Hope and Holiness

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9-20

Do You Not Know?— The Hope of the Gospel

Key Question: How does God’s good creation of men and women provide a solid foundation for gospel hope in our struggle against sexual sin?

If you are struggling to overcome sexual sin, there is good news. You don’t have to remain powerless. There is hope. There is a solution. Eternal life begins right now.

In terms of human nature, the Bible doesn’t begin with the Fall and the doctrine of total depravity. If we begin with the Fall rather than God’s good creation, we easily assume that humans are rotten from the beginning, void of any good and intrinsic dignity. The Bible, however, begins by setting forth the goodness of God’s creation (cf. Gen. 1). From the beginning, God declared His creation to be “very good” (Gen. 1:31).

The body’s desires for sensual pleasure indicate what it is to experience human nature as God created it. Even after the Fall, man still retains the image of God, although it is now greatly obscured and marred by sin. Because of the Fall—rather than a weakness or defect in human nature as created by God—our bodies and minds, hearts, and wills are all under the enslavement and rule of sin and death.

Over the next several days, you will learn the gospel and its relevance to helping you solve your problem with sin—in this case, sexual sin. Gospel power and purity over sexual sin flow by examining a vital question the Apostle Paul repeatedly asked another group of Christians mired in sexual sin—the church in ancient Corinth: Do you not know?

You will find Paul’s question throughout 1 Corinthians 6:9–20. He appeals to eight gospel truths, which the Corinthian believers didn’t know (but should have known), to enable and empower them to live a life of sexual purity. These eight gospel truths are how you can live a holy life.

Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, teach us the way of holiness and grant us hope. Direct our hearts into the love of God that we might live to the honor and glory of your name through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9, Ephesians 1:4-5

Do You Not Know?— Adoption: The Highest Blessing Of The Gospel

Key Question: How does knowing you are adopted enable and empower sexual purity?

“Adoption puts law-keeping on a new footing: as children of God, we acknowledge the law’s authority as a rule for our lives because we know that this is what our Father wants. If we sin, we confess our fault and ask our Father’s forgiveness based on the family relationship, as Jesus taught us to do—“Father . . . forgive us our sins” (Lk 11:2, 4). The sins of God’s children do not destroy their justification or nullify their adoption, but they mar the children’s fellowship with their Father. “Be holy, for I am holy” is our Father’s word to us, and it is no part of justifying faith to lose sight of the fact that God, the King, wants his royal children to live lives worthy of their paternity and position. . .

How often do you dwell on your adoption? Do you know that you have been adopted? Adoption—the highest privilege the gospel offers—shows us the meaning and motives of “gospel holiness,” which springs from love and gratitude rather than slavish, legal duty. We have been adopted to be holy and blameless (Eph. 1:4–5). God’s children love their Father and actively seek to obey His will out of gratitude for his privileged status. As J. I. Packer writes,

“It [gospel holiness] is just a matter of the child of God being true to type, true to His Father, to his Savior and to himself. . . It is a matter of being a good son or daughter, as distinct from a prodigal or black sheep in the royal family.”

Prayer: Most Merciful Father, thank you for the great love you have given us, that we would be called children of God, and such we are. Impress this highest privilege upon our hearts for our comfort and assurance so that we might be enabled and empowered to live a life of hope and holiness through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:11

Do You Not Know?— Regeneration: The Creation of the Gospel

Key Question: How does knowing you are regenerated by the Holy Spirit enable and empower sexual purity?

There are two aspects by which regeneration is to be understood: re-creation and purification. Both constitute the total change that occurs in a sinner’s heart when the Holy Spirit raises him from death to life, delivers him from the domain of darkness, and transfers him to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. In re-creation, the Holy Spirit, through the announcement of the gospel, sovereignly and graciously raises to life in Christ those who are spiritually dead. In Ephesians 2:4–5, Paul writes,

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” 

In short, the Holy Spirit re-creates in newness of life, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17,

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 

Regeneration also entails purification, whereby the Holy Spirit purges our inner defilement. I suspect Paul begins with this emphasis because he addresses sexual immorality, which defiles both body and spirit. Because nothing unrighteous or unclean will enter God’s kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9–10; Rev. 21:27), the unrighteous must be spiritually cleansed to enter the kingdom. The “you were washed” wording stresses the removal of dirt and refers to the inward, spiritual cleansing of the filth of past sins. . .

