10/17/2018
Our bodies are constructed for an amazing purpose, they are designed to not only maneuver the physical world, but to praise and worship God. They are also built to contain not only our conscious self, but our spirit, soul, the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God as well. We like to think that our body is ours alone, but it isn’t, even physically it is not, and scripture tells us that when we marry, or have sex, we become one flesh with that person... this is truly an incredible creation in which we live, and is often misunderstood.
“"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”
1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV
The human body is such a deep and wonderful study, but this morning I would ask that you simply accept as fact that the Lord, and those I mentioned, occupy it with you so that we can explore “becoming one flesh”, and the sins of the flesh.
“And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!”
1 Corinthians 6:14-15 ESV
So what are the sins that we commit using our body as a tool? What is meant when we hear the term sins of the flesh? We are indeed sexual creatures and that always pops into our mind when we hear this, but it is much more than that. Let’s read a passage of scripture that specifically details these sins...
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
This is quite a list, and you will notice by reading “and things like these” that it is only a partial list. What is significant is that within our body, as we are driving headlong into these sins, that we expect not just our spirit and soul to reside, but the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, and God to abide there as well.
I attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) when I was a young man, and that school has an honor system that is not only rigorous, but totally unbending, and unforgiving. It is simple in it’s construct... an honorable man does not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate anyone who does. If a person does one of these things, or tolerates someone else who does, he is tried by his peers, and kicked out of school for his very first infraction. It sounds harsh, but these physical actions reveal the character of the man inside, and they can become like a disease in the Corps; spreading to others. To be banned from the Corp of Cadets in this fashion is total humiliation, and the penalty is instantly imposed... no going back to say goodbye, or to get your things. The Corps is informed in the middle of the night and by that point the offender has already been placed in a taxi and sent home; their possessions to follow. Total dishonor... totally ostracized.
I told you this because I have a son who, years later, also attended VMI. I knew that he would do well there, but there was always this nagging fear that he might slip up and be sent home in this devastating fashion. I have talked to many alumni who have had sons or daughters that attended VMI and, to a person, they all had the same fear; even nightmares. You see the dishonor of that son/daughter would make it impossible for the father to ever return there; not by rule, but out of shame. The sin of the one would have affected the entire family.
“'The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'”
Numbers 14:18 ESV
When we sin in our flesh it also makes abiding in our body distasteful for God. It taints the very home that He designed and created to house the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, as well, but unlike VMI where someone resides for a very short time, we can cleanse ourselves through contrition, ask forgiveness, and return our ourselves to a pure state... but how do we separate two bodies once they have become one flesh?
“Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.”
1 Corinthians 6:16-17 ESV
When we become one flesh in an unholy union are we dragging God into it with us? Spiritually we are one with Him and as spiritual beings we are attempting to abide in our bodies, so how does this work? Can we ever make ourselves pure in body again? Well the answer lies in remembering that we are both a spiritual self and a physical self and that we can chose to live according to the spirit... and thus put to death the sins of the body.
“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Romans 8:12-14 ESV
The key this morning is to remember the ramifications of our sins of the flesh... we aren’t just impacting ourselves when we do these things, we are dragging our earthly families into them, and making the abode of God himself unclean... and He can’t tolerate the filth of sin. So it is that tears come hand in hand with contrition, and sweat with prayers for forgiveness; the price of sin is a separation from God, and the heartbreak of this is unbearable. Receiving His forgiveness is of paramount importance. Do you need to visit your knees in prayer today? Our God forgives, and He can sweep the sins of a filthy life from us, and even separate bodies that became one in shame.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for this miraculous body that you have given me, and I thank you for abiding with me in it. I pray Holy Father that I never dishonor you by committing sins of the flesh, but I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ and His life, death, resurrection, and ascension which has made it possible for me to find your forgiveness once again should I fall into these sins. Hear my prayers of contrition and taste the tears of my heart as I prostrate myself before you. Return my body to a state of purity so that you can readily join me in it once more Father. Clear the dirt from my house, and remove the temptation of fornication and these other sins, but if I should ever become one with someone by my weakness through lust, lead me to confess, and to contrition. Keep me true, and keep my covenant with my spouse intact Merciful Father because this is your will for me, that I join in one flesh with my spouse alone, and that I join in spirit with you. Thank you for not abandoning me to the sins of my flesh, and for restoring me to you. Praised be your name always, and great is your mercy and grace towards one such as me. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God with whom I long to abide forevermore.
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Galatians 5:24 ESV
Rich Forbes