1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Q.1. Are we free as Christians to do whatever is lawful? How should we use our bodies? What has God planned for the body? How can we be sure? To whom do our bodies belong? – (1 Cor.6:12-14)
Paul addressed a number of matters of conscience and Christian liberty (1 Cor.6:12; 8:1-2; 10:23). Even though some things may be lawful, Paul challenged us to think through the ramifications – All 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 (1 Cor.6:12). The Judaizers observed all kinds of rules relating to food, even though Jesus had declared such food to be clean (Mk.7:19; Col.2:16-17). When our body dies, we will no longer be able to glorify God on earth. Therefore, food has a legitimate place until we are raised to eternal life. Since God has such lofty plans for us, we should refrain from using our bodies for immorality (1 Cor.6:13-14). Our hope for future blessedness is based on the historic resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Cor.6:14). Christ paid for our bodies with His own precious blood (1 Pet.1:18-19). When we receive Him, we are acknowledging that He owns all of us.
Q.2. What case did Paul make against immorality? What is the result of sexual union with someone? Why did Paul draw the line between sexual sin and all other sins? – (1 Cor.6:15-18)
Paul pointed out the treachery of giving our bodies to a prostitute, since our sexual union with someone reflects that – the two shall become one flesh (1 Cor.6:16 c.f. Gen.2:24). Only sexual union with our spouse is acceptable, because – the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Cor.6:17). We should consider such unfaithfulness as immorality (1 Cor.6:18). Paul revealed that sexual sin is in a category of its own … because it joins you to that other person forever (1 Cor.6:18). He stated that all other sin is – outside the body and does not join us permanently to the one who shares in that sin (1 Cor.6:18). Sexual sin is deeply embedded in our psyche, beyond all other sins.
Q.3. Why should we flee immorality? In what way does God become part of the believer? What is the implication of this truth? How great was the price of redeeming you? – (1 Cor.6:19-20)
Not only does sexual immorality lodge itself in the brain, thus making it hard to overcome, it grieves the Holy Spirit Who took up residence in us at conversion (1 Cor.6:19 c.f. Eph.4:30). We are under new management and belong to God – 19 … your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own. 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body (1 Cor.6:19-20). A powerful way to resist the temptation to commit sexual sin is to remember the price Christ paid when – He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness … (1 Pet.2:24). We should use our bodies to glorify God.