Chapter 6:12-20 – glorify God in your body”

“Correcting false slogans? – glorify God in your body”. Union with Christ.

[Paul asks questions as part of the way he corrects – Paul might have taught them and they should know some or all of the answers]. (Like Jesus did).

Paul had just explained how Corinthians in Christ Jesus they had been washed, made holy (sanctified), righteous, right standing before God, In Christ Jesus, by the Holy Spirt because of grace…

Now Paul will correct false understating of what freedom in Christ looks like. I was a little confused, about some of the wording, - the use of lawful in English, - with my limited Greek and my study it seems that the Danich word “tilladt” - is a more direct translation – the ESV follows the KJV – and uses lawful. It this important? (it was helpful for me to understand) Not sure but it led me to find out what it is that Paul is doing.

Paul is correcting a slogan/saying – used to justify sin -or the application of it. The Corinthian’s use Paul’s words about freedom from the law freedom in Christ to sin, prostitution, and the other sins we talked about last time. The slogan, I guess like today: “I am free in Christ to do what ever I want, free from the law to indulged in my sins”.  Nope… we are not. And Paul is correcting that: You were not freed in Christ Jesus to become a slave to your sin, (We were freed to no longer be slaves of sin). Your behavior is not helpful. Is the first correction, - I think they knew this and I think we know this. Not all things we choses to do are helpful even if they might not be sinful, I think we all can look back at our days, weeks, years and see how many things we did was not helpful, it might even have caused pain and suffering to us and others. The question should not be is this legal or aloud -it should be is this wise and helpful, in Christ Jesus?  

Paul also say I don’t what anything to dominate, master /take authority over me…  Wisdom is here again a key, and what can take the place of Jesus and dominate me, - many of the things Paul said last week, greed, sexual sins, hunger for power, coffee, candy, praise of man, computer games, our job or lack of, TV, social media? Relationships. What is wise to do? And what things try do master you? What thing do master you? (repent and ask that Jesus is your only Lord and master). (Money, feelings, time)

As I have been saying in most of this series: Jesus did not die so we could get our sin, no he died so we could be freed from our sin (We were freed to no longer be slaves of sin), to do what is right in Christ Jesus, and not be slaves to sin. And have only one Lord Jesus.

Paul also will correct some mistuning’s about our body, (some Philosophy only focus on the Spirt and say the body is bad, so there would be no problem sinning in the body, as it is bad, - and Just be with Christ in Spirt). Paul will explain that our body belongs to Jesus and is not to be used for sexual immorality. Paul ending with you are not your own – you were brought at a high price (Jesus’ life and death). That is why you should glorify God in your body.   

Let’s take a deeper look: Union with Christ.

Paul will correct another saying/slogan of the Corinthians – – (the slogan was that the body was for sex as food was from the stomach, and both will go perish).

Paul corrects and writes your body is meant for Jesus Christ and not for sexual sin, - and Paul adds that Jesus meant for our body also, head of the church. So, our body is for Jesus and Jesus is for our body. (It gives value to the body). (The body and value of it we can overdo it and underdo it, the point it that is it not for you but for Jesus). – I want the nicest/beautiful/strongest/ body, so I people will like and love me, or give me meaning in life. We are to give glory with our body to God not ourself.  (it is not worthless but it also not what gives us worth it is who’s image we were created in that gives us value). (We are united with Jesus Christ in body and spirt). (Food is not God and God is not food. Comfort eating feeling God the same with sex, is not God).

In 14 Paul point their attention to Jesus bodily resurrection, and that God will do the same to our body’s, a promise of resurrection, that Gods power will do. (Ah a new body, no pain, ackes, - one like Jesus new in God’s power). Do we have this same joy and hope to raise with Christ by Gods power? (It is a powerful hope).

In 15 Paul asks them don’t you know that your body is members of Christ? (Paul will use this metaphor in other letters). Here the main point is then honor Jesus with the use of your body – and don’t attach it to prostitutes stop that, - don’t you know what your doing? Never do that. Don’t make Christ body become one with a prostitute. 17 Instead know that you are joined to Jesus Christ, you are one spirt with Him. Wow…. One Spirt with Jesus? My body is for Jesus. I have union with Christ in body and spirt, let that sink in taste the words the meaning, one with Jesus Christ.  This is the wonderful mystery of Union with Jesus Christ; we are in body and spirt joined to Jesus our Lord and become one spirt with him. (We don’t become God but we are one with Jesus in the same spirit that rose Jesus from the death, so we are in Christ and Christ is in us, by the Holy spirt as Paul will write).

That is why you should run/flee from sexual sin, the body that is for Jesus and to be joined to him, that was washed, don’t use for sexual sin. (Don’t use Jesus body for sexual sin and Paul will expand)

Paul saying that their sexual sin is against the body, - other sins are not hurting the person’s body in the same why, as the sexual sins. (Examples - Sexual diseases. And also - physically affects as well).  Sexual sin is hurting one’s body like self-harm).  

19-20 wow again Paul so beautifully shares the good news about Jesus Christ. And about the union of the believers to Christ Jesus, - Paul is asking one more question: Don’t you know that you are the body is the temple of the Holy Spirt? (Don’t you know that Gods spirt, Jesus Spirt lives in you?) And that God sent the Holy Spirt, as Jesus promised, that God and He will come and make a home in the believer.  

Paul’s next words “You are not your own”, - stop acting like it. Instead know what price was paid for you, Jesus Christ, life and death for your sins, - you are now free (from being a slaves of sin). because of his life and work.

The good news is you are not your own, you belong to Jesus Christ, so start acting like it. Your freedom in Christ, that Jesus paid for, it not so you can sin, no it is to you can honor and glorify God with your body.   

What does it look like for you to glorify God in your body?

Paul asked them and us not to be mastered by anything. – are you?

What does it look like that you body was made for Jesus and Jesus for you?

Do you have the great hope that you will be raised in God’s power like Jesus Christ for his glory?

Do you know you are one spirt with Jesus Christ? What does that look like in your life?

Do you know you are temple for the Holy Spirt? What does that look like in your life?

You are not you own – you were bought with a great price Jesus life.  – Do you live like that?

I Christ:

Don’t let you self be controlled/mastered – fast and give it to Jesus.

My body made for Jesus and Jesus for me

I Will be raised by God’s power as Jesu was raised.

I am One spirt with Jesus Christ.

I am Temple of the Holy Spirt.

I am not my own, bought by Jesus.