A Sacred Obligation!

I can recall back in the early 90s living in Germany and serving in the Air Force. We were young Christians discovering the blessings of God and thrilled with the salvation we have in Christ Jesus. Our church was hosting a special meeting with visiting missionaries from Romania, Bulgaria, and Germany. My wife and I volunteered to house a missionary family in our home. Since we had no children and we both were active duty Air Force, we shared a lot of the household responsibilities. Saturday was always an intense cleaning day in our little rented apartment. When it was confirmed we would host the missionary family from northern Germany, we spent two days fixing, cleaning, and arranging everything to ensure our home was perfect for our guest. After all these were special and sacrificial servants of God laboring in Germany to spread the Gospel and start churches. My wife and I planned meals, went grocery shopping, and made every arrangement possible to ensure our special guests felt welcomed and honored in our little apartment. Because we understood our home would receive such special guests we wanted to be sure everything was pleasing to them while they stayed for the conference. Beloved, the same is true regarding our heavenly “guest” who lives in our bodies. 

Ever wondered what sacred obligations rise out of the miracle that God lives in Believers? Certainly this fantastic privilege demands some kind of protocol! In light of the fact that our bodies as Christians are the hosts of a holy invasion from Heaven, Christians have a sacred and dignified calling. We want our holy Guest to feel perfectly at home in us. God requires practical recognition of this privilege by us all, and several righteous obligations surface throughout the New Testament. Recognizing the truth that God lives in each Believer stirs us to ensure that everything that could be done to honor our heavenly "Guest" is being done. Yes, there are many reasonable and practical implications to the Spirit’s indwelling of the people of God. Note what Paul states in First Corinthians 6:19–20,

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20, For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

You see, regeneration results in The Spirit indwelling us Believers—the new birth, and this demands sanctification or growth towards Christlikeness. A holy God living in us Believers utterly demands a ‘set apart’ lifestyle. This fundamental obligation is also at the heart of Romans 12:1, 2.  Because Christians are the unworthy recipients of the fantastic “mercies of God” we are to “present” our “bodies” as “living” sacrifices to the glory and pleasure of God by executing His “good, and acceptable, and perfect will.” While regeneration, forgiveness, adoption, and justification are free to us Believers, as Christian disciples we do have reasonable service obligations to our Master and Lord Jesus Christ. These obligations do not secure or maintain our salvation, but are a part of God’s design for a people who have no more obligations to sinful living. We are now wonderfully indebted to Christ and out of love and appreciation we now obey Him!

We Are God's Temples
Paul declares in the First Corinthians passage that Believer’s individual bodies are the “temple of the Holy Ghost” (1Cor. 6:19).  Perhaps this is one of the most profound and solemn truths of Scripture—every Believer has God living inside. It is not that we are gods, but that the True and Excellent God of glory lives in each of His children. God is not merely close to His beloved people, He actually inhabits/occupies our person in a rather mystical, spiritual, and supremely astounding way. Since the body of each individual Believer is the Spirit’s temple, how utterly inconsistent it is for Believers to pray for the indwelling of the Spirit! He takes up His abode in us at the moment of the new birth. Others have asked, “How could genuine Christians ever think of taking their body in which the Holy Spirit dwells and using it for vile purposes” (MacDonald & Farstad 1995. p. 1764)? It is utterly incongruent to wallow in sin and disobedience when we recognize a holy God lives within us! Dr. Wiersbe (1996, p. 589) concludes, the Heavenly Father made human bodies (1Cor. 6:12-14); the Lord Jesus “redeemed them and made them part of His body” (6:15-18); and the Spirit of God indwells Believers’ bodies, and “makes them the very temple of God” (6:19-20). Thus we are living, breathing, and walking temples of God. It is desperately incumbent upon us to be holy places, sanctuaries of righteousness, citadels of godly expression, and fortresses of grace. How can we defile God’s temple by using our bodies for immorality? There is no justification for desecrating a sacred place! So, beloved, the entire triune Godhead is involved in what we, the people of God, do with our bodies. If God’s children habitually violate God’s principles, then we can expect to suffer the consequences (Rom. 1:24–27). Beloved, it is our solemn responsibility to live for God and not for ourselves and sin.

