King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Monday, December 01, 2025
Chapters: I Corinthians 5-8
Message: I Corinthians: The Temple of God
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of I Corinthians we learn that every saved, born again Christian is the temple of God and ought to live their lives in honor of that, [1 Corinthians 6:9-11 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 abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 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.]
Think about all the sins listed here, they are all committed by the flesh itself, and believe it or not, they all are considered as some form of fornication, which is any act committed with the body that defiles it. We also learn the importance of marriage but also why being single is not always a bad thing, [1 Corinthians 7:29-32 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:]
In other words, our time on earth is short so make each day count. If you want to get married, then let that marriage be one that is centered on God and gives honor and glory to Him. Likewise, if you want to remain single, let your body be one that is glorifies God, [1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.]
Yesterday we read about the doctrinal issues that the Corinthians were having that divided the church and Paul assuring them that at least they were all in one accord in their faith in Christ. Today, we learn what was going on that began the division. Paul, addresses issues that were brought up to him concerning the immoral acts taking place in the church.
[1 Corinthians 5:1-2,4-7 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:]
In other words, they were allowing and condoning sin that even the Gentiles would frown upon. So, what was the issue? The leaders allowed a man who married his father’s wife after he divorced her to remain a prominent member there. In other words, the man married his step-mother after his father divorced her. God, actually has a law for this and I am pretty sure that He has not changed His views on this, [Leviticus 18:6-9 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. 7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness. 9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.]
Technically they were not married anymore but that still did not make it right because Jesus said this, [Matthew 5:31-32 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.]
It may just be possible that the two had an affair before they got married and that was why his father divorced her to begin with. Until we are saved Satan can do whatever he wants with our body, even possess it, but once we are saved and our soul belongs to Christ he cannot touch it. However, he can afflict the body and this is what Paul is referring to, he was not telling them to kill the man but rather chasten them to repentance or have them leave the church.
[1 Corinthians 5:9-13 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.]
Now, we know that fornication is often referred to those having sexual relations who are unmarried, but it is actually any act done with the flesh, [Fornication; Harlotry (including adultery and incest); Idolatry; a forsaking of the true God, and worshiping of idols; of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols.] To be covetous means to lust over something or someone that someone else has and act upon it. Extortion, is take something by force or illegal compulsion. Idolatry, is to worship something over God. Our salvation might be given to us by grace, but is not just cause to remain living in sin. We must remember that we are new creatures the second that we receive Christ as our Saviour.
[Mark 2:21-22 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. 22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.]
Paul, is referring to those who are not members of the Church bringing sin into the Church. We have a lot of people in our churches that are not members yet are active in them. I do not mean just volunteering to help out during a fellowship, they are Sunday school teachers, choir members, nursery workers, and making decisions that they ought not be making. This can cause problems for not only new Christians, but seasoned Christian as well, if they saw someone doing something sinful in the church then it will fall back on the church. If they brought sin into the Church and or caused people to leave, it is God who will judge them, [Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.]
It is important to understand that everyone is welcome to come to church, and while we are all sinners saved by grace, only likeminded Christians ought to be members. When the Church allows members who knowingly live in sin in, with no intention of repentance to be prominent members, it will cause a great division and confusion within the congregation. Why? Sin, never just affects the people involved, it affects everyone they get around. Now, apparently, there was some kind of civil matter in the church that led to someone being sued so Paul addresses this issue.
[1 Corinthians 6:1-6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.]
Paul, is telling them that secular law should never be allowed to resolve matters of a Christian nature, especially petty matters that can be resolved within the church. We have lawyers that are Christ centered for matters of great importance and should only be used when all other remedies to resolve the matter have been exhausted. I tell you what, there is more strife in the Church than those who are in the world. And do you know why? They are not saved or rather some of them among the dispute are not saved. Well, there may be another reason, they may be living in sin and the only way they can hide it is by trying to expose others sins, [Romans 13:13-14 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.]
We need to understand that we are all sinners and have been guilty of some sin before we received Christ as our Saviour and even after. However, there are many, including members of churches, that have never accepted Christ as their Saviour, and this is where the problem lies. Paul, reminds the Corinthians and all of us that our salvation is not the power to remain sinful but rather to be free from it.
[1 Corinthians 6:12-16 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. 13 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. 14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15 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. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.]
Think about it, and this is referring to those who live immorally with no intention of getting married, unmarried relations really does defile the body that the Holy Spirit indwells. [1 Corinthians 6:17-20 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.]
When I was younger the thought of God living inside of me scared me greatly, I did not want to do anything to my body that would make God sin. Then after I did get saved and understood what all that meant, I feared God even more, and that actually led me to end my relationship with the man that I was engaged to. Now, I am not going to lie, for a long time I did try to marry the man because of that verse as well as this one, [Exodus 22:16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.]
Nevertheless, thank God that He got me out of that relationship and did not hold me in contempt. Those who are saved and continue to knowingly live in sin keep themselves in bondage to the sin as well as the judgment that comes with it. When we allow the Holy Spirit living inside of us to be our guide, He will not only bring out of contempt, He will help us remove the sin and set us free from the bondage of it. This is why Paul stresses the importance of abstinence or getting married in order to avoid these catastrophes.
