1 Cor.6:12-20 1 Cor.10:23-30 Our society probably has some similarities to the Greek culture found in Corinth. From Paul's opening words in each of these passages we learn what was a common sentiment in that society. Paul takes the moral/cultural thought of the day, 'All things are lawful', and uses it to teach that the freedom he and the other apostles taught as a part of knowing Christ did not mean throwing everything to the wind and doing as we please.
In the 1st passage he addresses the societal thought of sexual promiscuity that seems to have had very little or no moral guidance. He teaches that in Christ sexuality is expressed and finds freedom in a monogamous married state. He says "Flee sexual immorality." As believers our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore holy. Sexual immorality is the product of Satan- evil and wickedness are at its heart.
The 2nd passage addresses other situations we may run into. The phrase "All things are lawful" is used again and is contrasted with "but not all things are helpful...not all things build up." His example is of a commonly occurring situation. Food offered to idols. You can read his conclusions. My question is, where do we find like situations in our society, where on the hand what we are confronted with in and of itself has no moral/spiritual problem, but yet when we know certain things about it should cause us to abstain and so honor Christ. As a teenager/young adult two such activities for me were pool halls and theaters.
Christian freedom is about living apart from the bondage that sin brings, practicing moral excellence, living as lights in a dark place.
Pastor Paul
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