HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODIES

Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Key verse: 19b,20

NIV

Sexual Immorality

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(A) “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.”(B) The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord,(C) and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead,(D) and he will raise us also.(E) 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?(F) Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”[a](G) 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.[b](H)

18 Flee from sexual immorality.(I) All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.(J) 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples(K) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;(L) 20 you were bought at a price.(M) Therefore honor God with your bodies.(N)

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 6:16 Gen. 2:24
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:17 Or in the Spirit
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Flee Sexual Immorality

12 (A)“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 (B)“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one (C)and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but (D)for the Lord, and (E)the Lord for the body. 14 And (F)God raised the Lord and (G)will also raise us up (H)by his power. 15 Do you not know that (I)your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined[a] to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, (J)“The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord (K)becomes one spirit with him. 18 (L)Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin[b] a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person (M)sins against his own body. 19 Or (N)do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? (O)You are not your own, 20 (P)for you were bought with a price. (Q)So glorify God in your body.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 6:16 Or who holds fast (compare Genesis 2:24 and Deuteronomy 10:20); also verse 17
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Or Every sin
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The body for the Lord; the Lord for the body (12-17)

The Corinthians believed they had the freedom to do anything they pleased because of the gospel. They were right that the gospel sets us free. That does not mean we can behave any way we want. Our bodies are not made for our pleasure. Our bodies are made to worship and serve the Lord. Our bodies are for the Lord and the Lord for our bodies, Paul said. The Lord raised Jesus Christ from the dead in order to give new life to our bodies. We were separated from the Lord because of our sins. But because Christ died, we are now united with him. We should use our freedom to be united with Christ.

2. You were bought at a price (18-2

)

Sexual immorality was a major problem in the city of Corinth. As those united with Christ, Paul urged them to flee from sexual immorality. How can bodies that have been united with Christ engage in this kind of practice? We do not belong to ourselves! Our bodies have been bought by the Lord through the sacrifice of His Son. We belong to Him! Let us use our bodies to honor God.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus, who you sent to die for our sins. Help me to honor you with my body.

One Word: Honor God with our bodies