1 Corinthians Chapter 6

vs 11

Although it is not stated, the implication is that because you were these things, but have since been washed, stop doing them! Interestingly, this is one of the statements Paul makes about sanctification that is in the past tense - must usually, sanctification is referred to in the present tense. Sanctify simply means "to make holy", and so in the theological progression of the Christian life, it is perfectly reasonable to talk of Christians being sanctified, as well as having been sanctified. We have a status of holiness because of our sonship, but we are also being worked into that holiness by the Holy Spirit.

vs 12

You will notice that these sentences have parts in quotation marks in the NIV - these are of course not included in the original greek, as greek doesn't have that sort of punctuation. But this is a supposed reflection on the writing of Paul, either quoting an oft-said statement, or in response to another letter, and the suggestion that these are quotes from that letter (depending on the scholar you ask). There are other parts of 1 Corinthians which people believe should have been in quotes (as part of the letter Paul is responding to) but haven't been done in the NIV.

Anyway, Paul's argument is that although we have freedom in Christ, that doesn't mean that by exercising it in any given way we will always benefit. Nor does it mean we are free from temptation or sinful mastery.

vs 13

You see here that Paul doesn't take on the "food" argument directly (because it's far less of an issue) aside from pointing out that such earthly things will be destroyed. Instead, he takes on the principle behind this argument by applying it to sexual immorality. You could say "sex for the sexual organs, and sexual organs for sex" and yet that is completely wrong.

Paul goes on to point out that in fact, if you want to look at what your body was created for, it was created for the Lord, and the Lord created it for himself to dwell in. This becomes an important point for Paul later in the book.

vs 14

Paul wants to remind the Corinthians that our bodies are an important part of our eternal lives. We are not only our souls, but our bodies also. And yes, we will be given perfect bodies, but there is going to be a bodily resurrection, so our bodies are important and do form a part of our identity in Christ.

vs 15

Not only are we as a church members of Christ, not only are we as people members of Christ, but our bodies are part of that. So when we take our bodies and do stupid things with them, it's as if we are desecrating that which has been sanctified.

vs 16

Paul is now using the sexual argument to show that sex is a little different from food - because the sexual act unites two people, and therefore you end up uniting your body with a prostitute if you have sex with them.

vs 17

But we have been united with the Lord, and as such we are of one spirit, rather than becoming one flesh.

vs 18

I'm not really 100% convinced that all other sins are outside the body. A hell of a lot are. But think about heroin use or something. Anyway, Paul is saying that by sinning sexually, you are actually harming your own body by using it as a tool in your sin.

vs 19-20

And since your body is a temple to the Lord because the Holy Spirit dwells there, and since God bought you, including your body, with Christ's sacrifice, you really can't just go whoring with his house.