I Corinthians 6: Questions That Are Answers

By my count (NRSV), Paul asks 13 rhetorical questions of the Corinthian Church in chapter 6.  He is not honestly looking for answers to his questions - rather, he is making a point by asking them!

What do Paul's questions teach us?

• Believers shouldn't sue one another.  Rather than take a brother or sister to court, work it out in front of another Christian guiding you.  Or, better yet, be content with simply suffering a wrong.

• People who do evil deeds are not citizens of the kingdom.  Disqualifying acts include sexual immorality, idolatry, stealing, greediness, and drunk partying.  This would be very bad news except that...

• Jesus Christ works transformation (real change) in the lives of believers.  Even if you were guilty in the past of some of those evil deeds, Christ can work a change in your heart that makes you into a different person - and able to be saved.

• What we do with our bodies is important.  Some people think that any physical sins we commit are not that important because - hey - it's just the flesh not the spirit.  But Paul stresses that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.  It's not okay, therefore, to commit fornication with our bodies.  There is a real spiritual dimension to what we do in the flesh.