Series: Action [#79]
A LETTER OF CONCERN- HOW TO PLEASE GOD WITH YOUR BODY
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Introduction:
We have come to a new section of this Letter to the Corinthians- How to please God with your body. It should matter to Christians to please God in all areas of their lives. We need to be reminded that the Corinthian Christians were living right in the middle of a very evil society; and they were tempted to mix in the world and Christianity in their lives. They began to justify sin.
1 Corinthians 6:12-14
To please God with your body, you must understand…
1. Christian liberty.
In the NIV, there are 2 statements in quotation marks that show the Corinthians understanding and twisting of Paul’s teachings. Paul had taught them that we are saved by grace, not works. With that in mind, their attitude was, “I can do anything I want to and still go to Heaven”. That sounds very familiar to the Church in USA. Their next statement was that they needed to eat for their body and their body needed food.
To summarize these statements, they were trying to justify sin. Paul reminds us that as Christians, our body is not our own. We are to live our life for God because He has purchased our lives through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is only through Jesus that we can be saved; and in the end, our bodies will be made new. Our liberty needs to be regulated. Paul asked them 2 questions, and these fit for us as well.
* Is it useful?
* Will it enslave you?
1 Corinthians 6:15-18
To please God with your body, you must understand…
2. The nature of sexual sin.
A Christian that commits a sexual sin involves…
* God.
When a person is saved, they are united to Jesus. Because Christians are united to Jesus, you take Him everywhere you go. You cannot take Jesus off like your clothes at the end of the day- He is there.
A Christian that commits a sexual sin involves…
* A union with the other person.
Regardless of what the World says, there is no such thing as a 1 night stand. You are united with that person, like it or not.
A Christian that commits a sexual sin involves…
* Their own body.
It is easy for your body to fall into habitual sins. In fact, you brought some those habits with you when you were saved.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
To please God with your body, you must understand…
3. The Bible’s teaching about your body.
As a Christian, your body…
* Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
When you got saved, you received the Holy Spirit into your life.
As a Christian, your body…
* Belongs to God.
You do not belong to yourself.
Conclusion:
How you live your life matters. It is not just about being saved and having your ticket to Heaven. Your life should be about pleasing God.
