Your body, His — 1 Corinthians 6:9–20
In today’s study, I’ll explore our “life in the flesh” in this new birth and how we ought to walk. We’ll start off by going through our main text and will move on to explore the following:
- How the new birth happens — an opportunity for you to confirm you’re in Him
- What we are now
- What He expects of us now that we’re in Him
I’ll share multiple scriptures and as usual, you should prayerfully study them and listen to what the Spirit will say to you. Remember, He always wants to teach us.
Bible Reading
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
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 6:9–20
How the new birth happens
You are reborn when you come to Christ, so long as you were birthed by the process described in scriptures:
‘But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ‘ — Romans 10:8–9
What took place during our birth?
At the point of the new birth in Christ, we are reborn & although your physical body didn’t change — you didn’t grow taller, fatter, slimmer, e.t.c. — you are a different [or better put, new] being.
I’ll like to take you through the scriptures so you understand what has happened in you.
‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ‘ — 2 Corinthians 5:17
‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ‘ — Galatians 2:20
‘Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. ‘ — 1 Corinthians 12:27
How we live in the new life
Now that we are clear on our standing in Christ, we need to also understand that there’s a responsibility that comes with it. Since our body is no longer ours but His, how should we make an account of His body in our possession?
‘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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ‘ — Romans 12:1–2
‘Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. ‘ — 2 Corinthians 5:20
‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ‘ — Matthew 5:16
‘Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. ‘ — 1 Timothy 4:12
Action for today
I want you to prayerfully purpose in your heart to stand for Christ and take action daily to learn more of Him; you cannot know His desires without fellowshipping daily in His presence by the Spirit.
‘And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; ‘ — Philippians 1:9
You cannot grow in love with knowledge & discretion without knowing & understanding Him.
Seek Him out daily by studying the scriptures.
I’ll close with this:
‘ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ‘ — Matthew 5:6
