The Apostle Paul twice reminds his readers that we "were bought with a price." The first time it is in the context of a call to reject sexual immorality. The Holy Spirit lives within every Christians, therefore her/his body has become a temple! We must guard this temple from being involved in idolatry: in worshipping sex through sexual immorality.
"You are not your own; you were bought at a price.Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:20
Christ paid the price so that we can be forgiven and free to love and be loved by God. Therefore we are to pursue holiness.
Surprisingly (since they appear together nowhere else in the NT) we see the same two Greek words in the next chapter.
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings." 7:23
Here the context is a brief word to any first century Christian, a slave or freedman. The important thing to remember was not their relationship to humans but to God. Whatever their status in a society of many owners and slaves, their real status was as slaves of God! He was their owner, their ultimate boss.
Twenty centuries later the phrase remains a sober reminder and challenge to all believers. We've been bought with a great price; the loving, voluntary sacrifice on the cross of our Lord and Saviour. We've been united to Him by the Holy Spirit. With this high status, we must not let ourselves be controlled by our runaway sexual desires or by any domineering human. We should live like who we are: slaves of our all wise, all loving God.
"You are not your own; you were bought at a price.Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:20
Christ paid the price so that we can be forgiven and free to love and be loved by God. Therefore we are to pursue holiness.
Surprisingly (since they appear together nowhere else in the NT) we see the same two Greek words in the next chapter.
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings." 7:23
Here the context is a brief word to any first century Christian, a slave or freedman. The important thing to remember was not their relationship to humans but to God. Whatever their status in a society of many owners and slaves, their real status was as slaves of God! He was their owner, their ultimate boss.
Twenty centuries later the phrase remains a sober reminder and challenge to all believers. We've been bought with a great price; the loving, voluntary sacrifice on the cross of our Lord and Saviour. We've been united to Him by the Holy Spirit. With this high status, we must not let ourselves be controlled by our runaway sexual desires or by any domineering human. We should live like who we are: slaves of our all wise, all loving God.
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