1 Corinthians 6:19-20

DISCOURSE: 1959
THE DUTY OF DEVOTING OURSELVES TO GOD

1 Corinthians 6:19. What? know ye not that ……ye are not your own? for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

THE word of God reveals to us many things which unenlightened reason could never have discovered. This is particularly manifest with respect to the offices of Christ and of the Holy Spirit. These were “mysteries hid in God from the foundation of the world;” but they are supposed to be well known to every true Christian; indeed they form the basis of the Christian’s hope; and they at the same time afford him his strongest motives to obedience. St. Paul was dissuading the Corinthians from the sin of fornication: he reminded them therefore of the principles which they professed. We wave what he says respecting the Spirit dwelling in them, and shall confine ourselves to the words of our text.
We shall consider,

I. The principle which the Apostle assumes—

All men naturally think they are “their own”—
[Men employ their time and faculties nearly as they please [Note: Isaiah 53:6.]. They think themselves at liberty so to do [Note: Jeremiah 23:17.]. Hence the language of their hearts is declared by the Psalmist [Note: Psalms 12:4.]—Their conduct, if not their speech, resembles that of Pharaoh [Note: Exodus 5:2.]—]

But no man is or can be his own—
[Men may be free from any human yoke; but no man is or can be independent of God. This is a principle even of natural religion.]
This every Christian is supposed to know—
[The manner in which the Apostle assumes this principle is remarkable. His question is a direct appeal to our consciences; he takes it for granted that no one can be ignorant of that truth; he expresses surprise that such a truth should be forgotten.]
Indeed this principle cannot admit a doubt. This appears from considering,

II.

The argument he urges in support of it—

God, as our Creator, has an unalienable right over us—

[We possess not a faculty of body or mind but from him [Note: 1 Corinthians 4:7.]. We cannot exercise one faculty but by virtue derived from him [Note: 2 Corinthians 3:5.]. We therefore can be no other than his property.]

But he has also redeemed us—

[We were in bondage to the curse of the law [Note: Galatians 3:10.], but God has redeemed us from this miserable state [Note: Galatians 3:13.]. He paid no less a price for us than the blood of his own Son [Note: 1 Peter 1:18.]

By this he has acquired a further right over us—
[The great end of redemption was “that we might live unto God.” The Scriptures speak of redemption in this light [Note: 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:14.John 17:19.]. Thus our obligation to devote ourselves unreservedly to God is greatly increased and confirmed by it. If God complain of us for requiting with neglect his paternal care [Note: Isaiah 1:2.], how much more may he, for our contempt of redeeming love!]

The principle being thus established, we proceed to consider,

III.

The exhortation he founds upon it—

“Our body and our spirit are entirely God’s” property. We are bound therefore to glorify him with both to the uttermost—
[We cannot indeed add any thing to God’s glory [Note: Psalms 16:2.]. God however esteems himself glorified by our services [Note: Psalms 50:23.]. There are many ways in which we may glorify him daily. A devotedness to him is justly called “our reasonable service [Note: Romans 12:1.].”]

Let the exhortation then have its due effect—
[God claims every one of us as his own. Let us not then live as though we were at our own disposal; let us adopt the resolution of Joshua [Note: Joshua 24:15.]—let us yield to him all the members of our bodies [Note: Romans 6:13.]; let us glorify him with every faculty of our souls [Note: Psalms 103:1.]; let us never disjoin what was so connected in Paul’s experience [Note: Acts 27:23.]; let us seek to have that inspired declaration fulfilled in us [Note: Romans 14:7.]—]

Inferences—

We may see from hence,

1. What lamentable ignorance prevails in the Christian, world!

[Many are daily violating their baptismal vows without remorse. Though educated in the faith of Christ, they give not themselves to him. This may well be a matter of surprise to thoughtful minds. It justly excited the feelings of David [Note: Psalms 119:53.]. Let us beg of God to convince us of the evil of such conduct; let us turn from it with self-lothing and self-abhorrence [Note: Ezekiel 36:31.]

2. How reasonable and delightful is the Christian’s duty!

[What more reasonable than that we should be his who bought us? And what so delightful as to be ever glorifying God? This constitutes the felicity of the perfected saints and angels. We should never be unhappy here if we abounded more in this duty. Let us know, then, and enjoy our inestimable privilege. To have honoured God here, will be our crown hereafter.]