And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
--1 Corinthians 6:11-12 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on May 25, 2013 of Psalm 100; 1 Corinthians 6; 2 Samuel 5-6.
In writing this first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul addresses some of the spiritual and moral problems being experienced there. Chapter 6 begins with the issue of believers within the church allowing non-believers of the world to judge and settle non-criminal disputes among themselves. Today's focus verses warn against moral laxity within the church family.
Remember first that the church was literally set down in the middle of a very immoral society (please see "Being Saved"). That culture began to seep through the walls of the church and into its members. Paul prefaces his warning with a long list of acts, sins, lifestyles that disqualify a person from entry into heaven (please see verses 9 and 10). He reminds the church family that they themselves indulged in such activity at one time, that they were active participants in that very worldly and carnal culture. But then Jesus died on the cross for them and they were washed clean of their sins by His blood. They accepted Him into their hearts and their lives and were sanctified, set apart from the rest of the world for use by God. And by His death and resurrection and the indwelling Holy Spirit they are justified to stand beside Jesus before God on their day of judgement. But by being sanctified, they should make every effort to stay apart from the culture in which they must live, so that God can make the best use of them for His purposes.
The trouble is, the church had fallen into the trap of thinking that since they had been saved, since they were justified, they could return to their more sinful ways without fear of condemnation. They seemed to be ignoring the sanctification part, of staying separate from the ways of the world, and were using their newly gained Christian freedom to justify their renewed immorality, to permit their sins. Paul is telling them they not only need to consider the letter of the law (so to speak, using today's terminology), but the intent of the law as well. While it may be perfectly legal to do some act, does it necessarily follow that it is right to do so, that it is the correct thing to do? Paul says no, that even though some behavior may be permissible, it should also be helpful, to themselves and to God. And it should never become all-consuming, enslaving them to that behavioral pattern. Our behavior should reflect both our justification and our sanctification.
We need to keep these two conditions at the forefront of our decision-making. Is what I am about to do helpful to myself, to my fellow man, to God? Will it consume me and control my behavior? Does it serve our heavenly Father and advance His kingdom? We have been sanctified as well as justified. We must keep ourselves set apart from the world for God's use. Amen.
Lord God, too often we find ourselves in the place of those early Christians, tempted by Satan, confused about what is right and what is allowed, too willing to allow ourselves more moral leeway than we allow others. Help us follow Paul's exhortation, dear Father, to live apart from the world even while living in it, to be in the world but not of it. In the name of Jesus we seek Your help and we pray. Amen.
Remember first that the church was literally set down in the middle of a very immoral society (please see "Being Saved"). That culture began to seep through the walls of the church and into its members. Paul prefaces his warning with a long list of acts, sins, lifestyles that disqualify a person from entry into heaven (please see verses 9 and 10). He reminds the church family that they themselves indulged in such activity at one time, that they were active participants in that very worldly and carnal culture. But then Jesus died on the cross for them and they were washed clean of their sins by His blood. They accepted Him into their hearts and their lives and were sanctified, set apart from the rest of the world for use by God. And by His death and resurrection and the indwelling Holy Spirit they are justified to stand beside Jesus before God on their day of judgement. But by being sanctified, they should make every effort to stay apart from the culture in which they must live, so that God can make the best use of them for His purposes.
The trouble is, the church had fallen into the trap of thinking that since they had been saved, since they were justified, they could return to their more sinful ways without fear of condemnation. They seemed to be ignoring the sanctification part, of staying separate from the ways of the world, and were using their newly gained Christian freedom to justify their renewed immorality, to permit their sins. Paul is telling them they not only need to consider the letter of the law (so to speak, using today's terminology), but the intent of the law as well. While it may be perfectly legal to do some act, does it necessarily follow that it is right to do so, that it is the correct thing to do? Paul says no, that even though some behavior may be permissible, it should also be helpful, to themselves and to God. And it should never become all-consuming, enslaving them to that behavioral pattern. Our behavior should reflect both our justification and our sanctification.
We need to keep these two conditions at the forefront of our decision-making. Is what I am about to do helpful to myself, to my fellow man, to God? Will it consume me and control my behavior? Does it serve our heavenly Father and advance His kingdom? We have been sanctified as well as justified. We must keep ourselves set apart from the world for God's use. Amen.
Lord God, too often we find ourselves in the place of those early Christians, tempted by Satan, confused about what is right and what is allowed, too willing to allow ourselves more moral leeway than we allow others. Help us follow Paul's exhortation, dear Father, to live apart from the world even while living in it, to be in the world but not of it. In the name of Jesus we seek Your help and we pray. Amen.
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