PURPOSE: HONORING CHRIST (1 Corinthians 6:12-14)

In 1 Corinthians 6:12-14, Paul responds to the Corinthians' belief that "all things are lawful" by cautioning them, stating that "not all lawful things are beneficial." He directly addresses the issue of sexual immorality and prostitution rampant in Corinth. Paul emphatically asserts that our bodies are not meant for immorality but are dedicated to the Lord. As believers, we belong to Him, and therefore, our life's mission should center around the honorable service of God in all aspects of our lives: in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

As followers of Jesus, we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). Keeping ourselves pure is not only a way of giving honor to Christ but also to His purpose and will for our lives. God's desire for us is to lead lives of purity (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). Instead of being solely focused on immediate physical desires, we should recognize that God has an incredible long-term plan in store. Just as He raised Jesus from the dead and bestowed upon Him a glorious, supernatural body, we can anticipate a similar transformation awaiting us. By honoring Christ today, we are preparing ourselves to honor Him eternally in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

PRIVILEGE: UNITED WITH CHRIST (1 Corinthians 6:15-18)

The apostle Paul emphasizes that we are members of the body of Christ. God designed physical intimacy exclusively for a married biological man and woman. This union goes beyond the physical and mirrors the intimate relationship God desires to have with us. Just as the physical union is reserved for husband and wife, so too is our spiritual union with Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, the apostle Paul compares our spiritual journey as believers to a marriage. He wants us to maintain our commitment to Christ's purity, akin to a bride's faithfulness to her husband. Paul's message is simple: Flee immorality and guard our hearts from anything that would lead us away from our relationship with God.

The contrasting stories of David and Joseph in the Bible serve as powerful illustrations of the importance of maintaining a strong and unwavering commitment to the Lord in the face of temptation. David, despite being a man after God's own heart, had moments of weakness when he succumbed to temptation. David's affair had severe repercussions, including the loss of God's favor and turmoil in his own family. Joseph, on the other hand, is a shining example of moral integrity and devotion to the Lord. When Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him, he firmly resisted her advances. His ability to do so was rooted in his deep faith and vertical worship of God. He recognized that his commitment to God was more important than momentary earthly pleasures. This not only preserved his purity but also led to God's favor and eventual exaltation in Egypt.

PRECIOUS: BOUGHT BY CHRIST (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Our bodies are precious because they have been purchased by Christ. They serve as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (v.19). In the Old Testament, the temple was a place dedicated to God (1 Chronicles 29:1-5). It was a magnificent and unique structure, with nothing on earth comparable to Solomon's temple. During its dedication, the glory of the Lord filled the temple with radiant light (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). Today, we are God's temple (Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 1:15-16), and our bodies are precious because Christ has redeemed them (v.20). We should allow the light of Christ to shine through us.