1Cor. 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul first addressed the issue of pride due to association with individuals and reminded them that every believer in the body of Christ is important only as one who speaks and lives by the truth of Christ and who should glory only in the fact that they know Christ. He also focused on the wisdom of God vs. the wisdom of men and how we should be dependent upon the Spirit for teaching and discernment. He challenged them with the fact that they were still “babes in Christ” as reflected in their actions and attitudes (envying, strife, and divisions). He reminded them that believers are accountable to God for their participation in “God’s building,” His temple God expects us to be faithful servants and/or stewards in whatever area He has placed us for service.
It would seem that once we succumb to the deception of pride and begin to reason with the wisdom of men, if left unchecked, we will soon find ourselves in other areas of sin because we have taken Christ off the throne and installed self in His place.
Things had deteriorated to such a point in the church at Corinth that they were allowing blatant sin to be practiced in the church. It wasn’t a minor offense. It was a commonly known fact in the community that one of the members of the church was having sexual relations with his father’s wife, his stepmother. This kind of fornication was not even accepted among the Gentiles (the heathen).
This reminds me so much of the condition of the church in America today. The spiritual leaders of the church have become so caught up in their own wisdom that they feel they can ignore the teaching of the whole scripture and only focus on what makes their congregation feel comfortable. Some feel that they can twist the interpretation of scripture to accommodate the desires of society rather than drawing a distinct difference between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of men. We have taken God off the throne and replaced Him with man.
1Cor. 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
The members of this church had become so deceived by pride that they weren’t even grieved at how this was affecting the body of Christ, the testimony of the church. They didn’t even consider expelling the offending member from the church. We have a similar mentality today that wants to make excuses for the sinner. Our correct response is to be grieved, to be sorrowful.
Since the woman is not identified for discipline, it would seem that she was not a Christian or part of the church.
“puffed up” – Again, it describes many in the professing church in America today. The “church” is full of men (and women) who are caught up in their own wisdom. They expound a God of love with no wrath, a God of mercy and compassion with no judgment.
1Cor. 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Cor. 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Cor. 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Paul, on the other hand, even though he is absent in body, he is connected to this body of believers in spirit. He has a vested interest in them. He is quick to identify the actions of this man as sin. He has the ability to make a clear-cut judgment based on the truth of the Word of God. The scripture over and over identifies fornication as sin and as unacceptable behavior before God.
In a position of spiritual authority, Paul is instructing the body of believers to gather together in the name of “our LORD Jesus Christ.” This would imply with unity of spirit. This would also be a declaration of their submission to Jesus Christ as LORD (Greek – supreme in authority). Once gathered, they are to deliver the fornicator “unto Satan”—expel him from the church.
This effectively removes the person from fellowship and thrusts him into the uninhibited influence of the enemy. It’s easy to look from today’s perspective and understand that the destruction of the flesh could involve developing venereal disease or Aids. As I continued to focus on the rest of the verse, it would seem that the emphasis is on the condition of the spirit. When the flesh is in control, you are in bondage to the flesh and can no longer experience the freedom found in service to God that results in peace and fulfillment. This would serve to bring a true believer to his knees in repentance before Almighty God. It was interesting to see the Greek for the word saved; the words that stood out to me were “heal, make whole.” The punishment is exacted in order to bring about spiritual healing.
We learn in 2Corinthians 2 that the discipline produced the desired result.
Guzik: “This man, though a Christian, was at this time given over to the sins of the flesh. Paul says that as they put him out, the man will be given over to the sinful consequences of his flesh, and the hope is that by wallowing in the results of his sin, the sinful impulse of the flesh in this particular area will be ‘destroyed.’…In today’s church culture, this rarely brings a sinner to repentance, because they can so easily just go to another church and pretend that nothing happened at their old church. Or, it is easy for them to play the victim, and act as if their former church was cruel towards them.”
1Cor. 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Again, Paul started this letter addressing the matter of “spiritual boasting.” It is not good. The Greek for good referenced honest and worthy among other things. Their boasting is a dishonest representation that is not worthy of their position “in Christ.”
After pointing out the necessity of judgment for the good of the sinner, Paul goes on to warn of the danger to the church in allowing sin to go without discipline. He used a common illustration that is employed consistently throughout scripture—“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Just as a little leaven will permeate the whole loaf of bread, a little sin left unchecked will spread throughout the whole church.
