1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (Part 29) Christian Liberty Continued

• The statement of liberty—6:12—they misapplied this . . .

• A logical error—v. 13a—he then corrects it . . .

• The corrective teaching—vv. 13b-20—he shows how the error is wrong . . . 1) The future of the body, v. 14; 2) The union with the body, vv.15-17; 3) The use of the body, v. 18; 4) The ownership of the body, vv. 19-20

The statement of liberty, v. 12

• All things are lawful for me—this needs some background

• How Christians may relate to the will of God (this is relevant to the subject of liberty)

The will of God

• It is never the will of God to do what is forbidden by God: 1) Parameter—with the passage correctly interpreted for right now

• It is always the will of God to do what is commanded by God: 1) Parameter—assumes the interpretation is correct

• All other areas are left to mature judgment—this is the area we call “liberty”—(this is what we are looking at in I Cor. 6:12-20)

“All things are lawful for me”—(there are qualifications needed)

• Immediate context—6:9-10

• NT teaching

Parameter

• Freedom/liberty is entirely consistent with servant-hood: Freedom from human viewpoint and tyranny—couple examples . . . 1) Faith plus teaching; 2) Chains of religious performance

• Freedom is consistent with authority

Liberty

• Does not consist of what I can do

• Does not consist of what I should do

• Liberty is what I “may” do: 1) I Cor. 6, 8, 10—one single principle—the exercise of liberty is determined by (does the “may” apply?”) . . . 1) Circumstances that surround it; 2) The person who practices it