Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? (I Corinthians 6:1-3)
First, about angels, when we die, we don't become angels! We are the only creation that ...God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; (Genesis 1:26) We are above ALL His creation! So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion... (Genesis 1:27-28) Through His Son and His Holy Spirit, God has revealed to us the mysteries of life, death and eternity, things which angels desire to look into. (I Peter 1:12)
When Christ Jesus returns for His 1,000 year reign on the earth, ...the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelations 20:4-6)
We who have accepted salvation through faith in Christ Jesus will reign and judge with Him, similar to the judicial system God had Moses establish with the children of Israel. So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ... Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people [like Christ], so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men [like the saints], such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them... And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge.” (Exodus 18:17-22)
The twelve apostles, the original eleven plus Paul, will judge the children of Israel. So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:28-29)
As for the angels and all who are unsaved, And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; (Jude 1:6) For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,... (II Peter 2:4,9)
If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! (I Corinthians 6:4-6)
How sad but true this is, that believers take their disputes among themselves to be resolved by unbelievers. Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! (I Corinthians 6:7-8)
We who are Christians, a part of Christ's church are not to handle our problems the way the world does. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (II Corinthians 5:17) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2) There should be people in God's church who are wise among you, who will be able to judge between his brethren.
But if there is not, why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; [Isaiah 53:9] who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (I Peter 2:21-23)
No one is getting away with anything, not even the saved! God sees everything and God will have the final judgment on all matters. Therefore, Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19) AMEN!
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