Transcript

Body Matters

1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Pastor Randy Smith

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Being a Middle School health teacher for many years naturally presented me with scores of challenging conditions. Some were quite humorous, while others were nothing to laugh about. Sadly one of the most taxing situations was trying to convince 12 and 13 year olds the value of remaining sexually pure until marriage. Yes, children that are too young to baby-sit have been brainwashed by our culture to view abstinence as uncool, unprofitable and unachievable. In many young minds the concept was simply beyond consideration.

The statistics support this conclusion. In 2003 the Center for Disease Control Prevention revealed that 49% of black students, 31% of white students and 37% of Hispanic students reported having sexual intercourse in the previous three months. NBC News in their landmark study concluded nearly 3 in 10 (27%) 13-16 year-olds are sexually active. Among 15 to 16 year-olds alone that statistic jumps up to 41%. Take away the concerns regarding pregnancies and STD's in addition to opportunities to engage and those figures jump dramatically.

An article I read in Leadership Journal this week reminded me not only of my Middle School health class but also about our society that encourages and applauds illicit sexual immorality among our children.

A father decided to attend his 13-year old daughter's health class orientation. The purpose of the meeting was to preview the new course in sexuality by examining the curriculum and engaging in a classroom activity. I'll allow him to continue the story in his own words.

When I arrived at the school, I was surprised to discover only about a dozen parents present. As we waited for the presentation, I thumbed through page after page of instructions on the prevention of pregnancy or disease. I found abstinence mentioned only in passing. When the teacher arrived with the school nurse, she asked if there were any questions. I asked why abstinence did not play a noticeable part in the material. I was shocked by what happened next.

There was a great deal of laughter, and someone suggested that if I thought abstinence had any merit, I should go back to burying my head in the sand. The teacher and the nurse said nothing as I drowned in a sea of embarrassment. My mind went blank, and I could think of nothing to say. The teacher explained that the job of the school was to "teach facts," and the home was responsible for moral training.

I sat in silence for the next 20 minutes as the course was explained. The other parents seemed to give their unqualified support to the materials. "Donuts at the back," announced the teacher during the break. "I'd like you to put on the name tags we have prepared and mingle with the other parents." Everyone moved to the back of the room. As I watched them affix their nametags and shake hands, I sat deep in thought. I was ashamed I had not been able to convince them to include a serious discussion of abstinence in the materials. I uttered a silent prayer for guidance.

My thoughts were interrupted by the nurse's hand on my shoulder. "Won't you join the others?" The nurse smiled sweetly at me. "The donuts are good." "Thank you, no." I replied. "Well, then, how about a name tag? I'm sure the others would like to meet you." "Somehow I doubt that," I replied. "Won't you please join them?" she coaxed. Then I was burdened in my heart. The instruction was unmistakable: Don't go! "I'll just wait here," I said.

When the class was called back to order, the teacher looked around the long table and thanked everyone for putting on nametags. She ignored me. Then she said, "Now we're going to give you the same lesson we'll be giving your children. Everyone please peel off your name tags." I watched in silence as the tags came off. "Now, then, on the back of one of the tags, I drew a tiny flower. Who has it?"

The gentleman across from me held it up. "All right," she said. "The flower represents disease." Then she asked the man, "Do you recall with whom you shook hands?" He pointed to a couple of people. " Very good," she replied. "The handshake in this case represents intimacy. The two people you had contact with now have the disease."

There was laughter and joking among the parents. The teacher continued, "And whom did the two of you shake hands with?" The point was well taken, and she explained how this lesson would show students how quickly disease spreads. "Since we all shook hands, we all have the disease."

The Lord prompted me to speak. I rose from my chair. I apologized for any upset I might have caused earlier, congratulated the teacher on an excellent lesson that would impress the youth, and concluded by saying I had only one small point I wished to make. "Not all of us were infected," I said. "One of us…abstained."

We have learned the past four weeks during our study in 1 Corinthians that sexual immorality was rampant among the Corinthian culture. The Apostle Paul found himself in a predicament no different than I found myself as a Middle School health teacher - trying to convince people that God has a definite plan for sexuality. When done within the confines of marriage, sex has the ability to honor Him. However, when done outside of a marriage it violates His intensions and brings consequences to those involved.

This morning we'll examine Paul's argument in the Bible as he seeks to convince these Corinthians why it is improper for God's people to engage in sexual immorality. His argumentation is just as appropriate and timely for our sexually crazed and sexually confused society today.

