1 Corinthians 6:12-14
Because the body belongs to the Lord and will be raised, it must not be ruled by sin.
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything.
13 “Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 Now God raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power.
Because the body belongs to the Lord and will be raised, it must not be ruled by sin.
Paul corrects the Corinthians' misuse of Christian freedom by teaching that the body belongs to the Lord and is destined for resurrection rather than immoral indulgence.
After warning the Corinthians that unrighteous living is incompatible with inheriting God’s kingdom, Paul confronts a slogan circulating among them: “I have the right to do anything.” Some believers were interpreting Christian freedom as permission for moral indulgence. Paul responds by qualifying the statement with two principles—what is beneficial and what enslaves. He then addresses another rationalization comparing bodily appetites to food, arguing that the body’s purpose is fundamentally different. The body belongs to the Lord and will be raised by God’s power. This theological grounding prepares the way for Paul’s extended teaching on sexual morality in the following verses.
Corinthian believers lived in a culture that celebrated personal liberty and bodily pleasure. Some Christians adopted slogans reflecting this cultural mindset, applying them to their understanding of Christian freedom. Paul responds by redefining freedom through the lens of Christ’s lordship and resurrection hope.
Judge Righteously, Flee Sexual Immorality, and Glorify God in Your Body
Because believers belong to Christ, are destined for the kingdom, and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, they must reject unrighteousness, resolve disputes in a holy manner, flee sexual immorality, and glorify God in their bodies.