More Than We Could Ever Do

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1Co 6:20 AV)

Not an easy task.  Considering we were born in iniquity.  Our nature is to do just the opposite.  Adam partook of the fruit of the tree the knowledge of good and evil.  He passed upon all men the nature to live in rebellion and self-pleasure.  It is only by the new birth that we have hope of overcoming the Adamic curse.  Jesus died to purchase our bodies, spirits, and souls.  The process of glorification takes time.  We must learn things that can only come by a lengthy process.  The discipline of self-denial cannot be learned in heaven.  Once we have the permanent and full image of Jesus Christ, sin will be impossible.  There will be no choice, per se.  Our only desire will be to exist for the glory of our Creator.  Which brings us to our verse.  The struggle for holiness is as much a privilege and opportunity as it is a frustration.  The motive is clearly stated.  Because we are bought with the precious price of another person’s life, we owe it to Him to glorify the Father in both body and spirit.

We live in a culture that tempts us in the opposite direction.  Most advertising is designed to entice us to please self.  It doesn’t matter if the ads on our viewing device or the ads in the middle of our apps are playing, the all are designed to do the same thing.  Most are an enticement for something we do not need and perhaps may even cause great harm.  There are the occasional ads promoting a better quality of life, but those are not the majority.  We are encouraged to follow our hearts.  That has led to a culture that expresses their emotions, feeling they are entitled to rather than filtering emotional expression through social responsibility and appropriate behavior.  All one has to do is view a real-time law enforcement show to see how out of control we really are.  Everything in the world encourages us contrary to the admonition above.  But the command still stands.

Paul’s words come after the rebuke of a improper physical relationship between a Stepmother and her Stepson.  The Corinthian church had boasted about this relationship as though it was normal and acceptable.  Even if the stepmother was widowed before this relationship blossomed, it was still against scripture.  A man is not allowed to take up with his father’s wife.  No exceptions.  There is a moral standard set for humanity.  Regardless of a person’s standing before God, the rules are the same.  If it is immoral for the believer, it is also immoral for the unbeliever.  There are not two sets of rules.  But Paul is giving us a greater motive than mere law.  He is giving us the motive of reciprocal love.  Not paying a debt, mind you.  We never can repay what Jesus has done for us.  Rather, there is an ethical and moral obligation the show our appreciation for what Jesus has done for us.  We owe Him more than we could ever repay.  It only stands to reason we should do what we can.  If Jesus bought us with His blood, the least would can do is to say thank you by living a holy life.  The least we could do is to strive against sin and toward Christlikeness.  His love would demand no less.