A GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE A Study of Morality 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

1 CORINTHIANS 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me”– but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”– but I will not be mastered by anything.

EPHESIANS 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

ROMANS 3:24  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

1 PETER 3:18  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

ROMANS 4:22-24  This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness— for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

JUDE 4  For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

ROMANS 6:1-2  What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer

 Not all things are BENEFICIAL!  Don’t be spiritual Junior Highers!  We must ask the right questions!

THE RIGHT QUESTIONS  Does this put me in a position or allow me to truly show my love for God?  Will it make me a blessing to others?  Will it make me a more effective servant?  Will it make me a more effective witness for Him?  Will it contribute to God’s call on my life to make disciples?

 We are called to be set apart and to pursue Holiness!  Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6:17  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

 Resolution: I will not be mastered by anything!  “You shall have no other god’s before ME” Deuteronomy 5:7  If we are not careful, we open ourselves up to be mastered by something other than God.

 Sexual Sin

4 LIES ABOUT SEXUAL SIN  1. “Everybody does it.”  Popular opinion is not our guide.  Government or legality is not our guide.

HEBREWS 12:1-3  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4 LIES ABOUT SEXUAL SIN  2. “It’s only natural.”  To have sex is not our reason for existence  God created sex so we can experience intimacy  Genesis 2:24b “they will become one flesh.”

4 LIES ABOUT SEXUAL SIN  3. “I’m not hurting anyone.”  Sexual sin hurts God  Sexual sin hurts others  Sexual sin hurts us

1 THESSALONIANS 4:4-6  that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.

 Numbers 32:23b “…and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

ASHLEY MADISON SCANDAL

4 LIES ABOUT SEXUAL SIN  4. “It’s my body.”  Your body is a “temple of the Holy Spirit.”  You are not your own, you were bought at a price!

GALATIANS 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

GOD’S GRACE IS GREATER  We are free from all guilt  We are free from all shame  We don’t need to hold onto our secrets  We don’t need to do this alone  Let the Healer heal!  Let the Redeemer redeem!