1 Corinthians 6:9-20 - "Ye Are Not Your Own"

1 Corinthians 6:9-20

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 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?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Here the apostle speaks plainly to the church concerning this great truth: “ye are not your own” (v.19). The church is not brick and mortar, nor an organization of men, but those whom God the Father Himself has chosen from all eternity, sinners out of every tribe, nation, and tongue, given to His Son to be their Savior and Redeemer (Revelation 7:9). These are they to whom Paul writes - those who are chosen, redeemed, and called by the Spirit of God. They have been declared righteous by God because of the death of the LORD Jesus Christ, for His obedience unto death is all their righteousness (Romans 5:9-11).

Paul reminds them of what they once were by nature. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?” (v.9). Left to ourselves, this Word shuts us out entirely. There is no difference in nature. As it is written, “and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Ephesians 2:3). Were it not for Grace, we would remain among those described, with no plea, no excuse, and no righteousness before God. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (v.11). This is not a denial of our sinfulness by nature, but the declaration of our standing before God because of Christ's finished work at the cross by His death. "Washed" speaks of His blood shed unto death to put away sin. "Sanctified" speaks of being set apart in Him. "Justified" speaks of having been declared righteous by His work accomplished and finished at the cross.

Here, Paul presses the reason for this standing: “ye are not your own.” This word strikes at the spirit of the age. The world says, "man is free, master of his destiny, captain of his fate." But Grace teaches the opposite. “For ye are bought with a price” (v.20). This is the language of purchase. God has graciously bought those sinners He was pleased to save through the work of His Son. Christ paid the price with His blood. Those of us whom He bought at the cross by His death belong to Him.

This ownership is rooted in Christ’s finished work. As Paul writes elsewhere, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us… hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved),” (Ephesians 2:4–5). We were made alive together with Him when He was raised. “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:6). All of our Salvation is bound to Christ, His death, His resurrection, His acceptance before God.

Therefore, Paul guards against boasting. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). There can be no pride of grace. If we differ, it is because of Christ. Faith itself is God’s gift, given by the Spirit to those for whom Christ died. This Grace does not lead to carelessness. “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient” (v.12). Sin cannot condemn where Christ has put it away, yet the Spirit teaches that we are the LORD’s. We are not free to live unto ourselves. Our bodies are “the temple of the Holy Ghost…and ye are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Grace produces a desire to glorify God.

Paul therefore concludes, “Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (v.20). This is not a call to earn favor, but the fruit of belonging to Christ. He bought us, He keeps us, and He will present us righteous before God. Knowing Whose we are, we are directed ever toward Him, resting in His obedience, His blood, and His Righteousness alone.