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Christians SHOULD Live Differently

My generation has seen some of the most dramatic advances in technology, information, communication, medicine, and more over the past 20 years or so.  One would think that with all the changes we have seen in these areas that there would be a significant change in the behavior of people as well.  And while some may say that there has been a lot of change, a letter written around A.D. 55 actually suggests otherwise.

Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthian church around this time to address multiple issues going on in the church.  Keep that in mind - this letter was not written to the secular world, politicians, criminals, or non-believers, it was addressed to the church a/k/a the "good people."  But the world today is eerily similar to these Corinthians.  Lawsuits and litigation amongst believers (and non-believers) is high as it was in those days.  And sexual immorality which was celebrated back then even in the temple is glorified by main-stream media today.  So can we apply a letter that's over 1900 years old to our lives today?  Absolutely.

Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 as that is the content of the letter I'm focusing in on more today.  Sometimes I believe that Christians try to make it seem that vs. 9-10 aren't talking to us, that they are only intended for the worse unforgiven sinners out there.  But it doesn't say what many outside the church try to interpret it as either - that anyone who commits one of these sins is destined to hell.  Paul is talking to people whose lives are characterized by these sins, not those who make a mistake and fall into temptation.  Being a believer in Christ doesn't mean that you never commit a sin.  But if you are a true believer it does mean that your life is more characterized by fruits of spirit than by sinful acts.

Paul firmly believed in the freedom found in Jesus Christ.  However, that freedom was never intended to be a license to sin.  In v. 12 he writes: "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful.  "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything."  Just because something is permissible, does not mean that it is beneficial to you.  And if we allow anything, even something we consider "good," to dominate us other than the pursuit of Jesus Christ it has become our master.

Think about the activities that you believe should be taking place at the church.  What sort of things do you feel should be allowed there?  Now read vs. 19-20.  When we recall that our "body is a temple of the Holy Spirit," does that change the sort of activities you believe you should be engaging in?  You see, as a Christian we are not our own, we were bought with a price and now our bodies are to be used to glorify God.  So as you go about your day, consider the food you eat, the activities you engage in, how you treat your body.  Are these things you would like to see going on in your church, in God's church?

So yes, Christians SHOULD live differently from non-believers.  And honestly, I believe that most of us truly intend do.  God's grace is an amazing thing, hence there literally is a song named that.  But let's not abuse his grace, or our bodies which are his temple.  Make sure that if someone is looking at your life today, that they see a reflection of Jesus and not a reflection of the world.

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