THE APOSTLE OF THE RECONCILIATION

When we know the awful depths of immorality into which some of the wisest and greatest men of the times were

sunk, we can understand that the Corinthian actually believed that `the body was for fornication'. This the apostle

denies, and in its place says the body is for the Lord. The believer, though not yet in possession of the resurrection

body, is to walk in the power of that blessed hope. The body of the believer is not only for the Lord, but `the Lord

for the body'; `and God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power' (6:13,14). The

risen Lord stands pledged to grant the grace necessary for this completely new life and ideal. The main line of this

intense passage is as follows:

The Body `for the Lord'.

B1  Know ye not? The body a member of Christ.

B2  Know ye not? He who is joined to an harlot becomes one body.

B3  Know ye not? The body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.

A  Glorify God in your body.

However indelicate this subject may appear in the eyes of some, we believe that those who have had a fairly

wide experience of internal church affairs will sorrowfully admit that this subject is by no means a matter of past

history, but is sadly up to date.

A careful study of the words `one body' and `one spirit' will help us to understand their reference in more

spiritual contexts. The believer has no liberty to sin `against his own body' for the simple reason that even though

redemption brings one out of bondage into liberty, we have nevertheless to remember that:

`Ye are not your own, for ye are BOUGHT with a PRICE'.

the reasonable service being as in Romans 12:1 to `glorify God in your body'. The words `and in your spirit, which

are God's' are to be omitted. The great question is to do with these bodies of ours. The Corinthians may not have

needed to be informed that they were to glorify God in their spirits - what they did not appreciate was the teaching

more fully developed in Romans 6 to 8, and 12. Deliverance from sin sets the believer free from the dominion of sin

which is in his members. He may now yield those same members which once served sin to the service of God. His

very body may be yielded `a living sacrifice' acceptable unto God.

There is a great difference between `the flesh' and `the body', but this difference is not always clearly discerned

by believers. When one is reminded that `the flesh' should have no place with the believer, the rejoinder often is

somewhat like this, `Well, we eat and drink'. This reveals the confusion that is in the mind as to the difference

between `the flesh' and `the body'. This very epistle tells us we may glorify God in eating and drinking, but `the

flesh' can never please God at all. The flesh is the `old man', but the body has come under the power of redemption.

The Philippians were exhorted to strive together in `one spirit', but it was the apostle himself who could go to the

length of saying, `Christ shall be magnified in my body'. Oh that believers could feel the call to glorify God in their

bodies; to realize that they are bought with a price! The feet that once walked in darkness and in the ways of death

may become beautiful by using them in the service of the Lord. The hands that engaged in works that were evil or

selfish may be used for the highest of service.

This introduces the apostle's answer to the series of questions that had been sent to him by the church at Corinth.

They had asked questions concerning marriage. One side had taken the view that the body did not matter, and its

deeds were not to be thought about. The others went to the other extreme, advocating celibacy as the most spiritual

condition. He has answered the dangerous teaching of the former, and now turns to the equally disastrous

asceticism of the latter. The whole passage must be viewed in the light of the words of 7:26, `on account of the

present necessity'.

The coming of the Lord was the present expectancy. The end of the age was upon them, and it was good to

make no change regarding their mundane affairs, but prepare for the great change that might come at any time `in

the twinkling of an eye':