1 Corinthians 6:12-14
1Co 6:12 “I am allowed to do anything,” but not everything is profitable. “I am allowed to do anything,” but I will not be mastered by anything.
1Co 6:13 “Food is for my stomach, and my stomach is for food” but God will destroy both this stomach and those foods. But this body is not intended for sexual sin, but for its Lord, and the Lord for this body.
1Co 6:14 And this God who raised the Lord up from the grave will also raise us by his power.
free but responsible
The members of Chloe’s house church had probably listed a number of quotes that they had heard from teachers, and wanted to know whether those quotes were solid biblical teaching. Among them were these two statements, about the believer’s freedom to do whatever he wants and eat whatever he wants. Paul said the statements are true in principle, but can lead to sin in practice. While we are not in bondage to law under Christ, some choices are not profitable because they can lead to addiction and slavery. Also, the fact that our present bodies are temporary, and they are going to die does not give us permission to abuse them. The resurrection proves that our bodies are significant, so we need to take care of them.
Both of these quotes are examples of things that are theologically true, but which can lead to sinful practices.
LORD, teach us to be responsible as well as “biblical.”
