1 Corinthians 6- Temple of God

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Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 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? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

I would like for you to picture a Church building in your mind, think about when your stepping into that sanctuary for a service. Think about how everyone was probably properly dressed and on their best behavior. The walls and floors of the sanctuary were cleaned in preparation for the service. You can see the sunlight gleaming through the stained glass windows.

Speaking of being on your best behavior , while in the Church building you probably refrained from using foul language, you probably refrained from looking at your other members with lust, you probably treat your sanctuary as a sacred space, because it is!

So now going to our scriptures today , the Apostle Paul says “Do you not know your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit”? The same way you treat your Church building is the same way you should always treat your physical body, think about that! Don’t just be on your best behavior when your in the Church building, because you are the Church, be on your best behavior always because you are the Temple of God

Now you might say, how can I do this? Paul tells us “The Holy Ghost which is in You” , the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, the same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) There is no sin that you can’t overcome, you have been set free by Jesus Christ (John 8) God will not allow you to be tempted beyond your control (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The next question will be, why should I do this? The Apostle Paul answers again “You were bought with a price, therefore Glorify God in your body” When you give your life to Christ, you no longer are the boss. Jesus is our Lord, our Master, the salvation of our souls was redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ

We are the Temple of God, the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, glorify God in everything you do! Amen!

1 Corinthians 6- Joined To Christ

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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. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:15-17

As we examine our Christian faith, the way we live our lives should reflect our relationship with Christ. There will be some who reject that Jesus Christ is a personal relationship, however when you are joined with him by the Holy Spirit, there is no other way to explain this journey

We , the Church , are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12) we say this but do we really believe it? We need to live as we are physically joined with Christ. As Jesus explained “Take my yoke upon you” (Matthew 11:29) When we are Born Again in Christ, we are yoked with Christ, we abide in Christ, everything we do reflects him and he is with us everywhere we go

The Apostle Paul asks “Shall I then take the members of Christ , and make them the members of a harlot or prostitute”? So what is Paul trying to teach us here? We as Christians should view our bodies as Temples of God, a sacred space with the Holy Spirit. If we truly viewed ourselves in this way, then we wouldn’t be desecrating our bodies with sin and pollutants of the world. 

Notice how Paul describes this, a Christian who fornicates with a prostitute is also joining Christ with this prostitute because we are all yoked together. Any sin that you partake in, you are including Christ in that sin. Interesting Paul quotes the covenant of marriage in this teaching “Two become One flesh” (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5) As a Born Again Christian you are joined together with Christ, just as a husband and wife are joined together in marriage. 

You might ask how is this possible? Paul says “He that is joined unto The Lord is One Spirit” Remember you are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) When you are baptized by the Holy Spirit, God is now living inside of you, you are now the Temple of God, everything you do, effects The Lord also

As a Born Again Christian, you are joined with The Lord, you are not your own, you were bought with a price, the precious blood of Christ, Amen!

1 Corinthians 6- Freedom in Christ

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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. 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. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 1 Corinthians 6:12-14

There is Freedom in Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:1) Jesus has set us free (John 8) but just because we live now under grace through Christ (Romans 6:14) doesn’t mean we should do whatever we want, especially sin. It’s like when you received your driver’s license, you now have the authority and ability to drive wherever you want, but does that mean we should drive however we want? No of course not

A true Born Again Christian has the Holy Spirit living inside of them, you have received a new heart and new spirit,( Ezekiel 36:26) the law was written on your heart. (Romans 2:15) As the Apostle Paul says “All things are lawful to me, but all things are not expedient or beneficial to me” Everything we do should be to glorify God, not to please our flesh. 

As Paul says here also “The body is not for fornication, but for The Lord” As Paul said also “We were bought with a price” (v20) When we give our lives to Jesus, we truly give our lives to Jesus, it’s not just a bumper sticker or cliche. Even though we have been give freedom in Jesus Christ , we shouldn’t abuse that freedom with our flesh

We should live as vessels for God, everything in our lives, including our physical bodies should be to honor The Lord. As Paul revealed our bodies are the Temple of God, and the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, we need to be careful not to be desecrating our Temples which belong to God

Jesus said “If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36) You have been given freedom in Christ, however don’t abuse that freedom in your daily walk. Allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify and lead you in Jesus name Amen!

1 Corinthians 6- The List

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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, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Are you on the list? There is a popular YouTube Street Preacher who carries around a sign with a list of sins, then he asks people if they are on the list? The majority of people he encounters obviously are highly offended and typically try to justify their lifestyles. Some will argue whether this is a good method of evangelism, however the fact remains, there is a list, and those on the list that have not repented will not inherit the Kingdom of God

As brother Fred says “There can be no good news without bad news”, how can people understand the gospel if they don’t understand they are a sinner? How can people understand their need for Jesus if they don’t understand how depraved they are? This is the line we have to walk as we evangelize with people, yes we want people to know Jesus loves them, however they also need to understand they are headed to Hell without Christ

The Apostle Paul here also presented a list , anyone on this list will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Often when you read these verses to anyone , it immediately delivers anger. However there is good news, yes the bad news is we are all probably are or were on this list. The good news is there is a solution to our sin, its Jesus Christ!

