Biblical View of the Body is Essential

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that the body is given to serve Jesus Christ, both now and in the age to come, refuting the Corinthian idea that the body is for sexual gratification just as the…

Paul's argument that 'foods for the stomach, and the stomach for foods' was a common Corinthian saying, which they extended to justify sexual immorality. Martin uses this to show how Paul refutes their flawed logic by asserting the body's true purpose.

Well basically this. Apparently there was a saying going around in Corinthians. Among the Corinthians there at Corinth. That it is obvious that foods are made for the stomach, the digestive system and the digestive system is perfectly suited to receive food.

10:42 - 11:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Embed the principle that your body has been given to serve Jesus Christ the Lord in this world and the next.

Martin describes the historical context of Corinthian society where temple prostitution was a sacred act of worship, illustrating the depth of moral degeneration Paul was addressing and the challenge faced by new converts.

But the hope of the Christian in the Bible is not defined as the intermediate state, but it is the glorified state at the coming of the Lord Jesus, when our bodies shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall have bodies fashioned, Paul says, like unto the body of His glory. So for these Corinthians struggling with a society in which sexual uncleanness was not only accepted by the rank and file of people, it was augmented to the place of a sacred act of worship. And there were men in the Corinthian church who had been brought up in a society

14:47 - 15:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Get hold of the truth that your body and spirit are inseparably united to Jesus Christ in a real spiritual union, and live in light of it.

Martin explains Paul's frequent use of 'Do you not know?' as a teaching device to remind believers of established truths they should already be living by, emphasizing the importance of remembering their union with Christ.

But because it's spiritual, it doesn't mean that it's not real. Paul says it's so real that when you, Corinthians, who are united to Christ, join yourself in an immoral sexual relationship, Jesus Christ says, I didn't write it, don't you know one of Paul's favorite teaching devices, it's the sixth time that you've ever seen Jesus Christ in your life. He says, I didn't write it, don't you know one of Paul's favorite teaching devices, it's the sixth time he's used it in this letter alone. He uses it again and again or several times in the epistles of the Romans.

18:07 - 18:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Be careful how you treat the property that is united to Christ, especially in relationships.

Martin imagines a scenario where a young Christian woman, propositioned by a man, asserts her union with Christ, telling him he is 'fooling around with the Son of God' by disrespecting her body. This illustrates the practical impact of the doctrine of union with Christ on personal boundaries.

Hence the principle, my body and my spirit are inseparably united to Jesus Christ in a real spiritual where I touch, where I look upon. I do so as one united to Christ. You see how profound the impact of this would be in any moral society? Some young man begins to hit on a young woman who belongs to Christ.

22:20 - 22:55 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Every sin that a man does is without the body but he that commits fornication sexual uncleanness sins against his own body.

Martin quotes Leon Morris, a commentator, to buttress the point that sexual sin is unique because it involves a man taking his body, a member of Christ, and putting it into a union that blasts his own body, distinguishing it from other sins.

Not just his own soul. Note the text against his own body. A very helpful commentary on this first letter of the Corinthian to the Corinthians Leon Morris writes the Christian must not temporize with sexual impurity but flee the very thought. Paul goes on to develop the idea that this sin of a man's being.

25:33 - 26:00 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Every sin that a man does is without the body but he that commits fornication sexual uncleanness sins against his own body.

Martin points to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as a physical manifestation of God's determination to make it plain that sin in this area is 'against his own body,' serving as a natural consequence and warning.

It is unnatural to hate your own flesh. And I need not tell you. You know they have a word for it. STDs sexually transmitted diseases in which God seems determined even in the patterns of the horrible diseases to make it plain to men.

27:54 - 28:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask God to embed the principle that your body is purchased property, marked with the sign of the cross, especially when entering boy-girl relationships, and graciously refuse illicit touch.

The term 'bought with a price' is explained using the analogy of a slave market, where a master purchases a slave, emphasizing that believers were bought from the devil's ownership by Christ's sacrifice on the cross, establishing God's absolute claim.

body body body now he says for you in the entirety of what you are were bought with a price does he need to tell us what the price is we know what the price is this word agarazzo is a marketplace word and you can buy something in your bag and through some shekels on a counter to purchase something this is the term you would use you went to market today and you purchased something it's marketplace language and most likely has reference to what was common in that day when slaves would be held up for auction and some would buy the slave

34:20 - 35:05 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask God to embed the principle that your body is purchased property, marked with the sign of the cross, especially when entering boy-girl relationships, and graciously refuse illicit touch.

Martin uses the metaphor of every member of the body being 'branded with the sign of the cross' to illustrate that every part, including eyes and hands, is consecrated to Christ and should not be used for unholy purposes.

of the living god and of his son the lord jesus for you were bought with a price you in all that you are not you minus your sexual urges minus your primary and secondary sexual organs no everything that makes you you has been purchased if i may say something that i trust will help to make it stick there's not a member of your body that is not branded with the sign of the cross think of your eyes branded

35:50 - 36:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask God to embed the principle that your body is purchased property, marked with the sign of the cross, especially when entering boy-girl relationships, and graciously refuse illicit touch.

Martin provides a scenario where a young person, tempted in a relationship, graciously but firmly states, 'You cannot touch me there... they're marked with the sign of the cross,' demonstrating how the principle of being bought with a price translates into practical purity.

were bought with a price it makes you you is purchased property it's marked with the sign you have yet to enter in to boy girl relationships ask god to embed this principle in your mind and in those moments when you may be tempted the young man may be tempted graciously say you cannot touch me there you cannot place your lips on mine they're marked with the sign of the cross and the one who purchased them has said

37:18 - 38:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Conduct yourself as one bought with a price, fleeing sexual impurity of all kinds and glorifying God in your body.

Martin draws a parallel between the ancient term 'Corinthianized' (meaning debauched) and the modern term 'Americanized,' suggesting that American culture, through exported media, is similarly leading to moral degeneration in other countries, highlighting the contemporary relevance of Paul's warnings.

and brings me to this heaven and from him to the heaven of god he is fears and desires and by and by to keep Corinthians pure in the midst of a society that was proverbial for its sexual uncleanness. When you want to speak of someone being really debauched, there was a word you could use, they've been Corinthianized. That's all you need to say.

40:15 - 40:49 Read in full sermon

The point: At the communion table, take the symbols of Christ's body and blood as a reminder of the purchase price, and commit afresh to living a holy life, allowing God to brand every faculty of mind and body with the sign of the …

Martin states that merely wearing physical crosses or getting cross tattoos won't achieve purity; it must be a truth embedded in the mind and heart by the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the internal nature of true holiness.

God's grace is sufficient for us. May God help us then as we come to the table, that here we will afresh, say, Lord, brand every faculty of my mind and body with the sign of the cross. If I thought wearing a cross around my neck and one around my wrist and going and getting tattooed crosses on my hands would help, I'd be willing to bear the social stigma, the stigma from most of you and get tattooed. But that won't do it, friends.

42:10 - 42:41 Read in full sermon