1 Corinthians 6:12-20

"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.

(v12, NIV)

This is what Christian liberty is all about. Many were from pagan religions or from Judaism. Those religions were all based on rules and specific guidelines to follow in order to attain some sort of salvation. However, as Christians we know that there are certain things that we should avoid, but this does not attain salvation.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

(Eph 2:8-9, NIV)

Those at the Corinthian church probably knew this and Paul is addressing this issue. He certainly acknowledges that it is true, but he adds two important points in verse 12: "not everything is beneficial" and "I will not be mastered by anything". There are certain things we should avoid that are not beneficial or that will master us.

Another phrase that those at the Corinthian church knew and probably used as an argument in justifying their actions was: "Food for the the stomach and the stomach for food" (v13, NIV). Paul is addressing sexual immorality and the way he argues shows that maybe they used the food and stomach argument to say that it was okay to indulge in sexual immorality. They were probably thinking that since it's only natural that the stomach is meant for food and the body for sexual immorality, then we should be allowed to indulge in sexual immorality. However, they had it wrong and the body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord. In addition, both the stomach and food will be destroyed, but not the body. Our bodies will be transformed and glorified (Phil 3:21). Therefore, the body is not like either the food or the belly. As a result, this argument they are making does not make sense and they are left with an empty reasoning to continue in their sin.

Paul continues his argument against sexual immorality. He tries to show another way of looking at sexual immorality and how it is wrong. By indulging in sexual immorality, they were joining themselves to to that person or those people they slept with. This is the idea that "the two will become one flesh" (Gen 2:24, NIV). However, it is clearly wrong to join Christ with a prostitute. Yet, our bodies are members of Christ and by indulging in sexual immorality; we are in a sense joining Christ with a prostitute.

We shouldn't commit sexual immorality. These sins are different because they are sins against our own body (v18). What's more is that our bodies are meant to be a temple of the Holy Spirit (v19). Not only is it wrong because our bodies are members of Christ, but it is also a temple of the Holy Spirit. How dare we defile the temple meant for the Holy Spirit.

you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

(v20, NIV)

Now, if you borrow something from someone else, then you are probably more careful with it. At least you are if that person is a friend or someone you actually care about. However, with our own things we are usually less careful. Sure, there may be that initial stage of worry for a new car we just bought or a new toy, but there seems to be a different level of care when it's not your own. I guess you're mostly worried because you want to return it the way you got it. If you were to ruin it or destroy it, you'd hate to face that person or tell them. Or you might worry about replacing it. Now, with those thoughts the idea of our body not being our own is introduced in verse 20. Well, I guess you get a hint of it from previous verses as we are members of Christ or even that our bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit. But we have been bought with a price. We should remember that we are not our own. We should take care with this life that we have been given.

Do not commit sexual immorality. Take care with this body we have been given and honour God.