Temple Baptist Church - 10-1-2025
1 Corinthians 6:9-12
Introduction:
A. As an introduction, I want to examine two verses in John chapter 8 that relate to those who are saved—specifically, the Jews who believed in Him.
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
B. The grace of God has made them and us eternally free. The child of God has been set at liberty through everlasting salvation. Grace is just that: grace. Grace is unmerited favor, which is bestowed upon the sinner. Free from the Penalty of Sin and delivered from hell. All of it by grace.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
C. Paul is not talking to the unsaved in our text as these Corinthians, though carnal at times, are saved! The context is about the grace that enables the saint to live a life pleasing to God. In the Book of Titus, one of the Pastoral Epistles, Paul says:
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
D. Though these Corinthian believers had been set at liberty, Paul is teaching them that liberty is not licensed to do everything that they wanted to do.
E. Personal liberties and rights are some of the most precious things any human being actually possesses. People have fought long and hard to have this freedom. In the Constitution of the United States, the people are guaranteed “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” but are not given the license to do anything they want.
F. In verses 8-10, Paul continues dealing with the saints, in verse 8, to some degree, acting like the world. Verses 9-10 give a vivid description of the wickedness of the unsaved. They do anything that they desire to do.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. (9) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
G. In verse 11, Paul is telling these brethren that, though they were once the same as those in verses 9-10, they have been delivered, and sin is NEVER an option for the children of God. “And such were some of you: but!”
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
1. You have been “washed” – saved – (This is salvation, not probation! Saved once forever!)
2. You have been “sanctified” – set apart – (To make holy, consecrate, sanctify, to dedicate, separate, set apart for God.)
3. You have been “justified” – sanitized – (A legal term meaning total innocence; just as if you had never sinned!)
H. Verse 12 is the message to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1. License and Choice – “All things are lawful unto me.” Lawful clarifies things. These are things that are not breaking God or man’s laws. Paul could do these things and they would not be sinful.
2. Liberty and Consequence – “But all things are not expedient!” Too often, the good things in life nullify the best things!
1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
J. Let me give you a personal illustration that may help explain verse 12.
1. There are so many things I would love to do, but they are not “convenient" nor do they “edify.” I have always wanted to take Barbara west for a month and drive through this great country that God has given us to enjoy!
2. Tramping across the plains, through the Dakotas, the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone, Montana, Wyoming, down through Colorado, crossing the Continental Divide, driving through Nevada and Utah, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas.
3. Introducing Barbara to the places that I have been to, and both of us exploring the places we have never been. We have had people encourage us to do so. Just take a Sabbatical and go.
4. I will not do that! I cannot do that! A Sabbatical to me would be a dereliction of duty! How could Barbara and I leave our church, our people, my pulpit, and ministry like that? Both our love and responsibility are to be here with you and for you: a call away, just a few minutes and miles from being at your home or hospital.
5. This is why I have never preached Revivals, though I have been asked to do so. This is why I do not seek love offerings or have side jobs. I believe the key to living for the Lord is to put Him and His calling above the things that are good and better because that is the BEST.
K. Just a note to let you know that I love for our people to vacation, get away for a while. Our freedom in “pursuit of happiness" is an individual thing. Paul speaks of this in our text. He uses personal pronouns: “unto me,” for me,” “I will not.”
L. Here is another passage of Scripture that describes what I am saying.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
1. I will reverse the order. “Let us lay aside … the sin which doth so easily beset us.” Sin is never lawful and should be avoided at all costs as it will destroy the life and testimony of the believer who chooses that route.
2. “Let us lay aside EVERY WEIGHT … which doth so easily beset us.” Weights are not sin yet weights hinder the runner in the race.
3. We are to run to gain our prize by:
a) Accomplishing God’s will in our lives.
b) Fulfilling God’s Purpose for our lives.
c) Succeeding in doing it well.
M. Here we find the crux of the matter: The greatest life ever lived is one lived for Christ! Not the good nor the better, but the BEST!
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
No comments:
Post a Comment