1Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
But for the grace of God, there go I. I am just as capable of committing terrible sin as the next guy but it's only the grace of God that holds me back. He has washed, sanctified and justified me in the name of the Lord Jesus and by His Holy Spirit. I have lots of help.
There are many moral people out there who are not washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit who also resist temptation to do the evil things listed here this chapter. It's only the grace of God that keeps them in check too...there's a name for that. It's called common grace. It's grace that God gives to all, some more than others, obviously, but it is not saving grace.
.1Co 6:12 ¶ All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Avoidance of things that are not helpful to my spiritual growth is a good idea. Somethings, even good things can enslave me and keep me from being the effective servant of God that I should be. I can think of several things at this moment that are good things, but they have a tendency to sneak in and take up much precious time that should be spent on other things. There is a balance that needs to be struck when it comes to good things that can easily become bad if allowed to become an obsession or addiction.
1Co 6:14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
What an exciting promise to look forward too!
1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Bought with a price! What kind of people were bought with a price? Slaves. However, they were not treated well by many of their masters. Yet, there were some masters who did treat their slaves well and their slaves loved them. My 7th great grandfather slave owner. Patrick Henry was his name. He actually abhorred slavery, but economically he was enslaved to having to have slaves and couldn't find his way out of it. He treated his slaves well and with respect and they loved him and respected him in return.
I am bought with a price. In effect, I am a slave of Jesus Christ. In many places in the New Testament it talks about being servants of Jesus Christ. The Greek word actually means slave. Slaves were supposed to make their masters look good. I am to glorify God by what I do in my body and spirit, which belong to Him. I know the illustration seems crude. But that is how the Apostle Paul characterizes it.
Here is an example of a verse where the translation uses servant instead of slave. If you look up the word in Strong's Concordance slave is one of the words that can be used. 1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
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