1 Corinthians 6:17 - One In Him.
1 Corinthians 6:17 - One In Him.
1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV) But he who is joined to the Lord is
one spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:17 (TNIV) But whoever is united with the LORD is
one with him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:17 (TEV) But he who joins himself to the Lord
becomes spiritually one with him.
Paul told the believers that each one of their bodies was a
sanctuary for God (6:19). Paul also said that the church, as Christ's
body, is a spiritual temple for God (3:16, 17; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph.
2:21). What a special privilege it is to be God's spiritual dwelling
place, both individually and corporately. The glory of God filled the
tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) and the temple (1 Kin. 8:10, 11). Now the glory of
God in the person of the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer
(John 14:16, 17) and thus inhabits the entire church. [Nelson SB]
He who loves and trusts the Lord seeks to unite himself with Him
in every way possible. He actively rejects everything that
displeases God, and accepts only that which is in harmony with His will.
This joining of himself with Christ is a constant activity, one that
becomes his all-absorbing interest. The act of fornication, whereby the
body is joined to a harlot, is temporary. But the character is
degraded by the act. Though the union is a physical one, it reduces the
participants to the very lowest moral level. On the other hand, union with
Christ lifts the believer to the highest moral and spiritual level. It
is intended to be a lasting union in which the mind of Jesus
becomes the mind of the believer, which is thus completely united with
the will of God. He desires nothing more than to be the agent
through which the will of God finds expression in human thought, word,
and deed (COL 312). This joining to the Lord, here described by
Paul, is another way of defining righteousness by faith. It is a
beautiful statement of the mysterious transformation that takes place when
the sinner lifts his eyes to Christ and by faith lays hold of the
promise found in Jer. 31:33, 34. Jesus described this union under the
figure of a vine and its branches (John 15:1, 4, 5). The believer does
not lose his identity and personality, but he joins himself to
Christ in such a way that he thinks Christ's thoughts with Him, and
desires the things Christ desires and does the things Christ would do
were He on earth. This experience is further likened to the marriage
union (Eph. 5:22-33). The union between a man and a woman in marriage
should be regarded as sacred and unchangeable. The union between Christ
and the believer is more intimate, rich, pure, and complete than any
earthly marriage could be. [SDA Bible Commentary]
One spirit, that is, in a sense similar to that in which a man
and his wife are one body. It is not to be taken literally; but the
sense is, that there is a close and intimate union; they are united in
feeling, spirit, intention, disposition. The argument is beautiful. It
is, "As the union of souls is more important than that of bodies; as
that union is more lasting, dear, and enduring than any union of body
with body can be, and as our union with him is with a Spirit pure and
holy, it is improper that we should SEVER that tie, and break that
sacred bond, by being joined to a harlot. The union with Christ is more
intimate, entire, and pure than that can be between a man and woman; and
THAT union should be regarded as sacred and inviolable." O, if all
Christians felt and regarded this as they should, how would they shrink
from the connections which they often form on earth! (Barnes' Notes)
When a husband and wife become "one flesh," they begin a
lifelong process of learning each other's personalities, tendencies,
habits, and even thought patterns - to the point that they often know
what the other is thinking even when those thoughts are not
expressed. With no loss of individuality, they become one. And the world
begins to see them as a unit, not without distinct personalities, but
with a common will and purpose. They are joined to each other in a
way that gives them the ability to know and represent each other's
voices.
In a much deeper way, we are joined to God's Spirit when we
enter a relationship with His Son. We then begin a lifelong process of
learning His personality, ways, and thoughts - even to the point of
knowing what He is thinking. Paul earlier noted that we have the mind of
Christ, and now he writes that our spirits and Christ's have become one.
Paul wrote these words in a specific moral context, but the truth,
also expressed by Jesus in John 17:21-24, has huge implications. It
means, among many other things, that when we are listening for God's
voice, we aren't listening at a distance. When the Spirit leads us to
speak His words, we aren't being presumptuous. We can hear and express
His thoughts, not because we're well educated or superspiritual, but
because we're connected. His Spirit and ours are one.
Many of us err by being either overassuming or underassuming
about our awareness of God's presence and voice, but humble confidence
is always appropriate. He has assured us that we are united with
Him, not just theoretically, but practically. We don't know Him
perfectly, but we do know Him with certainty. And when we need to hear Him,
we need listen no further than our own spirits.
Lord, it's hard to understand how I can be "one" with You,
and even harder to know how to hear Your Spirit when it's joined to
mine. Yet this is the close relationship I've longed for. Help me know
Your thoughts with certainty. [The One Year Hearing His Voice
Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Take Time To Be Holy. The word holy does not mean
goody-goody; it means set apart for sacred use. That is what these quiet
moments in My Presence are accomplishing within you. As you focus your
mind and heart on Me, you are being transformed: re-created into the
one I designed you to be. This process requires blocks of time set
aside for communion with Me.
The benefits of this practice are limitless. Emotional and
physical healing are enhanced by your soaking in the Light of My
Presence. You experience a nearness to Me that strengthens your faith and
fills you with Peace. You open yourself up to receive the many
blessings that I have prepared for you. You become a cleansed temple of My
Holy Spirit, who is able to do in and through you immeasurably more
than you ask or imagine. These are just some of the benefits of being
still in My Presence. [2 Thes. 1:10; Psa. 27:4; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph.
3:20] Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
I am the Eternal I AM; I always have been, and I always will
be. In My Presence you experience Love and Light, Peace and Joy. I
am intimately involved in all your moments, and I am training you
to be aware of Me at all times. Your assignment is to collaborate
with Me in this training process.
I have taken up residence within you; I am central in your
innermost being. Your mind goes off in tangents from its holy Center, time
after time. Do not be alarmed by your inability to remain focused on
Me. Simply bring your thoughts gently back to Me each time they
wander. The quickest way to redirect your mind to me is to whisper My
Name. (Exodus 3:14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Psalm 25:14-15) [Jesus Calling
by Sarah Young]
Learn to listen to Me even while you are listening to other
people. As they open their souls to your scrutiny, you are on holy
ground. You need the help of My Spirit to respond appropriately. Ask Him
to think through you, live through you, love through you. My own
Being is alive within you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. If you
respond to others' needs through your unaided thought processes, you
offer them dry crumbs. When the Spirit empowers your listening and
speaking, My streams of living water flow through you to other people. