This sermon explores Christian personal purity, discerning right from almost right, and honoring God by avoiding moral pitfalls, particularly sexual immorality.
Good morning, beloved family in Christ. It is a joy to gather with you once again in this sacred space where we can share in the fellowship of God's love and learn from His Word. Today, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of a vital discussion, a discussion that centers on the very core of our Christian life - our personal purity, our partnership with the Lord, and how we can prevent moral pitfalls.
The great Charles Spurgeon once said, "Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right." This quote is particularly relevant to our discussion today, as we seek to understand not just what is right and wrong, but the subtle nuances that can sometimes blur the lines between the two. Let's turn our hearts and minds to the Scripture that will guide our reflection today. It is from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20:
"Everything is permissible for me," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By His power, God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
Let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you with open hearts and minds, ready to receive your Word. We ask that you guide us in our understanding and application of these verses. Help us to see the wisdom in your words and apply them to our daily lives. May we honor you in all we do and strive to live lives of purity, in partnership with you, and free from moral pitfalls. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
The words of Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 provide us with a profound understanding of purity in the Christian life. When Paul says, "Everything is permissible for me," but not everything is beneficial," he is reminding us of the freedom we have in Christ. Yet, he quickly adds a caveat that not everything is beneficial. This is a crucial aspect of understanding purity from a Christian perspective. We have the freedom to make choices, but not all choices lead to a life of purity.
This freedom in Christ is not a license to do whatever we please. It is a call to live a life that is pleasing to God. It is about making choices that honor God and align with His will for our lives. This is where the idea of beneficial comes into play. What is beneficial is what contributes to our spiritual growth, strengthens our relationship with God, and enables us to live a life of purity.
The next aspect of understanding purity from a Christian perspective is the idea of mastery. Paul says, "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be mastered by anything." This is a powerful statement about the control we should have over our actions and desires. We should not allow anything to master us or control us. Instead, we should be the ones in control, making choices that lead to purity.
This idea of mastery is closely linked to the idea of sexual immorality. Paul warns us against sexual immorality, saying that our bodies are not meant for it. Instead, our bodies are meant for the Lord. This is a clear call to purity in our physical bodies. We are to honor God with our bodies, not defile them with sexual immorality.
This call to physical purity is not just about avoiding certain actions. It is also about understanding the sacredness of our bodies. Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This means that our bodies are sacred spaces where the Holy Spirit dwells. We should treat them with the respect and honor they deserve.
As we continue to reflect on the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, we find ourselves drawn to the power of partnership with the Lord ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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