There is another insight here that must not be overlooked; it is the fact that each church body is the temple of the Holy Spirit also. Notice the word “your” is plural, but the words “body” and “temple” are singular (1Cor. 6:19).  Clearly, each Believer’s body is a sanctuary for God (6:19). It may be that Paul is here describing not only the individual Believer, but also the local assembly in Corinth also.  Perhaps there is a double meaning suggested by this plural pronoun that applies to genuine New Testament churches today. The local church, as Christ’s body, is a spiritual temple for God the Spirit. This truth though substantiated here is taught in many other clear passages in the New Testament also (2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21). For instance, the Apostle Paul says in First Corinthians 3:16-17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” Clearly, Paul is addressing the entire church body as a unit—collectively as a dwelling place of God. So the Spirit has the individual Believer and the individual church body as temples He occupies and empowers for service.

Each local assembly is a “body” of people united to Jesus Christ. The conduct of individual members affects the spiritual life of the entire local church. But, what a special privilege it is to be God’s spiritual dwelling place, both individually and corporately! Remember the glory of God that filled the tabernacle (see Ex. 40:34) and the temple (see 1 Kin. 8:10, 11)? But, now the glorious Spirit of the Living God personally lives within every Believer (see John 14:16, 17) and thus inhabits each New Testament church body as it assembles for worship and service.  What an honor lavishly bestowed upon Believers and churches! But, the implications of these awesome privileges introduce equally magnificent responsibilities.  Since the blessed Holy Ghost inhabits the Christian and the church body, Believers must guard the sanctity, purity, and sacredness of both.

We Belong To Our Lord
One obvious implication is the individual Christian’s body belongs to God (1Cor. 6:19-20a).  Paul establishes that Christians are not their own based on this biblical premise.  Not only is their body the holy place of the Holy Spirit, but in addition, they no longer belong to them. The word “For” explains the reason we Believers are not our own (6:20a). The Spirit occupies that which Christ Jesus has purchased. If I am driving down the highway in the car I have paid for, then it is quite logical to conclude the car belongs to me. We can demonstrate ownership by purchase and by occupancy. God has performed both entitling actions regarding every Believer; therefore, Christians are not their own, but His own (John 13:1). The Believer’s Bible Commentary (MacDonald & Farstad 1995, p. 1764) says, “It is not for believers to take their bodies and use them any way they desire. In the final analysis, they do not belong to believers; they belong to the Lord.” Plainly stated Christians are the Lord’s!  Both by creation and redemption (6:20), but it is redemption or salvation that is particularly in view here. Because God owns us He occupies us, and since He lives in us we are obligated to live holy. This would demonstrate proper respect for the price paid for us and the nature of our holy resident.

God’s ownership of us Believers dates back to Calvary. The verb “bought” (1Cor. 6:20) means to purchase or redeem in the marketplace according to Word Pictures in the New Testament (Robertson, 1997, p. 123) and refers to Golgotha, where the awesome price was paid. God did not purchase our redemption while He was still in Heaven. No, He sacrificed and came here and then died at Calvary a Sacrifice for all sin.  He paid the redemption price in this old fallen sin cursed world. But, just as people take the items they purchase at the store home with them, Christ will one day redeem our bodies and take all Believers home with Him. We usually refer to this as the Rapture; it is the full realization of our redemption as well! What an exciting anticipation we have in the Lord Jesus (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:14; 4:30; Phil. 3:20-21)!  Christ, by offering Himself for sinners as full payment for our sin, freed us Believers from the burden of paying it ourselves (1Cor. 7:23; Gal. 3:13; 2 Peter 2:1; Rev 5:9; 14:3, 4). Since Christ paid the price, He obligates us to Himself. Christ bought and paid for us Believers at a tremendous expense!  This being the case, we can no longer think of our bodies as our possessions. If we are to take them and use them in the ways we desire, then we are acting as a thief. By taking that which does not belong to us, we are behaving like owners with the full rights of our property. This is just the point; owners we are not. The property of Christ we are! He holds all the rights concerning us His property. We can no more take our bodies to do our own will, than we can take another’s home or car to use as we please! Christians belong to the Lord and are under His authority! The Life Application Commentary Series (Livingston Corporation 2000) expands further,

If you live as a tenet in a building owned by someone else, the landlord, naturally you would try not to violate the building’s rules. Likewise it follows that because your body belongs to God, you must not violate his standards for living.

