Romans 6
1 Corinthians 6 is part of a letter that Paul sent to the church in Corinth, and it mainly covers two themes. First, it addresses disputes among the members of the church and the issue of taking matters to the secular courts (verses 1–11). Second, it deals with a proper understanding of the believer’s body and the right attitude toward living (verses 12–20). This chapter offers deep reflection on the proper relationships within the community and on the life of faith.
1verseWhat shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2verseMay it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
3verseOr don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4verseWe were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
5verseFor if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
6verseknowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.
7verseFor he who has died has been freed from sin.
8verseBut if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,
9verseknowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over him!
10verseFor the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.
11verseThus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12verseTherefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
13verseAlso, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
14verseFor sin will not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.
15verseWhat then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
16verseDon’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?
17verseBut thanks be to God that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.
18verseBeing made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.
19verseI speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh; for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.
20verseFor when you were servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.
21verseWhat fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22verseBut now, being made free from sin and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification and the result of eternal life.
23verseFor the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Lawsuits Among Believers and the Role of the Church (Verses 1–11)
Within the Corinthian church, there were cases where people argued with one another and even went to secular courts. Paul emphasizes that believers should resolve such issues wisely by reconciling with one another and addressing problems within the community. Since the church has been called to judge the world, even minor matters should be resolved by the church members themselves; taking them to secular courts, he points out, actually harms the church’s honor and glory. This brings to mind the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation within the community, as well as spiritual responsibility.
The Kingdom of God and a Righteous Life (Verses 9–11)
Paul lists kinds of actions that are not part of inheriting the kingdom of God, and he says that the believers once lived such lives but were washed and changed by the name of Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit. This is a passage that highlights the identity of the believer and the life that has been transformed—reminding us to live as a new person rather than as one shaped by the past.
Purity of the Body and the Life of a Believer (Verses 12–20)
In the remaining portion, Paul’s teachings about food, the body, and freedom are developed. The declaration, “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial,” prompts us to think about the limits of freedom and the responsibility that comes with it. We must remember that the body of a believer is God’s temple and a holy place where the Holy Spirit dwells; therefore, the emphasis is on living a life that shuns sexual immorality and gives glory to God.
Meditation Points
- When conflicts arise within the community, let’s check whether we are resolving them with a “faith-based method,” not a worldly one.
- Let’s reflect on whether the freedom in my life is being used for the benefit of the community and for building one another up.
- Let’s think about whether I recognize that my body is God’s temple and live in a way that preserves holiness.
Apply It to Yourself
- When I face conflict with other people, I will cultivate a sincere desire to practice patience and forgiveness.
- While enjoying freedom, I will pray for spiritual discernment that puts the benefit of myself and my neighbor first.
- In daily life, I will strive to manage my body and mind in a way that pleases God.
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