1 Corinthians 6 -- This Body Isn't Mine!

The last half of this chapter fits in nicely with the True Love Waits Bible study I’ve been teaching that finishes this weekend.  Starting in verse 12, Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians of their God-given freedom, but also he gives them some divine wisdom:  “All things are not good for me to do” and “I will not let anything make me its slave.”

It’s awfully tempting to want to cry, “Hey, no harm, no foul!” with some sexual things, but Paul says still it’s not good for us and we run the risk of becoming slaves to it.  He also mentions that some things are perfectly lawful for the believer and yet their value is temporary.  About verse 13, my commentary says, “They should not be given an undue place in the life of the believer.  Don’t live as if the greatest thing in life is to gratify your appetites.”  And he’s not talking only about food there.

That verse also says, “The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord is FOR the body.”  I hadn’t really caught that before, and my commentary said, “This means that the Lord is interested in our bodies, their welfare, and their proper use.  God wants our bodies to be presented to Him a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable … Without the Lord, the body can never attain its true dignity and its immortal destiny.”

I also read that, because He is going to one day raise us up, His interest in our bodies does not end at the time of death.  “We will not be disembodied spirits in eternity.  Rather, our spirit and soul will be reunited with our glorified body, thus to enjoy the glories of heaven forever.”

Because Jesus bought me by bearing my sins on the cross, I do not have permission or authority to use my body any way I choose.  I can no longer think of my body as my own.  It is His now.  If I try to use it the way I desire, I’m being a thief.  It must only be used to glorify God.

Father, in the eyes of the world, our bodies are our own and no holds are barred.  What a selfish mentality.  Yet this sin infection often tempts us all to do just that.  When You see me trying to do that, show me the cross in my mind.  Point out those blood-stained timbers and remind me that His blood bought me.  I am not my own.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford