Set Free...

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:12, NKJV

Corinth was a church with problems - namely, its members. Though true believers, they often behaved more like fallen human beings rather than as children of the living God who were indwelled by His Spirit. The intense love Paul bears for this community of believers, evident in his letter to them, is representative of the infinitely more intense love God bore them. This love comes as an encouragement to us when we stumble as badly or perhaps even worse than the Corinthians. In Corinthians 6, Paul expresses dismay at the believers' practices of cheating, wronging, and suing one another. He reminds them that, "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." Of such were some of the Corinthians! (vs. 9-11) But then they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They were washed, they were cleansed, they were sanctified and justified through His sacrifice on their behalf. They received the Spirit of the Living God and now had new life inspired and energized by God Himself. How could the Corinthians go back to their old ways? Paul warns the Corinthians that though, in Christ, all created things in and of themselves are lawful for the believer, not all of those things are helpful. Nor should we engage in those things that bring us under the power of anyone or anything except God. We were already enslaved to sin. We were already under its power. By the grace of God we have been redeemed - so we shouldn't go back! What things bring our minds back into bondage vary from person to person. But the principle remains the same. We have been set free - we have liberty in Christ. We are now able to do those things that are good and righteous. It makes no sense for us to go back to slavery and the harsh taskmasters of sin! Instead, we ought to seek to be like Paul, able to say, "I will not be brought under the power of any." My Master is God, and God alone; may He give me the grace to live accordingly.

by Rebecca...