Do You Not Know? – A Wake-Up Call for the Church
Some questions hit harder than others. When someone asks, “Do you not know?” it’s usually because we should know. Either we once knew but forgot, or we never took the time to understand. It’s a phrase that signals a correction is coming—something that needs to change.
Paul uses this phrase six times in 1 Corinthians 6, confronting the Corinthian believers about their immaturity. They were suing each other over minor disputes, living in open sin, and bringing shame to the name of Christ. Instead of acting like God’s people, they were behaving just like the world.
But what if Paul wrote to our church today? Would he ask us the same kinds of questions? Would he say, “Do you not know that your life is meant to reflect Christ?” or “Do you not know that your words and actions should bear witness to a watching world?”
Paul’s first two questions in 1 Corinthians 6 challenge believers to shift their perspective:
- “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” (v.2)
- “Do you not know that we shall judge angels?” (v.3)
If we, as believers, will one day be entrusted with judging the world and even fallen angels, shouldn’t we be able to handle disputes among ourselves? Shouldn’t we seek godly wisdom rather than dragging each other into public courtrooms? Paul’s point is clear—our focus should be on eternity, not just the temporary struggles of today.
This passage challenges us to live as people who know who we are in Christ. Our words, actions, and conflicts should reflect the wisdom and grace of God, not the division and chaos of the world.
So, ask yourself: Do you not know? And if you do—are you living like it?