Furthermore it is suggested, that each Believer make a practice of self-examination. That is an occasional body check up in prayer before the Lord. Reflecting on how we are treating our bodies, ask God to point out any thoughts or behaviors that need change or improvement.

We Have A Sacred Obligation
Then Paul connects the use of the body with the highest Christian motive—to glorify God! Each Christian should live to ensure his body glorifies God (1Cor. 6:20).  Do not miss the force of Paul’s clear statement: “Therefore, glorify God in your body!”  This is not a suggestion, but a forceful command and it must be obeyed explicitly and implicitly.  Christians need not pray about whether or not to obey; God has spoken clearly. God’s people need to meditate on the implications of this imperative to ensure we apply this principle to our lives in a comprehensive manner. Essentially, we Believers must use our bodies to glorify God, the One to whom they actually belongs. It is reasonable that God’s people should live to honor Him supremely. If I painted a brilliant portrait then that picture should bring honor to me. If I purchased an exceedingly rare car then that purchase should bring honor to me. Since God made us and then purchased us it is right that we bring credit, honor, and glory to Him who owns us. The logical implications of being a possession of God are both negative and positive.  There are practices we Christians should give ourselves to, and other behaviors we must forsake forever in obedience to this injunction.

First and negatively, every Believer should eliminate behaviors that defile the body. Fleshly practices such as fornication, alcohol drinking, illegal/harmful drugs usage, body piercing and mutilation, tattooing, and gluttony should be eliminated from our lifestyles. The deletion of degrading and tainting behaviors to the body is mandated in this passage. Though many have tried to justify or rationalize all of these practices as being appropriate and acceptable for Christians, they are still “defiling” behaviors. Sex outside of marriage is specifically highlighted as a “sin against the body” (1Cor. 3:18) and Believers must stop this. Too many of today’s so called churches only wink at this injunction while the preachers, choir members, and church members habitually engage in this type of sin. This is a grossly embarrassing admission and I have no delight in stated it. It is a painful thing to say because Christ is gravely dishonored by such carnal behavior. If all the truth is told, many of these folks are not real Believers at all, but some unfortunately are. God expects Christians to relate to others both socially and sexually within the relational parameters laid down in His Word. These forms of behavior obviously pollute the body, God’s temple. Beloved, this is criminal behavior!

Secondly and positively, we should display the Spirit of Christ who has come to dwell within us. The Holy Spirit was given for the purpose of glorifying Jesus Christ (John 16:14). A life truly submitted to the power of the Spirit of Grace will exalt, magnify, and make much of the Lord Jesus Christ as a habit. When the Spirit is influencing a person they will bring positive attention to the Lord Jesus. The kind of attention that the Heavenly Father is pleased with, though some people will resent, is our responsibility. We are to manifest His character, calling, and principles. The Spirit can also use Believers’ bodies to glorify and magnify Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:20–21). This special relationship to the Holy Spirit brings with it this particular responsibility. Servicing God through His church, getting reasonable exercise, maintaining a diet that promotes health, and wearing an attractive smile are all fitting responsibilities. In addition, dressing modestly and appropriately is also a part of obeying the Lord in this regard. Our culture really could use some models of sensible dress and appearance. Far too many Christians take their cues from Hollywood celebrities, rap stars, and rock and roll artists when it comes to their attire. Really…really...really it is pleasing to God to show less skin and cover up more. While no one is asking anyone to dress like someone from a Muslim country, we could do more to cultivate a healthy respect for the sanctity of the human body. It is good to keep some secrets regarding our physique or figure. Do not fall into the traps of promoting fleshly lust by portraying yourself as a sex symbol. Our society is sex crazed enough already; we do not need the people of Christ promoting a culture of recreational sex and promiscuity! The terrible price of the incalculably valuable blood of Christ demanded nothing less than departure from such sinful practices (1Pet 1:18, 19). 

