1 Corinthians 6:12-18

Christians Are A Part of Christ's Body

Christians are free to do anything that is not sinful. The Corinthians had misapplied their freedom to sinful activities. As God's inspired spokesman, Paul said even some things which were lawful were not to be done because they would not profit others. Lipscomb says, "There is a lawful use of all appetites, desires, and lusts" but none of them must obtain the mastery over us" (1 Corinthians 6:12).

Apparently some compared man's appetite for food to his appetite for sex, reasoning that if one is right, so is the other. Food and stomach serve only a temporary purpose; to maintain the body. Fornication serves to tear down the body, which is meant for the Lord's service. The Lord dwells in and cares for the body. While the stomach serves a temporary purpose, the body will be raised by God for an eternal heaven, if properly used (1 Corinthians 6:13-14).

Christians are parts of Christ's body (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 5:30). Paul could not even imagine a part of the body of Christ being joined to a harlot. After all, sexual intercourse causes a man and woman to become one flesh (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). So, the fornicator, who is a Christian and "one spirit" with the Lord, makes Christ one with a harlot. Therefore, Paul urged the brethren to flee sexual immorality, even as Joseph literally did (Genesis 39:12). While other sins may attack members of the body, the body is not the instrument of sin. It is thus given over in its totality to sin, both outwardly and inwardly (2 Corinthians 6:15-18).