Exhortation to Moral Purity (6.12-.20)

The prevalence of sexual immorality in Corinth was astonishingly widespread and can only be compared to our modern times. First Corinthians may be the most applicable book to modern readers in all of Scripture. Along with sexual openness came proverbial, well, proverbs -- or slogans -- that excused such behavior. For those who think “If it feels good, do it” or “I should be able to do whatever I want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone,” needs a history lesson. These mantras have excused sinful behavior for thousands of years. Don’t believe me? Try comparing them to some of Paul’s examples:

• “Everything is permissible for me.” This is easily refuted with wisdom, for even if everything were permissible not everything would be beneficial, neither should one be mastered by a vice.
• “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food.” On the surface such a slogan appears wise, perhaps even paralleling Jesus’ teaching to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.” But Paul teaches correctly the truth behind Jesus’ words — that which perishes is not important. One day, God will destroy both food and the body. And while it may be true that the purpose of food is to be eaten, the purpose of the body is not sexual immorality.

Just what is the purpose of our bodies? To be united with the Lord (v.13 and .17). The reasoning behind this truth is related to our past, present and future. In the past, God caused the bodily resurrection of Jesus. This purchased our salvation, and what a price that God paid for us on the cross! In the future our bodies will also be physically resurrected. For the present, however, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, meaning we are inexplicably joined to our holy God. To join ourselves with unrighteousness after we have been joined with our righteous Lord is the most loathsome act of all. Paul’s directive is clear and right: we must honor God with our bodies.

In conclusion, beginning in chapter five with a lesson of zero tolerance for sin within the church, Paul reasons to the end of chapter six a lesson of zero tolerance of sin within our own bodies. Such intolerance is to be tempered, however, toward the world that needs the message we can bring. We are not to retaliate against our brothers who wrong us, but rather disassociate with sinners who claim Christ until their repentance is complete.

Tomorrow we’ll start examining part three of 1 Corinthians, Difficulties of the Church.