10/20/2026
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
In the passage above the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. They had struggles just like we do. But instead of letting immorality and idolatry run free within the church, Paul addressed it.
When we are confronted with things in our life that don’t line up with Gods Word, it can first feel very offensive. It’s important to realize why it feels that way.
The flesh (or the old life apart from Christ) craves to live on its own. That’s why we feel rebellious when we are corrected. Sin actually hates the Law of God. But the gift of the Holy Spirit helps us to put to death the desires of the flesh because He writes the desires of God on our heart and in our mind.
Here’s the temptation when we are corrected. We run and find people that support our fleshly desires in order to justify ourselves. There is a saying that common among those who don’t want to submit to correction. They say “judge not, lest you be judged.” Or…”those without sin cast the first stone.” While those are powerful scriptures, they are not to be used to hide behind. They are meant to protect people from those who refuse to address the log in their own eye before they take the speck out of someone else’s eye.
As members of the Church, we are meant to pursue the things which are from above…where Christ is seated and exalted high above every evil influence in this world. He paid a high price, not to simply forgive you, but to purify you.
The Apostle writes to believers about some of the issues they needed to address, particularly s*xually immorality. In that ancient community the people were plagued with an “anything goes” mentality. And while Christ Jesus died for us while we were yet still sinners…He doesn’t want to continue living in sin.
Paul makes the statement that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. And he instructs us to honor God with our bodies.
Whether is s*x outside of the covenant of marriage between a man and woman, over indulging in alcohol to the point of intoxication, being overly greedy or lustful for possessions or prestige…or simply spreading gossip among the community…Paul says “purge that person from among you.”
If someone is unwilling to change and honor their body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, Paul says it appropriate to judge…not according to opinions, but according to the Word of Lord.