“Do you know that you have been washed, brought to life by the Holy Spirit?” Regeneration is the basis of and power for obedience (cf. Ezek. 36:25–27). It is not a moral makeover but a whole new identity—a resurrection (Eph. 2:5–6), ex nihilo creation (2 Cor. 4:6). Regeneration brings an eternal cleansing, a particular blessing for all who are held captive by regret and shame from sexual failures.

Prayer: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, thank you for the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, who is the Lord, the giver of life. Help us know that we are new creations in Christ so we might live a life of holiness based on our new identity in Him through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:11

Do You Not Know?— Definitive Sanctification: The Purpose of the Gospel

Key Question: How does knowing you are sanctified enable and empower sexual purity?

Sanctification is often thought of as a process, or ongoing work of God’s free grace, within believers, whereby they are progressively and inwardly renewed and conformed into Christlikeness. This is certainly true. However, the Scriptures use the term “sanctified” more broadly. They distinguish between what theologians call definitive and progressive sanctification. In 1 Corinthians 1:2 and 6:11, Paul uses “sanctified” to speak of definitive sanctification. What, then, is definitive sanctification?

Let’s start with some basics. The term “sanctified,” much like “saint,” means to be set apart, to separate. . . sanctification is first of all God’s act of setting us apart from the world for Himself. . . every Christian is a saint—a separated one—because they have been sanctified—set apart—by God for His use.

Because they are sanctified, Paul calls on the immoral Corinthians (and us!) to be holy. The gospel way of holiness is, “You are holy (i.e., definitive sanctification; set apart from the world by God for God); therefore be holy (i.e., obey what God requires in His moral law)” The power of God is not only at work in Christ for us but is also the power at work within us (Ephesians 3:20), so that, despite our weakness, Christ’s energies are at work in us by His Spirit (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Paul understood that before the Corinthians could pursue holiness and growth in grace, they had to know that God had first set them apart from the world for Himself. The exhortation to “Be who you are” is infinitely different from moral pep talks or exhortations to try harder.

Do you know that you have been sanctified, set apart by God, for God and His holy purposes? Do you, therefore, know that you are a saint and holy by God’s grace?

Prayer: Most gracious God, mercifully give us grace so that we may know we have been set apart by you, for you, for your holy purposes, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:11

Do You Not Know?— Justification: The Fundamental Blessing of the Gospel

Key Question: How does knowing you are justified enable and empower sexual purity?

Justification is the chief article of Christian doctrine and life. Martin Luther said,

“This doctrine is the head and the cornerstone. It alone begets, nourishes, builds, preserves and defends the church of God; and without it the church of God cannot exist for one hour.” 

What, then, is justification? Justification is God the judge’s declaration that the unrighteous is righteous even while being inherently unrighteous. God justifies the ungodly (Rom. 4:5). God’s verdict is true and just because it is rendered based on Christ’s perfect righteousness alone, which is imputed to sinners by grace through faith alone. Consequently, all whom God justifies are counted by God just as if they have never sinned and have always obeyed. Why does Paul remind the Corinthians of their justification? Sexual sin results in paralyzing guilt, regret, and self-condemnation. But since the Corinthians have been justified, they must not condemn themselves. The doctrine of justification frees the believer from self-condemnation, paralyzing guilt, and regret because it provides a perfect foundation of righteousness. . .

Do you know that you have been justified, which is the sole basis of your ongoing assurance before God for the times that you have failed (or will fail; cf. Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:14–25)? You must be continually reminded that you are righteous before God—even though your conscience accuses you of grievously sinning against God’s commandments and are still drawn to all evil, like a fly to manure. These charges are true, but God, out of pure grace, imputes to you the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ. He grants these benefits as if you had never committed any sin and as if you had accomplished all the obedience that Christ has rendered for you.

Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, grant us, by your Holy Spirit, a firm assurance of our right standing with you so that we might walk in the ways of your commandments with joy through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:14

Do You Not Know?— Resurrection: The Hope of the Gospel

Key Question: How does knowing your body is destined for resurrection enable and empower sexual purity?

“Resurrection confirms that the believer’s body belongs to the Lord and not to sexual immorality. For Paul, the resurrection is of paramount importance. In 1 Corinthians 15, he gives the most extensive discussion of the resurrection in all Scripture. The apostle argues that Christ’s death for our sins, His burial, and resurrection are of first importance for the Christian’s faith and life (1 Cor. 15:3). . .

Because the resurrection is paramount, it has important implications for the believer’s daily life of sexual purity. The gospel teaches us that our bodies have a glorious destiny! Many Corinthian Christians thought that salvation did not involve the body. Still, Paul emphatically states that salvation involves man’s material and immaterial part—the whole person, not just the soul. Christ lived, died, was buried, and rose again to save our souls and bodies. Our salvation involves physical creation (1 Cor. 15; Rom. 8:18–23).

The bodily resurrection of the believer proves that the body is not meant for sexual immorality. Instead, the body is for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. This is confirmed in that He will raise our bodies on the last day. The final resurrection validates the moral importance of what one does in their body now. . .

The resurrection of the body is an integral element of the Christian story. Those who live within that story should understand that what they do with their bodies in the present time is a matter of urgent concern.”

Do you know that your body is destined for resurrection?

Prayer: O God, our heavenly Father, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to die upon the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the devil and the power of death: Grant us grace to die daily to sin, that we may live with him in the joy of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:15-17

Do You Not Know?— Union with Christ: The Apex of the Gospel

Key Question: How does knowing your body is united to Christ enable and empower sexual purity?

“We are not our own but are joined body and soul to Christ. Paul’s argument is quite explicit. He suggests an unthinkable reality. Paul is arguing that the Corinthian believers are so closely united with Christ that all who visit prostitutes are actually taking Christ’s body and joining it to the body of a prostitute!

Elsewhere in Scripture, we see that whatever is done to the believer is also done to Christ. For example, in Acts 9:4–5, Jesus asks Paul (Saul) on the Damascus Road,

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” 

Who was Saul persecuting? Believers! His actions constituted a violent persecution of Christ Himself. Christ is so closely united to His people that whatever is done to them is done to Him.

That is not the end of it. Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 6:15–17 that Christ and His people are so closely united that Christ is joined in their actions! When the believer participates in sexual immorality, they are taking Christ’s members (body) and joining them to that which is impure, defiled, and unholy (i.e., in the context of taking Christ’s body and joining Him to a prostitute’s body). Such blasphemy is unthinkable!

Do you know that your body is united to Christ—that you are a “member of Christ, joined to the Lord?”

Prayer: Grant to us, heavenly Father, the sure knowledge of our union with Christ that we may be enabled and empowered to live according to your commandments through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19

Do You Not Know?— Temple of the Holy Spirit: The Fruit of the Gospel

Key Question: How does knowing your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit enable and empower sexual purity?

“Paul is driving home a powerful point: through the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit, the Corinthians are God’s temple in the city, where each member also constitutes the holy dwelling place of God. Since the believer’s body is now and forevermore the temple of the Holy Spirit (a dwelling place for God), they must not defile it by engaging in sexual immorality (cf. Rev. 21:22–27). The old pagan sexual ethic of Corinth must give way to the new sexual ethic of God’s kingdom. There is a new temple in town.

Having sexual relations with a prostitute was not counted as a consecration but rather a desecration of God’s true temple. Sexual immorality is appalling idolatry, which leads to defilement and disgrace (“put to shame . . . put to shame . . . put to shame,” cf. Isa. 44:9, 11). Just as it was unthinkable to desecrate and disgrace the tabernacle or temple, so it is unthinkable that the believer would desecrate and disgrace their own body, which is now the temple of the Holy Spirit. . .