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. 1 Corinthians 6:11

This is one of the greatest messages in the Bible, as such were some of you! Maybe you are on the list, but Jesus can set you free. This is not just talking about a “confession of faith” this is about becoming Born Again in Christ. As Paul says here “You are Washed, You are Sanctified” We could preach a whole sermon just on those words, washed by the blood of Christ, Sanctified by the Holy Spirit

The good news is even though you were a sinner, by faith in Christ, you are justified to God and filled with the Holy Spirit. But notice Paul says “such were some of you”, in Christ you are no longer living in the sins you were , your old man is dead and crucified with Christ, and you now walk in the newness of life with Christ, Amen!

1 Corinthians 6- Judgement of the World

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Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 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? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?  1 Corinthians 6:1-3

It’s funny when you mention the topic of judgment, because the first thing someone will say to you is “Don’t Judge Me”, and then they will go on to quote Matthew 7 out of context to prove their point. Little do these people know “The Saints Shall Judge The World” This would probably be a shocking revelation to most people , even to most Christians. 

Not only will you someday judge the world, but Paul says we will also judge the angels. Now of course he’s probably referring to the fallen angels that are currently in prisoned (1 Peter 3:19) How and why would Christ allow us to be the judges? Because if you are Born Again, then you are filled with the Holy Spirit, and you should be led by the Holy Spirit

If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 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? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 6:4-6

The Apostle Paul is also teaching us that Christians should resolve their conflicts among themselves and not in the courts for the world. A few years ago Joel Osteen had a couple of street preachers arrested and prosecuted because they rebuked his message during a service. There are many things wrong with this scenario, does the Church building of Lakewood Church belong to Joel Osteen or to God? How can Christians be trespassing on Gods property?

If Joel Osteen is a “leader” in the Church, shouldn’t he have the discernment and capability to resolve this matter outside the court system? Now I’m not in favor of disrupting a Church’s worship service, however Osteen pressing charges against Christians is in clear violation of God’s Word

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? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 1 Corinthians 6:7-8

The Apostle Paul was calling out the Church of Corinth, they had lawsuits against one another, they defrauded one another, this Church was not treating each other as brothers and sisters, they were not conforming to the image of Christ, they were acting just like the world

The bad news for the world is judgment is coming, whether they agree with it or not. The only hope and the only way is Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!

https://www.christianpost.com/news/six-men-arrested-for-heckling-pastor-joel-osteen-during-service-lakewood-church-to-press-charges.html

1 Corinthians 5- Set Apart

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I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 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. 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. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11

The Apostle Paul states “I wrote you in the epistle not to keep company or associate with fornicators nor sexually immoral” Now as we have been reading through the Epistle of Corinthians, this Church had a lot of issues, which is why it’s the largest letter to the Churches. Paul makes it clearer in his statements, he is referring to those who call themselves Christians, yet still live dead in their sins

Notice Paul says “Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters, for then must you need to get out of the world” Paul is saying you can’t avoid every sinner in this world because then you wouldn’t be able to exist in this world. However those who Paul is instructing to not associate with are those who claim to be Christians and yet still don’t produce the fruit of a Christian

In today’s Christianity, many Churches are being forced to inject LGBTQ people, not only as members of the Church, but also as leaders. Now anyone who knows the Bible or traditional Christian doctrine, knows this is in clear violation of God’s law. However it become unpopular to standby Biblical truth and many Churches are caving in to be accepted by the world, which is totally the opposite mission Jesus wanted for us

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13

Now I understand these statements may anger some people, however notice what Paul says here “But them that are without God judeth” Paul is saying we are not judging people who are outside the Church. People who are not Born Again, and don’t claim to be a Christian, we would expect them to be sinners, therefore we let God judge them. We can share the gospel with them, but it’s not our responsibility to pass judgment on them

However those who claim to be part of the Body of Christ, should submit themselves to the leadership of the Church, as Jesus Christ should truly be their Lord and Master. If someone who claims to be a Christian and refuses to repent or change their sinful lifestyle, they then need to be cut off from the body of Christ, Amen

1 Corinthians 5- Christ The Passover Lamb

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Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 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: 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. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Again, as we continue to look at the immorality in the Church of Corinth, the first thing we notice is their reaction, “your glorifying or boasting is not good” These Christians were not just living in sin, they were bragging about it! They had no love or fear of God whatsoever, they were false converts and not Born Again in Christ

Paul warned the Church “A little leaven will work through the whole lump” Meaning a little sin allowed in the Church , will spread to the rest of the Church. We see this all the time, the Church will look away at certain sins or people, and just allow them to live however they want. But this comes with a consequence, they are influencing and misleading the rest of the Church. 

We live in a day and age where nobody wants to be “offended” by their sins. Why are people offended when their sin is brought up? Because they are being convicted by the Holy Spirit, they know it’s wrong but they don’t care. They don’t have a real love or fear of God. 

One of the great teachings Paul provides here is “Christ is our Passover Lamb” Now if you know your Bible , this is not a surprise to you, however for those who are not sure, its very clear! As John the Baptist declared “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)

Now since Christ is the atonement for our sins, and you repented and are forgiven, why would you still live like you are dead in your sins? What did Jesus save you from ,if you are still stuck in your sin? What did Jesus die for , if you are still stuck in your sin? If your truly Born Again, there has to be a transformation, otherwise your still the same as you were before

As Christians, we are not perfect, and we never will be until are resurrected in our glorified bodies, however we should strive to live for Christ will all our heart, soul, and strength, we should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be led by the Advocate, Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb, who has justified before our Heavenly Father, Amen!