By Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide

Christians are free to be all they can be for God, but they are not free from God. God created sex to be a beautiful and essential ingredient of marriage, but sexual sin—sex outside the marriage relationship—always hurts someone. It hurts God because it shows that we prefer following our own desires instead of the leading of the Holy spirit. It hurts others because it violates the commitment so necessary to a relationship. It often brings disease to our bodies. And it deeply affects our personalities, which respond in anguish when we harm ourselves physically and spiritually.

6:19, 20: What did Paul mean when he said that our bodies belong to God? Many people say they have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. Although they think that this is freedom, they are really enslaved to their own desires. When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit fills and lives in us.

Therefore, we no longer own our bodies. “Bought at a price” refers to slaves purchased at auction.

Christ’s death freed us from sin, but also obligates us to his service. If you live in a building owned by someone else, you try not to violate the building’s rules. Because your body belongs to God, you must not violate his standards for living.

Anyone who practices adoration is never lonely even when he/she is.

Why You Are Not Alone In The World (John 16:1-16)

Jesus warns the world’s hatred.“For I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:10)

“For I am with you.” These words to Paul do not refer to Christ’s general presence everywhere that is, His omnipresence (cf. 17:26-28; Ps 139; Jer 23:23-24; Amos 9:2-4). Rather they refer to His special nearness to His faithful children. Christ’s nearness means that He is personally here to communicate His will, love and fellowship with us. He is present to act in every situation of our lives to bless, help, protect and guide.

1• We may learn something of the truth of “Christ with us” in the OT passages where God stated that He was with His faithful. When Moses was afraid to return to Egypt, God said: “I will be with thee,” (Ex 3:12). When Joshua assumed the leadership of Israel after Moses’ death, God promised: “l will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee,” (Josh 1:5). And God encouraged Israel with these words:

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee … Fearnot: for I am with thee,” (Is 43:2,5).
2• In the NT, Matthew states that the purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth was to achieve the nearness of God to His people.

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