Paul asks the Corinthians, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” They did not know. They had forgotten the work of Christ for us (the gospel) and the work of the Spirit in us (the fruit of the gospel). They had missed a cardinal implication (fruit) of the gospel: the believer’s body belongs to the Lord because it is a sacred temple of the Holy Spirit. The believer’s body is a holy habitation of the Lord and is therefore not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord and the Lord for the body.

Do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, a sacred dwelling place purchased by Christ on the cross and thus belonging to Him? This knowledge is exceedingly purifying!

Prayer: Lord of all power and might, you are the author and giver of all good things. By the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit, you have made us temples—the dwelling place of God. Enable and empower us, by this knowledge, to glorify you with our body and soul through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:20

Do You Not Know?— Redemption: The Heart of the Gospel

Key Question: How does knowing you are Christ’s purchased possession enable and empower sexual purity?

“The cross is at the heart of the gospel. When Jesus died for us as the only substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, He “bought” us at a price. Paul writes in verses 19 and 20, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” The price was Christ’s death. The purpose of Christ’s death is multifaceted. The aspect Paul focuses on here is redemption. Paul moves from temple imagery in verse 19a to that of the slave market in verse 20a.

. . . while Christ’s redemption certainly results in the believer’s freedom from the curse of God’s law, as well as their former manner of life, the emphasis in this context is more on ownership. Christ’s redemption is not merely to set us free but to allow us to belong to God in a covenant relationship. Christ’s death has sealed a transfer of ownership. Christ “bought” and secured the rights of believers by paying the price with His blood—dying on the cross. So Jesus now has “full property rights over [His people.] . . . God has the title deed to their bodies. . . belonging to God implies responsibility, not license. . . Paul argues that since God now has full property rights to the believer’s body, they may not engage in sexual license. Instead, as a bondslave of Christ, the believer has a new Master.

Your body is God’s lawful possession by a double right: habitation and redemption. . . Knowing that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and the purchased possession of Christ will motivate you to use it in ways that glorify God instead of dishonoring Him. And so, we see that the gospel (“bought with a price”) and its fruit (“a temple of the Holy Spirit”) lead us to fulfill the very purpose for which we were created—to glorify God.

Prayer: O God, pour into our hearts the knowledge that we are your lawful possession in body and soul that we might be led to glorify you in thought, word, and deed, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Do You Not Know?— Corporate Worship: The Heart of Discipleship

Over the past eight days, we have looked at eight truths of the gospel that enable and empower us to live sexually pure lives. We looked at the following:

• Adoption— The Highest Blessing of the Gospel
• Regeneration— The Creation of the Gospel
• Definitive Sanctification— The Purpose of the Gospel
• Justification— The Fundamental Blessing of the Gospel
• Resurrection— The Hope of the Gospel
• Union with Christ— The Apex of the Gospel
• Temple of the Holy Spirit— The Fruit of the Gospel
• Redemption— The Heart of the Gospel

Now that you have a better knowledge of the gospel and how it enables and empowers holiness, remember this: We move forward in the gospel, but we never move on from it. Having begun our Christian life in the gospel, we must move on deeper in this gospel, which Paul describes as the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8). The gospel is the ministry of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:8). By it, we experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. We are thereby enabled and empowered to live holy lives. The primary way we move deeper into the gospel is by faithfully attending the church’s corporate worship.

Key Question: How does making the church’s corporate worship a priority—where you regularly receive the means of grace—enable and empower sexual purity?

The church’s worship is the heart of discipleship. In corporate worship, the Holy Spirit, working through the means of grace, shapes, reforms, and retrains the thoughts and desires of our hearts. . . Discipleship is a life-encompassing, Monday-through-Saturday process that sometimes involves specialized counseling and therapy. But, discipleship radiates from and is nourished by the worship life of the congregation gathered around Word and Table.

Prayer: O God, who, in generous mercy, poured out the Holy Spirit upon your Church in the burning fire of your love: grant that we may continue steadfast in the Apostles’ teaching, and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayers through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.