What is man? God has given
dominion over everything to man. Man must reign. History proves that mankind
has been in unrest, endlessly probing what we really are. For instance, there
is a gigantic machine called ‘linear accelerator’ built for colliding two atoms
after traveling quite a distance, consuming a tremendous amount of electricity.
What’s for? It’s for the scientists to find out the secret of life and of the
universe. There will be no end of searching and probing what man is. Some in
the church at Corinth say that they have the right to do anything. Paul might
have said so when he was in Corinth and they just repeated the rhetoric in the
letter written for him.
“‘I have the right to do
anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do
anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)
What they say is true. "We
have the right to do anything." Legally it is perfectly alright to sue
other brothers in Christ. They have the right whatever they want to do. God has
made man that way in the beginning. God never forces anyone not to practice the
right endowed by Him. It’s totally up to man to exercise the given right. God
has even permitted to make vows to Him, bargaining with Him. Jacob made a vow
to God at Bethel that if God gave him a protection in the journey then the Lord
would be his God and the stone he set up would be God’s house (Genesis
28:20-22). Judge Jephthah made a vow that he would sacrifice anything as a
burnt offering whatever met him out of the door of his house when he came back in
triumph from the battle against enemies (Judge 11:30-31). It was one of the most
foolish and rash bows ever made because it was his only daughter whom he met
first at the door. And he had to keep the vow because he made it to God.
Hebrews confirms that man has
been made to reign over everything which has fulfilled in Jesus Christ who was
crowned with glory and honor and sat at the right hand of God after the
suffering and death. “But there is a place where someone has testified: ‘What
is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?
You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and
honor and put everything under their feet.’ In putting everything under them,
God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see
everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the
angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered
death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews
2:6-9)
However, Paul says that not
everything is beneficial although God has permitted to do anything. It’s
because we in Christ shall not be mastered by anything other than the Lord
Jesus Christ. Anything is permitted to do for mankind. But to whatever one obeys
he is slave of the one he obeys. That’s what Paul is saying that we shall not
be enslaved by anything. It’s possible for anyone in Christ to obey the Lord in
perfection since they have been delivered by the power of God through the blood
of Christ. Paul says pertinently that whoever sins shall not escape of being
enslaved by it like alcohol and drug and anger and hatred. “Don’t you know that
when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the
one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to
obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)
One specific example for
abusing the right Paul pinned out here is sexual immorality.
“You say, ‘Food for the stomach
and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.’ The body, however,
is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:13)
It is true what they are saying
that God will destroy both stomach and food. However, what they imply is not
true. They are saying that since God will eventually destroy the body it
doesn’t matter how to use it. It’s a rationalization for abusing the right. The
body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the
body. The body shall be destroyed just our Lord’s body was destroyed on the
cross because of our sins. But that’s not the end of story. All the existence
in the physical realm is tied to tell something in the spiritual realm. There
is an earthly body and there is also a spiritual body, the resurrection body. “For
we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building
from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians
5:1)
“So will it be with the resurrection of the
dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is
sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised
in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is
a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
So, God raised Christ crucified
and buried by the power of resurrection. “By his power God raised the Lord from
the dead, and he will raise us also.” (1 Corinthians 6:14)
Our earthly body is made suited
for this earthly life in time and space. But the time is coming for us to be
suited bodily for eternity. Either living in time or eternity, we ought to live
worthy of the calling, offering every part of body to God as a righteous
instrument. “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you
obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an
instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have
been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an
instrument of righteousness.” (Romans 6:12-13) We shall give our eyes, ears,
mouth, hands, feet, and sexual organs to God as the instrument of
righteousness.
Although our body will be
destroyed and returned to dust, there are things which will survive death and
last forever. What are they? They’re the works done in this life. “If anyone
builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or
straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it
to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of
each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a
reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be
saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians
3:12-15) Not everything will be lost even after this earthly life. Whatever
part of the body offered as gold, silver, and costly stones will pass through the
test of fire to eternity. Anything offered by faith in Christ will last.
Anything done in the Spirit will stand forever. However, anything done in the
flesh will not pass the test.
Even though our body will
perish, why shall we offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, not to
sexual immorality?
“Do you not know that your
bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ
and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites
himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two
will become one flesh.’ But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in
spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:15-17)
We shall never forget that our
bodies are members of Christ since we were born again in the Spirit and untied
with Him. So then, how can we take members of Christ and unite them with a
prostitute? May it never be! Whoever unites himself with a prostitute is one
with her in body. It has been made so in the beginning, saying “The two will
become one flesh.” It’s a profound mystery in marriage. Whoever is united with
the Lord is one with Him in spirit. We cannot feel it nor touch it, but it is
true. We died with Christ, were buried with Christ, and rose again from the
dead with Christ (Galatians 2:20). This new relationship is found in the marriage
between a man and a woman when God instituted it. “That is why a man leaves his
father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
(Genesis 2:24)
“Flee from sexual immorality.
All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins
sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are
temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You
are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your
bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
Why is among other many sins
sexual immorality singled out, saying “Flee from sexual immorality?” It’s
because whoever sins sexually sins against his own body. Our bodies are the temples
of the Holy Spirit whom we have received from God. We’re God’s inhabitations.
We are not our own any longer because we were bought at the price of Christ
Jesus. We belong to the Holy God and are His treasured possessions where the
Holy Spirit indwells forever. Everything in the body is Lord’s including sexual
organs. So, our body is for the Lord and the Lord for our body. Jesus Christ is
our living bread and real drink. We’re living by means of Him. That’s the new way
of life. Christ did not offer animals but His own body as the sacrifice and
offering, burnt offering and sin offering in order to be everything for
us.
“Therefore, when Christ came
into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body
you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not
pleased. Then I said, “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come
to do your will, my God.”’ First he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt
offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them’—though
they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have
come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by
that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:5-10)
Once we were the captives to
the unrighteousness and wickedness of the devil. But now we’ve been liberated
and delivered from the bondage of sin and death through the blood of the Son
Jesus Christ and clothed with the righteousness of Holy God. We’ve been made
the captives to the righteousness of God in body, soul, and spirit. The door is
open for us to obey God and His commandments in perfection both bodily and
spiritually. That’s the good news. So, Paul beseeches and urges all saints to
honor God with their bodies. Yes, we’ve already been made to reign with Christ
in the heavenly realms.
“Therefore, I urge you,
brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do
not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his
good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Prayer: Father in heaven, Thank
you for accepting our body as it is although you know that it is corrupt and
sinful. All part of our body is yours purchased by the price of the Son’s
blood. Thank you for making our bodies the members of Christ being united with
Him bodily and spiritually. Lord, help us to offer our bodies as a living
sacrifice whenever and wherever God opens door. In Christ’s name. Amen.
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