"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?" 1 Corinthians 6:19
Alright, it's about time for this verse to appear. It very easily could have appeared back on August 19, but it's time for us to consider why we take care of our bodies and what that may look like in each of our lives.
Now before I get accused of taking this verse out of context, let's look clearly at the context. Paul wrote this after writing about fleeing sexual immorality and not being "joined" with one whom you are not married. In verse 18 he says, "Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." And then the readers are exhorted: "...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you." The verses leading up to Paul speaking about sexual immorality are the ones we discussed on August 19 - the sin of overeating. Overeating and sexual immorality both lead to the same conclusion: "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?" (v 15) and "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?" (v 19). My body, your body, our bodies are not our own just to do whatever we please, or don't please.
Everything we do with or to our bodies impacts the house of our Living God! (Take a moment to let that statement sink in and consider its full meaning in your life.) Have you considered lately the incredible truth and blessing it is that your body, if you have placed your faith in Christ, is the Holy Spirit's dwelling place? Before Christ came, God's dwelling place on earth was with the Ark of the Covenant in the inner most room of the temple in Jerusalem. And before that, it was in the middle of a TENT! And neither you nor I probably would have EVER been allowed to approach it. Only priests could carry the ark because God's dwelling place is so holy. Once a year, the head priest chosen by lot by God was to enter the innermost room and make an offering of atonement for the people on an altar located in front of the ark and the mercy seat (God's dwelling place on earth, on top of the ark). This is where God promised to meet with mankind (Ex. 30:6-10). So let's recap that: one man (a high priest) met with God once a year. That was it; unless God chose to reveal Himself to someone else, but that was seldom in the big picture of humanity and the history of the Israelites.
In Christ, this changed. The final atonement sacrifice was offered in Christ on the cross - that's why the veil that separated the innermost room of the temple was torn in two (Mt. 27:51)! We no longer need a priest to represent us to make sacrifices and pray for forgiveness on our behalf - Christ IS our great high priest who has made atonement for us and speaks directly to the Father on our behalf! (Heb. 9) And He has given us direct access to Himself in the Holy Spirit! And how are we able to communicate or find the Holy Spirit? We do not have to look any further than ourselves - "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."
This is why we should seek to exercise, care for and feed our bodies nutritiously and in a God honoring manner. You have been bought with Christ's blood and your life belongs to Him - HALLELUJAH! This is not a sentence of limitation or legalism, but a gift of freedom from the tyranny and destruction we bring on our own bodies through sin, including our own individual sin.
God, You are great and powerful! You have paid every price and made every sacrifice so that I can be free and know You, thank You. I confess that I do not always view my body as being yours instead of mine, and I make selfish decisions because I think I know what I want and what's best. Please help me to trust You and what You say is best for me and the body You have blessed me with. Help me take care of this body, that I may hear You say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant" when I see You face to face. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Alright, it's about time for this verse to appear. It very easily could have appeared back on August 19, but it's time for us to consider why we take care of our bodies and what that may look like in each of our lives.
Now before I get accused of taking this verse out of context, let's look clearly at the context. Paul wrote this after writing about fleeing sexual immorality and not being "joined" with one whom you are not married. In verse 18 he says, "Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." And then the readers are exhorted: "...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you." The verses leading up to Paul speaking about sexual immorality are the ones we discussed on August 19 - the sin of overeating. Overeating and sexual immorality both lead to the same conclusion: "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?" (v 15) and "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?" (v 19). My body, your body, our bodies are not our own just to do whatever we please, or don't please.
Everything we do with or to our bodies impacts the house of our Living God! (Take a moment to let that statement sink in and consider its full meaning in your life.) Have you considered lately the incredible truth and blessing it is that your body, if you have placed your faith in Christ, is the Holy Spirit's dwelling place? Before Christ came, God's dwelling place on earth was with the Ark of the Covenant in the inner most room of the temple in Jerusalem. And before that, it was in the middle of a TENT! And neither you nor I probably would have EVER been allowed to approach it. Only priests could carry the ark because God's dwelling place is so holy. Once a year, the head priest chosen by lot by God was to enter the innermost room and make an offering of atonement for the people on an altar located in front of the ark and the mercy seat (God's dwelling place on earth, on top of the ark). This is where God promised to meet with mankind (Ex. 30:6-10). So let's recap that: one man (a high priest) met with God once a year. That was it; unless God chose to reveal Himself to someone else, but that was seldom in the big picture of humanity and the history of the Israelites.
In Christ, this changed. The final atonement sacrifice was offered in Christ on the cross - that's why the veil that separated the innermost room of the temple was torn in two (Mt. 27:51)! We no longer need a priest to represent us to make sacrifices and pray for forgiveness on our behalf - Christ IS our great high priest who has made atonement for us and speaks directly to the Father on our behalf! (Heb. 9) And He has given us direct access to Himself in the Holy Spirit! And how are we able to communicate or find the Holy Spirit? We do not have to look any further than ourselves - "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."
This is why we should seek to exercise, care for and feed our bodies nutritiously and in a God honoring manner. You have been bought with Christ's blood and your life belongs to Him - HALLELUJAH! This is not a sentence of limitation or legalism, but a gift of freedom from the tyranny and destruction we bring on our own bodies through sin, including our own individual sin.
God, You are great and powerful! You have paid every price and made every sacrifice so that I can be free and know You, thank You. I confess that I do not always view my body as being yours instead of mine, and I make selfish decisions because I think I know what I want and what's best. Please help me to trust You and what You say is best for me and the body You have blessed me with. Help me take care of this body, that I may hear You say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant" when I see You face to face. In Jesus' Name, Amen.