"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"
Our Bodies Belong To God (6:19-20)
INTRODUCTION
1. The name of a popular book for women is "Our Bodies, Ourselves"...
a. Self-described as "a book by and for women about health and sexuality"
b. Which among other things approves of abortion and lesbianism
-- The premise is that women are free to do with their bodies as they wish
2. The Bible contradicts such a premise for both men and women in Christ...
a. We do not have the right to do whatever we desire with our bodies
b. We belong to God, both body and spirit
-- We are not ourselves, but God's!
[Nowhere is this stated more clearly than in our text (1Co 6:19-20),
where Christians are told...]
I. OUR BODIES ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. IN WHICH THE SPIRIT INDWELLS...
1. Written elsewhere of the church in general
- 1Co 3:16-17; 2 Co 6:16; Ep 2:21-22 2. Applied in our text to our bodies individually - 1Co 6:19 3. As motivation for holy living, to flee sexual immorality - cf. 1Co 6:13-19 -- The fact of the Spirit's indwelling should affect how we use our bodies! B. THE SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO US FROM GOD... 1. Promised to those who believe, repent and are baptized
- Jn 7:37-39; Ac 2:38-39 2. Received by those who obey God - Ac 5:32; Ga 3:26-27; 4:6 3. An earnest (down payment) of our ultimate redemption - Ep 1: 13-14; 4:30; 2Co 1:22 -- The blessing of the Spirit's indwelling should impact how we use our bodies! [To drive the point home that we are not free to use our bodies however we wish, our text also says...] II. OUR BODIES WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE A. WE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT... 1. By the blood of Christ - Ac 20:28; 1Pe 1:18-19 2. Both body and soul - 1Co 6:19-20 3. Thus we also look for the redemption of the body (i.e., resurrection) - Ro 8:23 -- God purchased our bodies for both now and the future! B. WE ARE NOT OUR OWN... 1. As Paul clearly states in our text - 1Co 6:19c 2. As Paul stresses time and again elsewhere
- Ro 14:7-8; 2 Co 5:15; Tit 2:14 -- We were redeemed to be the Lord's special people! [Redeemed by the blood of Christ, our bodies are not our own. Indeed, as our text reveals...] III. OUR BODIES ARE TO GLORIFY GOD A. OUR BODIES... 1. Are now members of Christ - 1Co 6:13-15 a. To be used for the Lord, not immorality b. Otherwise we make members of Christ members of a harlot! 2. Are now to be instruments of righteousness - Ro 6:12-13,19 a. No longer instruments of unrighteousness to sin b. No longer slaves of uncleanness leading to lawlessness -- Clearly they are not to be used for sin or self! B. TO GLORIFY GOD... 1. By how we live - Ro 12:1-2 a. Living sacrificial, holy lives, acceptable to God b. Demonstrating that God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect 2. By how we die - Php 1:20-21 a. Magnifying God in how we die (e.g., with faith and hope) b. Knowing that to die is gain for the Christian - cf. Php 1:23 -- Clearly our bodies are to glorify God, not self! CONCLUSION 1. The world would have us view our bodies... a. As owned by ourselves, and no one has a right to tell us how to use it b. As an instrument of pleasure, to be used as we please c. As something to be discarded at death, needed no more 2. God would have us view our bodies... a. As the temple of the Holy Spirit b. As belonging to God, purchased at a price c. As an instrument through which we are to glorify Him d. As that which will be redeemed, when raised and given immortality as a spiritual body for the soul Indeed, our bodies are gifts from God of which we must be wise stewards. Are we using our bodies in ways that glorify Him...? "...therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1Co 6:20
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