Church discipline is almost a non-factor in the church today. This has enabled Satan to establish false prophets and teachers in the body of believers more easily and to greater effect. I think we have lost sight of the fact that the purpose of the assembly of the church is to build up, edify, and equip the body of believers for ministry—at all levels, from babe in Christ to those mature in Christ. New believers are brought into the church by believers. They may come to know Christ at a church service, but that is not the main purpose for the assembling together of believers.
Ephesians 4:11-16 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
1Cor. 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Cor. 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
By getting rid of those who blatantly practice sin in disregard of the Word of God, the body of believers cleanses itself. We are a new creation in Christ as believers; we have been declared righteous in Christ. By getting rid of the leaven, the church again correctly reflects its position in Christ.
When the Passover was established, an emphasis was made to clean the houses of leaven and to eat only unleavened bread for the duration of the feast week. Christ is our Passover Lamb; He is the sacrifice that provides our deliverance. The feast week is actually applicable to our lives as believers. We are to get rid of the leaven in our lives—the leaven of malice (badness, depravity, evil) and wickedness (depravity, hurtful, evil, degenerate, harmful). Instead, we should live a life of sincerity (clearness, purity, genuine) and truth (not concealing, faithful).
1Cor. 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Evidently, Paul had written at least one previous letter to this church that was not meant to be included in the scriptures. In that letter he had told them specifically not to keep company with fornicators. The context of this chapter makes it clear that Paul is addressing the physical sin.
1Cor. 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
Now Paul feels the need to clarify the previous statement. Obviously, the body of believers could not totally avoid contact with those who were fornicators, or were covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters. To do so would be impossible. Besides that, you can’t share the gospel without associating with the lost. We are to be “in the world, but not of it.” The key is avoiding intimate fellowship that would begin to work as leaven in your own life or the body of believers.
“covetous” = holding (desiring) more, i.e. eager for gain (avaricious, hence a defrauder)
“extortioners” = rapacious, to take by force; Webster = the act or practice of wresting anything from a person by force, by threats, or by any undue exercise of power; undue exaction; overcharge.
“idolaters” = image worshippers (in practice or in heart)
These must be some of the more common sins associated with the city of Corinth. They all reflect a desire to gratify the flesh no matter the cost. That made the sin being addressed in the chapter all the more serious regarding the testimony of those claiming to be servants of the LORD. The people of the city would look on and see an obviously hypocritical commitment to the LORD they claimed to serve. If Christians could tolerate such action in one of their own, they should be able to tolerate the same action, or any other for that matter, in others. After all, right and wrong are relative—right?
We are meant to be salt and light in this world. Those who are lost should be able to look at our lives and see a distinct difference in how we live vs. the rest of the world. They should see a peace and joy reflected in our lives that only obedience to the LORD can produce. They should see a humble, servant spirit in the heart of those who claim Jesus as LORD.
1Cor. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Now Paul gets more specific. You are not to even share a meal with one who claims to be a brother in the faith if you know that person is a “fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner.” Two other categories were added to this admonishment in comparison to the previous one—railers and drunkards.
“railer” = abusive, blackguard
Paul raises the standard for those who claim to be believers. If people claim to be believers and their lives exemplify these traits, you aren’t even to eat in the company of that person (a sign of intimate fellowship).
As I continued to look at this section, I couldn’t help but perceive a difference in the admonishment of verses 9-10 with this verse. Why would Paul even have to make a difference? Corinth was a city with a very worldly culture—much like many of our large cities today. The temptations and opportunities for sin were numerous. Interaction with unbelievers was unavoidable and in fact necessary to the spread of the gospel. To have close fellowship with those who claim to be believers, but whose lives do not prove their belief, is to set yourself up for a fall. That is the whole purpose regarding the teaching of the leaven. My friend Dixie worded it like this: “Until the leaven is mixed with the flour, it is powerless. It’s one thing to be a witness to those who are outside the body, and quite another to accept one who is corrupt as part of the body.”
1Cor. 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Cor. 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Paul is basically saying that he has no authority to pass judgment on those who are not a part of the body of Christ; however, we are expected to guard against allowing those who practice sin to remain part of the body.
God is the only one with the authority to judge another person with condemnation. The same Greek word is used for the word judge/judgeth in both of these verses. It carries a wide variety of meanings.
“judge” - to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:—avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
Based on the context of this chapter in 1Corinthians, it makes sense to understand the first “judge” in verse 12 to reference condemnation and the word “judgeth” in verse 13 to reference judgment with condemnation or punishment. The second use of “judge” in verse 12 would reference making a determination of the need for spiritual discipline. When sin is the dominant feature of someone’s life, we are to separate them from the body and the privileges associated with fellowship in order to allow God to condemn or bring to a position of repentance. That is His work—not ours. Our job is to nurture the body of Christ and provoke one another to love and good works, to serve as light and salt in this world by how we live, and to share the gospel with those who are lost.