Another rational implication is that no Christian person can say this is ‘my body.’ Why? Because we have been “bought with a price”—ransomed by Christ’s shed blood and death. The clear inference is that the Christian’s task is to honor God above all. Beloved, we must “glorify” God with our body! Certainly no one who is right with the Lord should claim some supposed ‘right’ to do what they will with their body in order to justify an abortion.  I am sorry, but no Believer can justify gross tattoos or excessive body piercing under the delusion that they are not hurting anyone by what they do with their body. The point here is clear, God owns the body and has a dignified, and holy purpose that brings glory to Him for each of us. Since He has purchased and lives in us, our persons are unarguably His! Bates (MacDonald & Farstad 1995, p. 1765) helps us with the practice of this truth in this devotion exclamation:

Head! Think of Him whose brow was thorn-girt. Hands! Toil for Him whose hands were nailed to the cross. Feet! Speed to do His behests whose feet were pierced. Body of mine! Be His temple whose body was wrung with pains unspeakable.

Paul adds one other requirement based on the truth that Believers belong to God entirely. We Christians must also glorify God in our “spirit,” (1 Cor. 6: 20) since both material and immaterial parts of Believers are God’s possessions.  Every attitude should be invested richly with His grace and rooted deeply in the fruit of the Spirit with no displays of the flesh. Yes, we are to have holy attitudes and motives because these evidence redemption and honor our Master. We may need to take precautions with those things that spoil or influence our attitudes negatively. This will certainly require policing up our entertainment and media selections. I know people who become aggravatingly aggressive because of their music selections or the movies they watch. I have witness Christians I respect get all bent out of shape over a sporting event where their team lose a big game. They were obviously depressed for days over a game of entertainment! I have heard of people reading porn magazines and/or romance novels habitually and they became utterly dissatisfied with their spouses. As a result rejection, pain and frustration followed. Smoldering sourness, bitterness, resentment, discontentment, and anger in their hearts was fanned into a flame of destructive energy. How? The stuff they read, the counsel they listened to, the friends they embraced, and media outlets they participated in stimulated sinful indulgences rooted in their emotions, attitudes, and motives. If you do not realize it yet, sin is NOT your friend! It is a deadly enemy, and God desires to limit its influence in your experience and free you from its power. Instead of wrath, anger, hatred, fear, bitterness, and resentment enslaving our spirits to sin, there must be faith, love, holiness, joy, self-control, peace, and patience. This is what God wants for us. The Lord Jesus would have the climate in our souls to be filled with love, joy, and peace. He would have us beam with hope, contentment, holy enthusiasm, and faith! God does not want us to be old grouches filled with the devil; no, instead we are to be grace filled saint of Christ thriving for His glory! We need far more exposure to the Word of God to cultivate the correct kind of spirit. Paul prescribes thinking on the correct subject matter to cultivate a holy attitude and thought life. He says,

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Phil. 4:8).

It really does matter what you put into your mind, it will influence your meditations and attitudes. The wisdom we embrace within will become the expressions we give ourselves to (James 3). Therefore, treasure up in your heart truths about the incredible character of God. Meditate in the Scriptures on His faithfulness, power, wisdom, love, mercy, grace, justice, and righteousness, and this will surely transform the climate deep within our spirits. Take a long look at God's salvation gift to us as Believers concentrating on what He has done, is doing, and will do for us. Think about regeneration, adoption, sealing by the Spirit, justification, forgiveness, redemption, and glorification as healthy points of reflection. I know from experience this will minister grace into your soul. I realize life is busy and there are many demands on your energies, but this discipline is worthwhile in multiple ways. Make the time to cultivate the right kind of climate in your soul and spirit. Put this on your schedule and keep this appointment. During certain seasons of intense struggles I have increased the amount of time I actually spend with passages that shape my mind and heart. I love using Philippians, Ephesians, and Romans in the New Testament. The Book of Psalms is a great point of meditation from the Old Testament as well. God has helped me in meaningful ways through this discipline. I recommend this knowing He will do the same for you.

Beloved, our lives are dignified by a holy obligation rooted in our redemption that results in the glory of God our Father. God lives in us; we are the hosts of a "Holy Guest." Our bodies are sacred because God lives within us. It is incumbent upon every Believer to live like God is at home within us. Actually our bodies are His home; He owns us entirely. We have only mentioned a few of the natural implications of this tremendous honor. The rest is for you to discover in your personal walk with the Lord. Stay near the Lord; cultivate holy fellowship and daily communion with Him. Allow Him to show you more of what it means for you to glorify Him in your body and spirit because they both belong to Him. Then give yourself to these insights with all your heart. As you do so, He will be honored through you!