Dear Cornerstone brothers and sisters,
Just a few reminders of what’s going on in the life of our church…
First, the ladies will meet this Saturday at Prem and Annie’s home at 10:00 for “mugs and muffins.” This will be a wonderful time of fellowship, food, and fun.
Second, remember to register for our Fall theological conference with Dr. David Murray. The conference is Friday, Sep 27th. Dinner begins at 6:00 with two lectures to follow. The theme is “The Christian Devotional Life in the 21st Century.” Also, childcare will be provided. You can register here: www.csopc.org/conference.
Men, be on the lookout for upcoming events such as the first meeting of the Cornerstone Theology Group and our next men’s fellowship breakfast.
Finally, this week’s devotional is reflection from 1 Corinthians 6 on the importance of living for the glory of God in both body and soul.
Have a blessed week and please feel free to call me with any questions, prayer concerns, or just to chat.
From the Pastor’s Desk
Mid-week Devotional
“Temple of the Spirit”
1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you.”
The Corinthian church was a church filled with problems. Issues such as divisions, a wrong use of spiritual gifts, and unbalanced views on marriage plagued this particular local body of Christ. The root cause of these issues, however, was that of worldliness – that of the world’s ways, tastes, and values seeping into the church. And although the specific symptoms may differ from generation to generation and from church to church, the root disease of worldliness – of the world infecting the church – is a perennial challenge to the church and to believers.
In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Paul is dealing with the issue of sexual immorality. The ‘worldly wisdom’ that attracted some in the Corinthian church went something like this: “Christianity is concerned about spiritual things, not material things; I am a Christian; therefore, it doesn’t matter what I do with my body, which is material.” In other words, so the ‘worldly wisdom’ goes, spiritual things are the important things and it doesn’t matter how I live or how I use my body.
In 1 Cor 6:13b-20 Paul deals with this false mindset in the church head on. There are several things to note regarding Paul’s argument. First, says Paul, “the body is meant for the Lord, and the Lord for the body” (v. 13b). In other words, the Lord made the body. It belongs to him; and thus is to be used for him. Second, the truth of the resurrection of Christ (and of the general resurrection to come when the Lord returns) demonstrates the importance of the physical body. Jesus was raised bodily (John 20:17, 27-28; 21:12-14). Paul puts it this way in our passage, “And God raised [Christ] and will also raise us up by his power” (v. 14). Third, Paul speaks of our union with the risen Christ, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ” (v. 15). As believers, we are in union with – we are connected to – our Lord Jesus Christ. And our union with Christ is incompatible and inconsistent with our sin. That is to say, the whole person – body and soul – is in union with Christ; and thus it matters the things done in the body. Finally, our whole person – both body and soul – has been purchased by Christ. God not only created us body and soul, but also he redeemed us body and soul. And oh the cost of our redemption: the shed blood of the Son of God! “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price” (v. 19b-20). God created us body and soul – he redeems us body and soul – and we are united to Christ body and soul. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (v. 19a).
What are the implications of this truth? Paul tells us in v. 20: “So glorify God in your body.” Simply put, we are to live to the glory of God. The whole person – body and soul – belongs to the Lord; thus, we are to live unto the Lord. We belong to another; thus we are to live for another, the Lord Jesus Christ. Brother and sisters, may we often reflect on the infinitely high cost of our redemption! May we often reflect on the truth that we are not our own, but we belong to another! May we often reflect on the truth that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit! And thus may we live for another – for the glory and honor of Christ! And lastly, if you are haunted by the misuse of your body in the past or even in the present, know that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sin (1 John 1:7). Jesus washes us whiter than snow! Go now in the resurrection power of Christ and live unto your Savior!
Blessings,
Robert