have a MOVIE grading system… rated G, R, X, PG, PG13…

2. Is it expedient 6:12
Also translated "profitable"- not just "wrong" but "right with it"
* As a Christian I can do all things but not all expedient.
Question: Is it sinful for a man to plaid shorts…. NO
Is it profitable.

3. Is it Addictive- 6:12b
- Question is NOT can I lose my salvation if I smoke a cigarette, but is my body being controlled by something other than God!
* Mt 6:24 "…two masters…"
* 1Cor 16:15 "I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)"
- addicted to ministry…"
*** Two masters is a problem…
Obvious- Drugs & alcohol… but
- Prescription drugs
- Sex
- Chat rooms (did not exist a few years ago) so Deut. Doesn't say anything about it.
- Soap operas
- Sports, video games
* Because they become controlling!!!
* The question is it controlling you?

4. Does it hurt others. 1 Cor 8:8-11
1 Cor 8:8-12

Rom 14:13-21 "
* Paul later on tells Timothy to take a "little wine" for they stomach sake."
* The issue not if the substance is sinful. But is controlling"
* Does it hurt others?
I will not engage in any action that will cause my weaker (younger brother) to stumble.

5. Does it harm my body 1 Cor. 6:16-20
I am a steward of my body- so I will engage in anything that will harm my body.
* TV tells us that most all things are BAD for your body.
1 Tim 4:3-4
* Our relationship is balance by prayer & stewardship.
Phi 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."
* Ie: shrimp don't eat five pounds

6. Does it violate my conscience? James 4:17
James 4:17 " Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
Rom 2:15 We all have a conscience (1Tim 4:2 can sear it)
Here a refusal to adhere to what is RIGHT!
1 Cor 5:19 "Quench the spirit…"
- Can you handle it?
- The issue not right or wrong but do we have the maturity to handle it.
7. Can I do this in FAITH? Rom 14:23
Rom 14:23 "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
* Can you engage in an action with confidence that you are able to do it in faith.
* This the beauty of living by principle instead of a "LAW"