1st.Corinthians 6:9-20 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD ? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abuser of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of GOD. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the LORD JESUS, and by the SPIRIT of our GOD. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but GOD shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the LORD; and the LORD for the body. And GOD hath both raised up the LORD, and will also raise up us by HIS OWN power.
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of CHRIST ? shall I then take the members of CHRIST, and make them the members of an harlot ? GOD forbid. What ? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body ? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the LORD is one SPIRIT. Flee fornication. every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What ? know ye no that your body is the temple of the HOLY SPIRIT which is in you, which ye have of GOD, and ye are not your own ? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify GOD in your body, and in your spirit, which are GOD's."
Paul, Peter, and John, all considered themselves as slaves or bondslaves (doulos) of CHRIST (Romans 1:1; Titus 1:1; 2nd.Peter 1:1; Revelation 1:1). They recognized that they were bought by blood and bound by love. Additionally, James and Jude each could have proudly introduced himself as the brother of JESUS (sharing the same mother), yet they, too, humbly called themselves JESUS' slaves (James 1:1; Jude 1:1 pictured above).
Due to man's sinfulness, slavery was a horrible institution during the days when JESUS CHRIST walked the Earth. Some slaves were treated worse than animals. The Apostle Paul commanded believing slave owners to handle their bond-servants fairly and kindly, being mindful that they had a MASTER in Heaven before WHOM they were accountable. (Colossians 4:1 pictured above; Ephesians 6:9). A slave owned nothing; rather, he was owned. All that he had belonged to his master. In like manner, the living GOD possesses us and lives within us, and we "are not [our] own" (v.19). Everything that we have belongs to our Heavenly MASTER, and we are to be good stewards of all that HE has entrusted to us. HE purchased us from the slave market of sin and bought us at an immense price (v.20).
A slave cannot do what he or she wants to do; he is subject to the will of his master. He has no schedule of his own; his day is planned and ordered by the one who owns him. Like David, the believer should take pleasure in doing the will of his MASTER: "I delight to do THY will, O my GOD: yea, THY Law is with my heart" (Psalm 40:8). Consider Paul's first words as a believer: "LORD, what wilt THOU have me to do" (Acts 9:6). Each day belongs to CHRIST: "LORD, 'order my steps in THY WORD'" (Psalm 119:133 pictured above). GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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