Unity Through Sexual Integrity (6:9-20)

Neal Pollard

It had to be a challenge to maintain sexual purity in a city world-renowned for its sexual debauchery. Paul points out that this is a matter of feeding fleshly appetites, but that these must be mastered by those who want what only God can give. It also requires an appropriate appreciation for what God has done for us and wishes to do for us. One of their number had infamously failed at this, and God wanted it dealt with appropriately (chapter five). Paul urges them all to, like himself, “not be mastered by anything” (12). How could Corinth (how can we?) combat the temptation to succumb to immorality?

Remember What You Were And See What You Are (9-11)

Paul established the church at Corinth, helping to win the first converts there. In those first 18 months, how many conversations and counseling sessions did he have with these spiritual babes about their sinful past and spiritual struggles? Part of their studying to become Christians likely dealt with how to repent. Paul knew their situations. He reminds them they were guilty of all kinds of sexual sins (fornication, adultery, homosexuality, promiscuity)(9) in addition to sins of immoral character (10). The whole list has in common that they each pandered to fleshly desires. The wonderful news is that through Christ they put that all away, and by obeying the gospel they were washed, sanctified, and justified (11). The guilt of those sins were removed. They were set apart for God’s righteous use. They were in a right relationship with God. No sinful pleasure can compete with the feeling of peace and relief of forgiveness!

Understand What Your Body Is For And Whose Your Body Is (12-15)

Don’t we struggle with that? The flesh has cravings, and we can satisfy those cravings improperly. In principle, this can be done with food, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and so on, but the central issue of context is sexual immorality. Paul points to the positive potential of our bodies. They are for the Lord (13). They are for the resurrection of life (14). They are members of Christ’s body (15). God has such exalted expectations of how we will spend our lives in these bodies. We cannot squander our purpose or lose sight of our identity! Too much is at stake.

Beware Of What Fornication Is And What Is Does (16-18)

Ben Witherington says, “Paul’s point is that sexual sin, unlike other sins, involves one’s very body in a union with others and is a sin against self as well as others. It involves the whole self and thus is dangerous and deadly to one’s spiritual well-being, for it puts one into the hands and mastery of someone other than the Lord” (169).  Certainly, Paul’s language is dramatic. Like Joseph (Gen. 39), run from it! Don’t do anything that jeopardizes your unity with the Lord! No matter how enticing it is, it will not be worth it! God has a wonderful place for this natural appetite to be fulfilled, and he will encourage that in chapter seven. Ironically, those who had the right and privilege of sex, husbands and wives, were failing to exercise such and causing each other to stumble. Society glorifies the shameful and ridicules the glorious, and that includes in sexual matters. Paul peels back the veneer of fornication and shows the ugly, rotten truth of what lies within.

Know Who Is In You And What You Are To Do (19-20)

One of the most powerful deterrents against sin is the knowledge that the Holy Spirit indwells me. Paul explicitly says so (19). When one becomes a Christian, he or she is telling God, “I am mine no more!” What I am now is God’s house, giving myself entirely for His use and glory. With privilege comes responsibility. Not only is that grand, impacting eternity, but it’s fundamental, involving my body. I cannot forget this. 

Put in the context of church unity, I am most responsible for how I handle my life and my body. By living a sexually pure life, I represent God as I should. That helps the church. Remember the words of Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do.”