III. SEPARATION FROM UNCLEANNESS IS THE DUTY OF THE BELIEVER

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's, verse 20.

The Corinthians were falling victim to the general spirit of the city and claiming that because they were redeemed all things were lawful for them to engage in. Such sinfulness may invade the church, Rev 2:14. They thus sought to justify their sin. Paul answers this by a series of statements in which the pursuit of sin is shown to be incompatible with God’s purpose for our lives.

1. Our bodies were made to serve our maker. Verse 13, Rom 12:1, I Thess 4:3, 7.

2. Our bodies will one day be glorified. Verse 14, Phil 3:21, I John 3:1-3.

3. Our union with Christ. Verse 15-18. Paul is horrified at the idea, verse 15, and calls for a fleeing away from this sin. The devil and the flesh would bring us into union with sin but God commands that we flee (seek safety by flight) from it.

4. The hurtfulness to our body of immorality. Verse 18. The scourge of AIDS is today’s evidence of the truth of Paul’s argument.

5. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost. Verse 19, II Cor 6:16.

6. We are the possession of God by redemption. Verse 19-20. When tempted to sin think of Calvary and the agony and tears and suffering of Christ to redeem us from sin. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, Titus 2:14.