To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!
1 Corinthians 6:7-8
The believers in Corinth had huge issues with allowing immorality to go unchecked in their fellowship. This showed itself in an incestrous relationship the church practically bragged about, and in a selfish, litigatious spirit within the congregation. One the one hand they ignored scandalous sin and on the other they viciously fought one another in court over petty personal disagreements and selfish concerns. The result was the church was wounded by her own hand.
Paul wants to put a stop to this self-inflicted madness and misery. He tells the Corinthians first in chapter five to remove the nonrepentant adulterers from their midst. Then he instructed them to resolve their own conflicts with gospel mediation instead of relying on secular legal weaponry. Peacemaking would save them from public embarrassment and restore relationships rather than defraud and destroy the reputation of the church.
Christ gave His church all we need to deal with big sins and small disagreements. We can utilize the gospel for this. The church can discipline herself in these struggles. The church can mediate between her members when they have issues. The gospel can win even against our own most selfish behaviors. Unity is restored in Jesus!
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