Hebrews 10:24” And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works….”
Matthew 5:14 & 16 “Ye are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
1Cor. 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Paul asks many questions in this chapter. He is trying to provoke the believers to think and reason with spiritual perspective. The subject in the previous chapter concerned the importance of keeping the body of believers pure by using discernment and discipline as needed to protect the church. The importance of dealing with such serious sins as discussed in the previous section is followed by a discussion of dealing with matters of a less serious nature in the body of believers.
The Greek for matter indicates a reference to business practices and transactions. The Greek for dare indicates “boldness, extreme conduct.”
I sense that Paul is saying, “If you (as believers) are responsible to discern and discipline regarding sins of such a serious nature (as in the previous chapter), shouldn’t you be able to make judgments regarding fair and honest dealings with one another? Do you actually think unjust (heathen, wicked) judges will deal with you more fairly than the saints (those who are set apart as righteous before God)?”
The obvious answer should be that we would trust fellow members of the body to judge righteously.
When we (the body of believers) air our dirty laundry in public, it provides fodder for the ridicule of our faith and our LORD.
1Cor. 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
“saints shall judge the world” – This seems to be a reference to ruling with Christ in His millennial kingdom when He is on the throne of David. The disciples were specifically told that they would rule on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:28 “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Believers have been promised a position of rulership in the kingdom.
Revelation. 2:26-27 “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”
Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Revelation 5:9-10 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
Since God is going to trust the saints with such great responsibility, shouldn’t we be considered trustworthy in judging matters among ourselves?
1Cor. 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
“we shall judge angels” – As believers, we are children of God and joint-heirs with Christ. This would have to be a reference to the fallen angels, and I think we will basically serve as witnesses to God’s judgment.
Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Our position as heirs is permanent. Christ is on the throne next to His Father. All creation is subject to Him. As joint-heirs with Christ, we are elevated to a position that is no longer “a little lower than the angels.”
1Peter 3:22 “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”
The question Paul poses in the second half of the verse makes it clear that our position in authority over the angels will be a part of our resurrected life. Just as Christ has had to wait to assume His full inheritance, so will we.
1Cor. 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
This verse sure reads differently in all the translations. I think Paul is saying that even those who seem to be least qualified in the body of believers would be a better judge than “the unjust” (cf verse 1). Every believer has the Holy Spirit available to give wisdom and instruction as needed. Paul established this ministry of the Spirit in chapter 2.
1Corinthians 2:12-13 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
God has promised every believer that if we will but ask in faith (with confident expectation), wisdom is ours.
James 1:5-6 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”
1Cor. 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
“shame” = consciousness of having done something which injures reputation… that which brings reproach, and degrades a person in the estimation of others; disgrace.
I think the shame being referenced is to the church as a whole more than just specific individuals. I thought the definition for shame was to the point. As members of the body of Christ, they should be able to recognize that their actions are affecting the reputation of the church, which in turn brings reproach to the name of Christ.
Paul is basically saying, “Is it really true that there is not one person in the church who is capable of making righteous judgment regarding problems that may arise between believers?”
The obvious answer—No, that is not true.
1Cor. 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
Christians are supposed to be examples of love to the world, especially toward one another.
John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
In fact, the Lord instructed His followers to love their enemies.
Luke 6:35 “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
One of a Christian’s top priorities should be to guard his testimony (as part of the testimony of the church) before unbelievers.
1Cor. 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
Paul states that for the believer to seek judgment from a fellow believer outside the jurisdiction of the church is a fault—defect, blemish, impairs excellence, a moral failing. It is much better to suffer wrong or unjust treatment from a brother in Christ than to air your dirty laundry before unbelievers so to speak.
1Cor. 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Sad to say, the body of believers includes those who do wrong to fellow believers; those who defraud other believers.
“defraud” = To deprive of some right, interest, or property, by a deceitful device; to withhold from wrongfully; to injure by embezzlement; to cheat….
I feel the need to make a qualifying comment here. Believers can and do sin. But one who makes a practice of defrauding others as a way of life would not be giving evidence of belonging to the body of Christ. There would be a point that would require church discipline if one person was continually taking advantage of others through their association with the church. This would fall in the category of not allowing leaven/sin to infiltrate the church and affect the whole body.
