Slides: Why Care for Your Body?

By David Feddes

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

“Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial.” “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything. “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Why care for your body?

• Your body is a marvel of God’s creation.
• Your body is linked with Jesus’ body.
• Your body is the Holy Spirit’s temple.
• Your body is your offering to God.
• Your body is your gift to your spouse.
• Your body is your equipment for action.
• Physical fitness affects total fitness.

Marvel of God’s creation

God created man in his own image… the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Gen 1:27; 2:7)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. (Psalm 139:14)

Linked with Jesus’ body

The Word became flesh. (John 1:14)

He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Phil 3:21)

By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? (1 Corinthians 6:14-15)

Holy Spirit’s temple

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Offering to God

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)

Gift to your spouse

He: “How beautiful you are, my darling!”

She: “My beloved is radiant… his arms… his body… his legs.” (Song 4:1; 5:10-16)

The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. (1 Corinthians 7:4)

Equipment for action

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:13)

Affects Total Fitness

• Spiritual
• Physical
• Financial
• Intellectual
• Emotional
• Relational
• Vocational

Why care for your body?

• Your body is a marvel of God’s creation.
• Your body is linked with Jesus’ body.
• Your body is the Holy Spirit’s temple.
• Your body is your offering to God.
• Your body is your gift to your spouse.
• Your body is your equipment for action.
• Physical fitness affects total fitness.

Physical Fitness
: Caring for your health

• Nutrition
  
• Exercise
• Rest
• Caution
• Checkups
• Total fitness
  

Body language: 
Caring for your look

• Facial expression
• Posture, gestures
• Hairstyle, makeup
• Clothing, jewelry
• Body modification

The bigger picture

• God’s kingdom matters most. Risk life and health if necessary.
• This body is fragile and fleeting. Your resurrection body is forever.
• Much is beyond your control. Wisdom shows the best available path.
• Your body matters. Care for your health and your look.