Paul reminds the liberal minded souls in Corinth of one of the most foundational truths of the Christian life. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” In the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, He purchased our present physical bodies, in order that it would be used to bring Him glory. As we have seen, the old leaven of the Corinthian culture was refusing to let go of its vice grip of bondage on these souls. In Corinth, to be morally loose and gluttonous was an acceptable way of living. False teachers strangely interpreted this no restraints and no shame kind of living to be the meaning of grace and Christian liberty. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun. Today’s society and the false teachings of the liberal, apostate Christianity would feel right at home in Corinth.

Do we really think that Jesus dying on the cross has no bearing on what we do with our bodies? Granted, there are those body minded extremists who worship their temple more than their God. Nevertheless, the truth remains that our bodies now belong to The Lord. Our sexual organs, our stomachs, our ears, our minds and our mouths are now The Lord’s, and are to be used for His glory and honor, not to be consumed upon our fleshly lusts and desires. “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” This does not mean that sin is lawful. This does not mean that selfishness is lawful. This means that for the glory of God and the edification of others, I will keep my body under subjection in order that the glory and beauty of Jesus Christ be manifested. This means that our satisfaction and happiness in this life does not rely on selfish indulgence, but on selfless service and seeking to please our Blessed Redeemer.