1Cor. 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Cor. 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
“the kingdom of God” = those who have accepted Jesus as LORD
There is a parable in Luke 19 that I think clarifies this truth.
Luke 19:11-15 & 27 “And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading….But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”
Paul goes on to make his own qualifying comment. He reminds the Corinthian church that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? The unrighteous are those who have rejected Jesus and the righteousness He provides through salvation. Paul urges them not to be deceived; in other words, people who practice the following sins as a way of life without repentance are not joint-heirs with Christ and will not be part of the kingdom since they have rejected the King.
Fornicators – those who practice sex outside of marriage
Idolators – those who worship false gods
Adulterers – those who practice sex with someone other than their spouse
Effeminate – catamite (a boy kept for unnatural purposes); a man acting like a woman
Abusers of themselves with mankind – sodomite; homosexual
Thieves
Covetous – avaricious, greedy
Drunkards
Revilers – those who verbally abuse others
Extortioners – those who take by force or through abuse of power or authority
1Cor. 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that some of them had practiced the sins mentioned in verse 10 as a way of life before they became Christians. The important point is that this is part of their past; they are now new creations in Christ.
2Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
They have been washed; they didn’t wash themselves. They were washed by the Lamb, Jesus Christ, in His blood.
Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood….”
I thought it was interesting that the Greek for washed stated “to wash fully.” One of the root words stated “it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.” This paints a clear word picture of what this complete washing does. It separates the believer from the old man of sin that he was; he has departed his old way of life and chosen to cease from practicing sin. He has made a complete reversal in his way of thinking by repenting of his sin and choosing to follow Jesus.
Not only is the believer washed, he is also sanctified (made holy, purified). Again, this is an act of Jesus on our behalf. On what is our sanctification based? According to Jesus when He was speaking to Saul on the road to Damascus, it is through faith in Jesus as the Savior.
Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Not only is the believer washed and sanctified, he is also justified (regarded as innocent, righteous—just as if I’d never sinned). I thought it was interesting to note that it is the Spirit who recognizes our condition and position in the name of the “LORD Jesus.” The LORD Jesus declares us completely washed, sanctified and justified. Through His declaration, the Holy Spirit, God’s own Spirit, takes up residence in the believer as our seal of security.
2Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
“sealed” = stamped for security or preservation
“earnest” = pledge or property given in advance as security for what is to come.
“by the Spirit” – The Greek for the word “by” stated “a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest…” As I thought about this, it seems that the Spirit is our personal spiritual mentor. His ministry includes teaching us, guiding us, convicting us, bringing us to repentance, and interceding for us according to the will of the Father.
Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
This makes me think of Philippians 1:6, “…He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
We are washed, but we still get dirty; we sin. This was the point Jesus made when He washed the feet of the disciples.
John 13:10 “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”
We still need to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness to stay clean.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Regarding sanctification, we become more holy as we become more Christlike; it’s a progressive process, a growth in spiritual maturity. It is through the ministry of the Spirit that we are made aware of our areas of weakness and encouraged to develop spiritual muscle and discipline that results in spiritual growth.
Justification is attained through faith based on the shed blood of Jesus because of His grace.
Romans 5:1, 8-9 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ….But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
Titus 3:7 “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
It would seem that it is the Holy Spirit Who keeps the believer secure in this position.
1Peter 1:5 “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Because it is God working in and through us through the Spirit, our position is secure; however, our growth and level of success is directly proportionate to the degree that we yield to His working.
Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God.”
1Cor. 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
I like the wording of the NIV for this verse: “Everything is permissible for me” — but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” — but I will not be mastered by anything.
The main point being made is that the believer is no longer under the law. The law was necessary because of our sin nature. The believer is a new creation and technically should no longer need the law. Problem is, we are still connected to these physical bodies of sin until we are glorified through the rapture or resurrection. Because of that, the spirit will continually be at war with the flesh. The renewed spirit of the believer, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, has the wisdom to recognize that not all things are beneficial or profitable or conducive to spiritual growth. To allow sin to have a place in our life is to set ourselves up for bondage again. That is the major point of warning in the book of Galatians. Scripture is clear that we can only serve one master. You cannot be in bondage to sin and live free in grace at the same time. You have to make a choice, just as Joshua did.
Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
The following quote from JFB was thought provoking: “Unlawful things ruin thousands; ‘lawful’ things (unlawfully used), ten thousands.”
