Daily Devotion, June 5, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

The Apostle Paul faced many perversions in the early church. One heresy that influenced some of the background in this passage was libertinism. Libertines had few moral principles or scruples, believing that all things were permissible. As Christian beliefs spread to the pagan world, the concept of grace resonated with the libertines. If grace covered over sin, then more sin would increase grace, and surely that was a good thing! Paul was combating this heresy.

Dr. William Barclay, the Scottish New Testament scholar, wrote “Be a Christian and do anything you want to do.” This seems to directly contradict Paul’s teaching in this passage, but Dr. Barclay was not saying that Christians are free to commit sinful acts. Instead, he was saying that when we grow in Christian maturity, the things we want to do change, and we stop wanting to do wrong things. In today’s passage, Paul is emphasizing the importance of sexual morality or purity. He reminds us to think of our bodies as members of Christ himself and temples of the Holy Spirit. As followers of Christ, we are to keep ourselves from sexual immorality.

Personal Worship Option:

As you reflect on this passage, think of the wrong things you are tempted to do and could be forgiven for. The mature Christian resolves not to do these but instead to remain pure. We are human and imperfect, but we are supposed to be growing toward full maturity in our faith.