Are You Really Free? When Good Things Begin to Control Us | 1 Corinthians 6:12–20

As believers, we have a tendency to ask whether something is sinful before deciding if we should participate in it. We want to know where the boundaries are. Can I do this? Is there anything wrong with that? Does the Bible specifically say I shouldn't?

But I believe there's a better question we should be asking ourselves: Is what I'm doing actually helping me grow in my relationship with the Lord?

That's really what Paul is getting at in 1 Corinthians 6. There are things we have the freedom to enjoy that aren't necessarily sinful, but that doesn't mean they're always beneficial. And if we're not careful, some of those very things can begin to exercise power over our lives.

The Christian life isn't simply about figuring out what we can get away with. It's about learning to walk in the freedom Christ has given us while allowing the Holy Spirit to continually transform us into His image.

Paul states,

Now, think about that for a moment. There are plenty of things we can participate in that aren't necessarily sinful. We have hobbies, entertainment, food, activities, and all kinds of things we enjoy. But as believers, we have to begin evaluating whether those things are actually helping us in our walk with Christ.

And here's something else we need to understand. We're all at different places in our spiritual growth. Something that doesn't present a temptation for one believer might be a serious stumbling block for another.

For example, there are things from my past that I simply don't want to go near anymore. Not necessarily because everyone else needs to avoid them, but because I remember what those things once represented in my life. I know where they could lead me, and I have no desire to return to that place.

That's part of growing in wisdom and spiritual maturity. We begin to recognize the things that could hinder our fellowship with the Lord, even when others might not see a problem with them.

So rather than always asking whether something is allowed, we need to ask whether it's helpful. Is it drawing me closer to Jesus? Is it strengthening my walk with Him? Or is it creating an opportunity for my flesh to gain ground?

Paul continues in verse 12,

I think this is one of the most important statements in the passage. Paul is saying that even though he has freedom, he refuses to allow anything to become his master.

Let me give you a simple example from my own life.

I love coffee. And when I say I love coffee, I mean I really enjoy a good cup of coffee! Some people have even told me I've crossed over into being a coffee snob. Now, I don't think I'm quite that bad, but I do appreciate good coffee.

I like quality beans. I grind them myself. I enjoy the smell of freshly ground coffee, heating the water to the right temperature, and slowly pouring it over the grounds. There's something about watching that coffee bloom and smelling that aroma. I enjoy the entire process.

But here's the thing. There are days when I'm off work, going to the gym, working in the yard, or taking care of things around the house, and I'll suddenly realize halfway through the day that I haven't had any coffee.

And I'm perfectly fine.

I like to have coffee, but coffee doesn't have me.

And that's the distinction I want us to understand.

What happens when something we enjoy becomes something we can't seem to function without? What happens when we can't say no to it anymore?

Maybe for you it's your phone. Maybe it's social media, entertainment, food, or a particular hobby. For others, it might be alcohol, pornography, or another destructive habit.

We can slowly train ourselves to seek comfort and satisfaction in these things. Whenever we're stressed, anxious, frustrated, or uncomfortable, we immediately turn to whatever we've become accustomed to using for relief.

And before long, that thing begins to have power over us.

Now, I'm not saying every enjoyable activity is wrong. I'm saying we need to examine whether we've allowed something to become more important in our lives than it should be.

If you can't walk away from it, you need to ask yourself whether it has gained power over you.

God has given us His Holy Spirit so that we don't have to live enslaved to the desires of our flesh. Through Christ, we can learn to exercise self-control and walk in freedom.

Paul moves from Christian liberty into something even deeper when he says,

Here's what we need to understand: God gave us these bodies for a purpose.

Our bodies aren't simply here for us to satisfy every desire that comes along. They're instruments through which we can worship, serve, and glorify the Lord.

Romans 12:1 tells us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. That means the way we use our bodies is part of our worship.

Think about that. Worship isn't just what happens when we gather together on Sunday morning and sing songs. Worship includes how we live throughout the week, the decisions we make, and what we allow ourselves to participate in.

Paul specifically addresses sexual immorality because God created sexual intimacy for a particular purpose within the covenant of marriage. When we take something God designed to be holy and use it outside His design, we're misusing what He created.

That's why Paul tells us to "flee sexual immorality" in verse 18. He doesn't tell us to see how close we can get to temptation without falling into sin. He tells us to run from it.

But this principle extends beyond sexual purity. We need to learn how to bring our physical desires under the direction of the Holy Spirit rather than allowing our flesh to dictate how we live.

God has given us these bodies to glorify Him. And we should be asking ourselves whether the way we're living reflects that purpose.

Paul brings everything together in verses 19 and 20:

Think about the significance of that truth.

If you're a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. Your body is His temple, and your life belongs to Him.

Why? Because you've been bought with a price: the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave His life to redeem us from sin. Because we belong to Him, the way we live should reflect that reality.

But I also recognize that some of us have made decisions we're not proud of. Others carry wounds from things that were done to them. Perhaps you're struggling with something right now that seems impossible to overcome.

I want you to know there's forgiveness, healing, and restoration in Jesus Christ.

Your past doesn't have to define you, and your struggles don't have to control your future.

James 5:16 encourages believers to confess their sins to one another and pray for one another so that they may be healed. We need to become a church where people can honestly acknowledge their struggles and find trustworthy believers who respond with biblical truth, compassion, and prayer.

We should be spiritually mature enough not only to confess our own sins but also to receive the confessions of others with grace and wisdom.

God desires that we walk in freedom rather than remain trapped in sin and shame.

Jesus said in John 8:36,

That's what I want us to experience as believers. Not simply the freedom to do whatever we want, but the freedom to live for Christ without being controlled by the things of this world.

So take an honest inventory of your life.

Is there something that has more power over you than it should? Are you looking to temporary things for the comfort and satisfaction you should ultimately be finding in the Lord? Is there an area where the Holy Spirit has been bringing conviction, but you've been making excuses?

Maybe it's something as simple as a daily habit that's become a dependency. Or perhaps it's a more serious struggle you've been unwilling to surrender.

Whatever it is, bring it before the Lord. Allow His Word to examine your heart, confess what needs to be confessed, and trust the Holy Spirit to continue His sanctifying work in your life.

None of us has arrived. We're all growing, and God is continually working to make us more like Jesus.

The goal isn't simply to stop doing certain things. The goal is to be so surrendered to Christ that nothing else has mastery over our lives.

You were bought with a price. You belong to the Lord.

So live in the freedom He's given you, and glorify Him with everything you are.