Paul will focus his argumentation on how we use our bodies. I believe everything hinges on his statement at the end of verse 13: "Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body."

1. DISPELLING THE ERROR

Let's begin with the first point: "Dispelling the False Belief."

People have always made excuses to continue in sexual sin. "Sexual sin is insignificant because we are under grace and no longer under law." "Homosexuality in a relationship between two partners is an acceptable form of marriage." "Adultery is fine so long as both marriage partners consent." "God approves our sex before marriage because we love one another." And the excuses continue…

The Corinthian church 2,000 years ago was no different. You can see in verses 12 and 13 how Paul opposes three of the slogans they used to justify their sexual sin. First they said, "All things are lawful for me." Paul agrees yet counters their statement by saying "but not all things are profitable."

Christian freedom does not preclude our responsibilities to choose actions that are profitable to God first and others second. Christian freedom does not permit us to exceed the limits of acceptable Christian behavior. Paul repeats the slogan once again (also see 10:23): "All things are lawful for me" and counters this time by saying, "but I will not be mastered by anything."

Christian freedom does not give us the warrant to allow other behaviors to have mastery over us (Rom. 6:14; 2 Pet. 2:19). We are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, not some addiction that captures our passions and desires. This could be something innocent such as a hobby, a job, food or a substance such as alcohol or nicotine. While sex is a gift of God, and pleasing to Him when exercised in the right conditions, possibly no sin can be as enslaving and therefore idolatrous as sexual sin (1 Thes. 4:3-5). It can control us and we need to eliminate that which masters us. We can serve only one Master, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 7:22).

In verse 13 Paul cited another of their excuses: "Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food." In order to understand this attempt to justify their sin we need a little background information. This information will be helpful throughout the remainder of the sermon.

The Greek culture of Corinth believed in a total distinction between the body and the soul. In contrast to Christian thought, the Greeks adopted a Platonic or Gnostic mentality that viewed anything material as evil. But the soul is good and this good soul is forever seeking to be released from the evil confines of a materialistic body. Therefore they concluded (and incorrectly) that the body was insignificant. Since their theology led them to believe that the soul was all that mattered, the Corinthians denied the actual resurrection of the body (an issue Paul will address further in chapter 15) and assumed that sins against the body were without moral consequence. This mentality gave them false justification to continue with the sexual immorality so prevalent in the culture.

Verse 13 again. "Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food." Since they assumed the body is insignificant, they naturally reasoned the stomach must be insignificant too. And given that God gave the stomach the natural desire for food, how wrong can any kind of sex be since God also gave the body the natural desire physical intimacy. Conclusion: The body is temporal and sexual desire is God-given. Therefore, sleep around. No harm done in the sight of God. Sound convincing?

Paul's response: Verse, 13 "But God will do away with both of them." Yes, both stomach and food are temporary. However, as he continues in verse 13, "Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body." Though food and the stomach one day will be abolished, and here is the crux of the matter, the body (in contrast to their beliefs) has both moral and eternal significance. The body matters! The body matters it is not to be used for immorality. The body is to be used for the Lord!

2. DISPENSING THE TRUTH

As we move to the second point, Paul will flesh out (no pun intended) five reasons why a proper understanding of our body should cause us to forsake sexual immorality.

Our bodies will be resurrected

First reason: Our bodies will be resurrected. Verse 14, "Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power."

When we die we are separated from the body. Those in Christ immediately go to be in the presence of God. The Scriptures declare, "(To be) absent from the body (is to) be at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8). Though heaven as a disembodied spirit is nothing to complain about, God has better things in store. His intention is to totally reverse the Fall and sanctify us completely, both in soul and also in body (1 Thes. 5:23). Just as He rose in bodily form as the "first-fruits" (1 Cor. 15:20), we too will follow in like suit. Upon His return (1 Cor. 15:23, 1 Thes. 5:23) we will be reunited with our bodies and live forever completely redeemed and glorified in His presence.

The significance of all this? The life we now live should be in-line with the future resurrection life. We will have bodies in heaven. Our bodies will be serving the Lord forever so we should begin using them to serve Him now in righteousness and purity, not sexual immorality.

Our bodies belong to Christ

Second reason: Our bodies belong to Christ. Verses 15-17, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, 'The two shall become one flesh.' But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him."

Would we ever dream about allowing a 3-year-old to touch up the Mona Lisa with finger paints? Would we ever allow a dog to relieve himself at the family cemetery plot? There are certain things we don't mix in life. As verse 17 states, we as Christians are joined to the Lord. Literally we could say that we are "glued" (kollao) to Him. We are one in spirit with Him. Verse 15 says the same thing, "(We) are members of Christ."

On the other hand, sex in whatever form causes us to become one in flesh with the other individual. Marriage certificate or not, sex between two individuals causes them to become one flesh. Paul makes that clear in verse 16 as he quotes from Genesis 2:24. A unique bonding takes place. So as Paul concludes in verse 16 he states, "The one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her."

Make the logical connection in your mind. On the one hand we are one with Christ. On the other hand immoral sex makes us one with another. Conclusion - Verse 15, such actions "take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute (porne)." Such actions are utterly unimaginable and repulsive. One commentator said, "(Though) Christ is not personally tainted with the sin, any more than the sunbeam that shines on a garbage dump is polluted. But His reputation is dirtied because of the association" (MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, 151). What I'm trying to say is that your choice of a sexual partner, Christian, always involves joining that second party to a third party who is God.

Our bodies are affected by sexual sin

Third reason: Our bodies are affected by sexual sin. Verse 18, "Flee immorality. Every othersin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body."

May I insert a brief footnote at this point? The purpose of this message is to convince you why sexual immorality is wrong. It would take another message to provide strategies and tactics to assist in overcoming this sin. Though this is beyond the scope of Paul's thought, he does provide two words that fall along these lines in verse 18: "Flee immorality." The verb is in the present tense that speaks of a continual activity.

You see, immoral sex does not just happen. Often it begins with a casual look or an image harbored in our imagination. Then it leads to a deepened friendship or a visit to a place we shouldn't be. We are often led along by a series of steps before we commit the actual act itself.

On occasions I have young unmarried couples approach me in shame over a recent sexual encounter. The common response, "We just don't know what happened." "We were just sitting on the couch. We had a couple glasses of wine. We made ourselves comfortable listening to some Kenny G. We dimmed the lights and then all of a sudden…"

Paul's admonition: Flee immorality. Run from the precursors. Run from the temptation. Run from the actual act itself. Don't reason or rationalize with passion - Run from it!

I believe the greatest example of this in the Bible was Joseph. After Joseph was sold into slavery he found himself as a steward in the house of Potipher (Gen. 39:4), Pharaoh's officer (Gen. 37:36). One day Potipher's wife made advancements of Joseph (Gen. 39:7, 12). Do you remember his response? "How then could I do this great evil and sin against God" (Gen. 39:9)? "And he left his garment in her hand and fled" (Gen. 39:12 - emphasis added; cf. Pro. 5:8). Flee immorality!

A story I read this week also helps to illustrate this point:

Just off the coast of Southern Australia was a research pen full of tuna, held captive for a study on feeding patterns. All was calm until a 13-foot, 1,500-pound great white shark decided to penetrate the pen and grab a bite to eat. The unwelcome guest is thought to have entered by either biting through the net or jumping the 7.5-foot electrified fence surrounding the pen. The villain swam happily in his newly conquered territory and ate a few tuna, but the sponsors of the study soon discovered him. The sponsors found that the tuna had adapted to the situation. A spokesman for the South Australian Research Development Institute said, "When the shark swims to the surface, the tuna swim to the bottom of the net, and vice versa."

What is the lesson of the tuna and the shark? Get as far away from sexual temptation as possible. Sexual immorality is a shark. Proverbs says it is "the way…of death" (Pro. 7:27; cf. 2:18; 5:5; 9:18) (Dr. John Medina, genetic engineer, University of Washington, in 1995 lecture at Multnomah Bible College, Portland, Oregon).

Back to our message. The third reason we should avoid sexual immorality is that our bodies are affected by sexual sin. Verse 18 once again, "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body."

When we learned about the man committing incest with his stepmother in chapter 5, the focus was on how sin affected the spiritual body of Christ - the church. Now in chapter 6 we learn how sexual sin affects the physical body of an individual in a way unlike other sins.

Because of its God ordained restrictions, because of its power, because of its intimacy, sexual sin is a direct attack to our bodies - The bodies our Lord created and the bodies He plans to glorify. We dishonor the Lord and often cause irreparable harm to our own bodies: Emotionally through a violated conscience, socially through a tainted reputation and physically through the possibility of disease.

