THE CASE FOR MORAL PURITY
I CORINTHIANS 6:12-20
INTRODUCTION: Some people in Corinth had misconstrued Paul’s message about Christian liberty. They concluded that because they were free in Christ they could express their sexuality in any form. Sound anything like today? Paul writes to them trying to help them get a grip on sexuality. He describes sexuality on a different plane.
I. The Assessment
Let’s assess this situation.
A. The Philosophy of the City: In that day the church was seduced by the spirit of the age. To many in that culture the body meant nothing. Only the soul and spirit mattered. What was done in the body was of little significance. The “Ascetics” (legalists) sought to suppress biological drives. The “Antinomians” (liberals) freed themselves from all moral restraints, believed the body was evil and it could never be good and in the end would perish anyway, therefore one could do with it as one pleased. It seems many had come into the church and were having a difficult time overcoming their former practices.
B. The Practice of the Corinthians: Corinth was a sexually saturated society. Sexual misconduct was rampant. It was the way of life for many. It was a lifestyle some were having difficulty overcoming. Many were trying to justify their practices with the concept of Christian freedom.
II. The Arguments (6:12-13)
A. The Corinthians Arguments: They took the gospel of grace and made it into a license to sin. “Permissible” = lawful. Being under grace, they were free to do as they pleased. That’s argument number one.
The second argument – “Food for the stomach…” The thought here is that God gave natural desires and, therefore, it was natural to satisfy those desires whenever and however one pleased. Conclusion = “Sex for the body and the body for sex.”
B. Paul’s Answers: Here are two strong rebuttals. The first is, “It may be permissible but is it beneficial?” “Expedient” = worthwhile, helpful. We should be governed by the effect upon other people. Some things need to be avoided because they do not benefit (build up) others. The second is simply this. The body is meant for the Lord.
III. The Affirmations (v.14-17)
Paul gives the Christian view regarding the body. One is not to play fast and loose with it because it is for God’s use.
A. The Relationship of the Body and Christ (v.14-15): God always works through a human body. Jesus had a body. The Holy Spirits indwells the body. The church is His body. Each Christian is part of the body. The body is not to be used for immoral purposes.
B. The Results of Immorality (v.16-17): Will we take that through which God’s will is to be done and yield it in the sinful purpose of Satan? His spirit can enable us to control the body. Consequences follow immorality.
IV. The Appeal (v.18-20).
A. The Revelation (v.18): The only sin in the Bible we are told to “run” from is the sin of immorality. Why? We’re not strong enough to resist it when put in a tempting situation. “Shun” = a present tense imperative (command). “Immorality” = fornication, pornography. Study Proverbs 5-7. Contrast David/Bathsheba and Joseph/Potiphar’s wife.
B. The Reminder (v.19-20): The body of the believer is the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit. We have no right to injure God’s property. We no longer belong to ourselves but to God.
CONCLUSION: Glorify God in your body.
