1 Corinthians 6:1-2, The Saints Shall Judge the World
1 Corinthians 6:1-2 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Daniel writes of a future kingdom amongst men where God’s people stands in judgment ruling the world – Daniel 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Our Lord Jesus says in the time when He returns to rule in His creation, the disciples of Jesus will be given the authority to stand in judgment even over Israel – Matthew 19:28 …Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. The Apostle John writes concerning the future reign of Christians in the millennium – Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
The Apostle Paul is alluding to the true worth of the believer having the capacity and ability to make judgments in the future. As such, he is worthy even now to be a judge in an matter of disputes among God’s people. There is the leadership of the church that should be able to help resolve differences between brethren. And for the gravity of the matter at hand, the Apostle Paul is confident that the believer with the indwelling Holy Spirit and the counsel of God’s Word would have the ability to resolve differences between brethren. There is no logical or moral ground that one should take a dispute among brethren to the secular courts for settlement. Having been freed from the bondage of sin, the believer has the ability to exercise the spirit’s fruit that will stand him in good stead to help resolve any dispute among brethren. The Apostle Paul asking the believers in Corinth to step in to seek peace and restore peace between disputing persons.
May God’s peace prevail as God’s people calmly esteem the other better than themselves and humbly make peace and be willing to forgive one another. Amen.