Stedman: “The things that hurt you always have a tendency to be habit forming. Have you noticed that? You tend to keep on doing them. They hurt you because they are fun. They give you a certain degree of pleasure, and that is why you do not mind the hurt so much, but that degree of pleasure is habit-forming, either physically or emotionally or in whatever way….that creates a slavery of its own.”
1Cor. 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
“meats” = food
I am reminded that the Corinthians are surrounded by a culture in which basically anything goes. Paul is making a difference in this verse regarding things that affect the physical vs. those that affect the spiritual. When one becomes a Christian, the physical body still needs food to survive. That will one day change. We will still be able to enjoy food (as evidenced by the risen Lord before He went back to heaven to await His earthly throne), but we won’t need it. As Christians, our bodies are to be presented as living sacrifices to God; we are the temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit (which is the argument Paul is making as indicated in the upcoming verses).
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
1Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
Until God takes us home, we are to provide what is necessary for the body so that we may serve God as He so desires to use us while here in this body. Fornication fulfills the lust of the flesh and is associated with idolatry. The believer who commits fornication basically includes the LORD in the process since He lives in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.
Guzik (in context with the previous verse): “The Corinthian Christians probably used this motto to justify giving their bodies whatever their bodies wanted. ‘My body wants food, so I eat. My body wants sex, so I hire a prostitute. What’s the problem?’”
1Cor. 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
God the Father raised Jesus from the dead to a glorified body. He is just as surely going to raise up believers from the dead to a glorified body. He is the only Being that possesses that power and authority.
1Cor. 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
Paul has evidently taught the Corinthian believers previously regarding the truth he is stating and is now reminding them of that truth. They are part of the body of Christ. He reiterates this truth in several of his epistles.
Romans 12:4-5 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
Ephesians 1:22-23 “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Colossians 1:12-13 & 18 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son….And he is the head of the body, the church….”
Since we are part of the body of Christ, we should not do anything that would dishonor God or go against His word.
1Corinthians 3:17 “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
This is a principle that has really helped me in making better decisions regarding how to use my time in particular and in making choices regarding the things that I allow to “entertain” me. I want the LORD in the person of His Holy Spirit to be at home and find pleasure in the temple of my body.
Wiersbe: “God the Father created our bodies; God the Son redeemed them and made them part of His body; and God the Spirit indwells our bodies and makes them the very temple of God. How can we defile God’s temple by using our bodies for immorality?”
1Cor. 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
1Cor. 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Paul continues to hammer home the difference in physical and spiritual perspectives. When God looks at a man and woman in physical union, He sees one body—a physical connection that completes the intent of the Creator for man and woman in the flesh. When God looks at the person who has accepted the gift of salvation through the Son, He sees the spiritual connection that was intended between the Creator and man/woman in the spirit. When the believer commits such a sin, a shameful imprint is left upon his spirit that weakens his/her connection in the spirit to the Savior. This continues to emphasize the importance of decisions made by the believer; they should be made with priority given to the benefit to the spirit vs. the benefit to the flesh.
Paul makes no mention of God-ordained physical union between a married man and woman. Why? Because it is just that—God-ordained, God’s provision for the physical and emotional needs between men and women and to enhance their enjoyment of the creation He made for them. Decisions made according to God’s word are beneficial to our spiritual well-being; decisions made contrary to God’s word are detrimental to spiritual well-being.
1Cor. 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
What is the obvious conclusion? Flee fornication. (Joseph is a good example of using this wisdom when he fled from Potiphar’s wife, Genesis 39.) When a believer connects sexually with another person outside the confines of marriage, he is using a body that is joined to the LORD in spirit.
I’m having a hard time with this verse. Basically, any sin that we do as believers in essence is using a body that is connected to the Lord in spirit. I guess the difference is in God’s perspective. No other sin connects the body in the flesh so closely to the sin as that of fornication. Jesus taught that if your eye offend thee, it would be better to pluck it out and if your hand offend thee, to cut it off.
Matthew 5:29-30 “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”
You can’t use that reasoning when it comes to fornication; it involves the whole body.
1Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Cor. 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Paul continues to drive his point home. As believers, our body is the temple of the indwelling Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost. Our body no longer belongs to us. We have been bought with a price—the precious blood of the Son of God. If we truly understand and appreciate the price that was paid, we know that we can do no less than glorify God in body and spirit. He has redeemed both. The Holy Spirit is our earnest for the rest to come—which includes our glorified bodies—to enable us to enjoy our relationship to the LORD to the fullest for eternity. To glorify God in our body we must make choices based on spiritual understanding and spiritual priorities as established by God in His word.