Most will testify that immoral sex promises great satisfaction, but gives great disappointment through harmful consequences to our bodies.

Our bodies are the temple of God

Fourth reason: Our bodies are the temple of God. The beginning of verse 19, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you."

When the writers spoke of the whole temple complex in Jerusalem they often used the word hieron. However when they wanted to refer to the inner sanctuary where the presence of God dwelt they used the word naos. Naos is the word Paul chose to use in this verse.

What the Apostle is saying is that God, in the same way He uniquely dwelt in the Temple in the Old Testament, now dwells within us. God's special presence is not confined to one location or a physical building any longer, and He destroyed the temple soon after the arrival of the Holy Spirit to prove it. He has now chosen to take up residence within each of His children. Our bodies have literally become the temple or sanctuary or tabernacle of the living God (cf. 2 Cor. 6:16).

Since we have become the dwelling place of God, our bodies have great significance. Just as the priests in the old covenant needed to greatly respect the physical temple building, we in the new covenant need to greatly respect the physical temple body. Would they ever dream of committing fornication in the Holy of Holies? Likewise we must not grieve the Spirit (Eph. 4:30) by doing the same with our Lord's new dwelling place. We should not desecrate His shrine by adding what is unholy to that which is holy.

Our bodies were bought with a price

Fifth reason: Our bodies were bought with a price. Verses 19 and 20, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."

As these verses declare, we are no longer our own. We have been purchased. The prerequisite in coming to Christ is that we surrender ourselves completely to Him. Once slaves to sin, we now joyfully become slaves to Him and slaves to righteousness (Rom. 6).

One author wrote:

I am not my own.

I belong to the Son of God.

He chose me in everlasting love.

He made me for Himself.

He bought me with His own precious blood.

He saved me by His almighty grace.

He subdued my heart by His mercy and causes me to surrender myself voluntarily to His dominion.

I have nothing of my own.

I am His.

All that He has put into my hands; my time, my talents, my property, my family, (we can add, my body) He has put into my hands to use for Him, His kingdom, His people, His glory

Don Fortner

Herein lies the great paradox of the Christian faith. Our true freedom comes only when Jesus Christ becomes our Master. And in order for this transaction to occur, in order to be a slave to Jesus Christ, verse 20 declares that we were purchased off the auction block and "bought with a price" (cf. 7:23). Paul draws imagery from the Corinthian marketplace, a place where slaves were frequently bought and sold. God purchased us in this manner. We were redeemed from being slaves to sin and set free to be slaves to Jesus. However, our redemption was very costly to God. The ransom price was nothing other than the precious blood that flowed at Calvary. "Knowing that you were not redeemed," says the Apostle Peter," With perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18-19; cf. Ac. 20:28).

There is an old story (probably apocryphal, according to one Lincoln historian) that Abraham Lincoln went down to the slave block to buy a slave girl. As she looked at the white man bidding on her, she figured he was another white man going to buy her and then abuse her. He won the bid, and as he was walking away with his property, he said, "Young lady, you are free." She said, "What does that mean?" "It means you are free." "Does that mean," she said, "that I can say whatever I want to say?" Lincoln said, "Yes, my dear, you can say whatever you want to say." "Does that mean," she said, "That I can be whatever I want to be?" Lincoln said, "Yes, you can be whatever you want to be." "Does that mean I can go wherever I want to go?" He said, "Yes, you can go wherever you want to go." The girl, with tears streaming down her face, said, "Then I will go with you."

I really felt this story captured the essence of our text this morning. Though the Corinthians used their freedom in Christ to justify their sexual immorality, God expects us to use our freedom to serve Him in righteousness. Just as this little girl was willing to follow the one who purchased her freedom, God wants us to understand the cost He paid to redeem us and then desire to follow Him as well.

The Corinthians misunderstood the way sexual sin affects the body, the body created by God, redeemed by Jesus and indwelt by the Spirit. So Paul explains how our bodies will be resurrected, how our bodies belong to Christ, how our bodies are affected by sexual sin, how our bodies are the temple of God and how our bodies were bought with a price. Bottom line: Our bodies matter! This is why Paul concluded in verse 20, "Therefore glorify God in your body."

May we present our bodies to God and use them for His honor, showing the world that He is more satisfying than any sins the body might crave. From this day forward, will you glorify God in your body?