1 Corinthians 6:13: Biblical Freedom: Body for Lord, Not Fornication
Memory Verse
The food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for the food, but God will render useless these [stomachs] and these [foods]. But the body is not for fornication, but to the Lord and the Lord to the body (1 Corinthians 6:13).
The Kingdom of God is not concerned with eating and drinking, but with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Peace comes from possessing an unruffled mind, which is a result of framing the mind on things above and walking by the Spirit (Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:22–23). Joy is contentment in any situation. We are to be content in this world with food and clothing, for we brought nothing into the world and will take nothing out of it (1 Timothy 6:5). Therefore, godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:5). By contrast, those whose end is destruction and glory is in their shame set their stomach as their god and their mind on earthly things (Philippians 3:19).
Since we are now free in Christ from the elementary principles of the world system: touch not, taste not, handle not, the observation of days, we are permitted to partake of anything when it is done with supplication and thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4–5). Yet the body is not for fornication. Therefore, our freedom is not to be used as a cloak for doing wrong (1 Peter 2:16). We are now slaves to righteousness in Christ (Romans 6:18).
Sexual purity is an important aspect of our Christian life. Fornication—sex outside of marriage—is not to be named among the saints, for we are all to know how to possess our vessels in sanctification and honor (1 Thessalonians 4:4; Ephesians 5:3). As part of a new creation, in which Christ is the head and we are the body (Ephesians 1:22–23; 2 Corinthians 5:17), our bodies are not to be joined with a harlot, for they belong to the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:15).