Lawsuits Among Believers

1Does any one of you, when he has a [†]case against another, dare to be tried before the unrighteous and not before the [†]saints? 2Or do you not know that the [†]saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not worthy to [†]constitute the smallest law courts? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint those who are of no account in the church as judges? 5I say this to your shame. Is it really this way: there is not one wise man among you who will be able to pass judgment between his brothers? 6On the contrary, brother is tried with brother, and that before unbelievers!

7Actually, then, it is already a failure for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brothers.

9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [†]effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Flee Sexual Immorality

12All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13Food is for the [†]stomach and the [†]stomach is for food, but God will do away with both [†]of them. Yet the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” 17But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the [†]sexually immoral man sins against his own body. 19Or do you not know that your body is a [†]sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from [†]God, and that you are not your own? 20For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.