[1 Corinthians 7:1-5 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.]
It is actually biblical to engage in intimate relations with your spouse on a regular basis. Intimacy comes in all forms and I tell you what, my husband and I have learned that spending time together, no phones, no television, no other people, can do wonders for a marriage. The point of all this is to show us that marriage is the closest union that we have that resembles our relationship with Christ. We can never say that when we are tempted that we have no way out, while God allows the devil to tempt us, He does give us a way out. If one is going to choose marriage then be committed and remain committed to each other. Paul, goes on to explain this.
[1 Corinthians 7:6,8-11 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. 8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. 10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.]
God, allowed Paul to speak his opinion on the matter and is actually referencing those who make light of marriage and are quick to divorce the second affliction comes. I know people who have spent thousands of dollars on their wedding only to divorce a month later. I have also seen couples remarry only to divorce a second time. Point being, marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman and it ought to be taken seriously, which Paul goes on to address.
[1 Corinthians 7:12-15 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.]
Married life is surely an adjustment as you spent so much time being single that it is not easy to change your routine and let go of some of the things you had. They say that marriage is a fifty-fifty percent compromise, but that is incorrect, marriage is giving yourself to that person one hundred percent of the time. Even if you do not always agree, you love and respect each other and never go to be angry, [Ephesians 4:26-27 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.]
This does not mean that an unsaved person becomes saved once they marry a saved person, this means that their marriage is legitimate and there is no just cause to divorce unless they leave. Likewise, the children are in the same sense that their parents are, that is they are sanctified, or legitimate. What is all comes down to is this, whatever it is that you do, remember that the Holy Spirit lives inside of your soul.
[1 Corinthians 7:17,20-24 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.]
In other words, the choices we make, regardless of it being that we accepted Christ as our Saviour, got married, signed a merger, took a job, or whatever else it is that we committed ourselves to, needs to be a wholehearted commitment. If we cannot commit to the choices we make, then it is best not to make them. Life is short, we need to make each day count and treat our spouses or even our salvation like we did from the beginning under no circumstances are we to forsake our ministries because we are married. Paul, addresses this as well.
[1 Corinthians 7:34,38-40 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. 39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.]
This is so true, before I was married, I never missed a church service, served wherever I could, was faithful to my own ministry, but today my husband comes before anything else. In fact, he even thinks that I should not even continue my ministry because it interferes with everything else. I tell him that the only way I will stop is if it is from God. But then I often think about this passage as well, [Numbers 30:6-8 And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; 7 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.]
I just realized that God says that the husband would have to follow through with the vow that his wife made if he did not want her to fulfill it. My husband would never do what I do simply for the fact that he hates computers and that is why I started my ministry to begin with. Since God gave me the skills to be able to create websites, I thought what better way to honor Him then by using the internet to reach lost souls as well as teach them about God the best I know how. Praise God that He has not put this candle out just yet.
[Luke 11:33-36 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. 34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. 36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.]
Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin the second we accept Him as our Saviour, and that is a liberty that we are to never take for granted. The liberty of not having to worry that we are not doing enough good on our own to be saved from hell. The liberty of no longer being held bondage to Satan. The liberty of knowing that we are not going to hell, these are the things that Jesus has freed us from. Those things that we are not willing to give up are the actually idols that God is talking about.
[1 Corinthians 8:1-6 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.]
This is often confusing to people, but it does not mean that there are literally several gods and lords. A god was often referred to angels and lord was often referred to as a prince, ruler, judge, or even a husband. Still today men of royalty are called lords, [Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:]
Our salvation may be given to us freely by our faith in Christ, but it was not free, Jesus paid for it with His own life. Are we so ungrateful that we abuse that knowledge and live a life of sin for the justification? Unfortunately many are. Instead of using that liberty for our flesh, we need to use it to edify the Church. Why? We would become a stumbling block to reach those who are not saved.
[1 Corinthians 8:7,9-12 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your’s become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.]
The only thing that succumbing to the world does is weaken our own faith, it will never bring them to Christ no matter how strong our faith because the flesh is, in fact, weak. Think about this, we were bought with a price, Christ gave His life for us so we do not have to end up burning in the lake of fire. We should be honored that Christ has chosen us to show the world that while we were once dead in sin we are now risen from the dead and alive through Him, [2 Corinthians 5:13-15 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for purchasing my life when You gave Yours on the cross. I did nothing to deserve salvation, and yet You willingly gave Your own life so that I could obtain it by grace through my faith in You. Now, there is nothing that I could ever do to earn or keep my salvation, for You paid it all once and for all. All I can do is live the rest of my life giving honor and glory to You. I know I fail You every day, but Your mercy endures and Your grace is sufficient to forgive me every time I confess and repent of my sin. I know that I am already forgiven, I just do not want to use my liberty for an occasion of my flesh, rather to live in Your power and love. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2025 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.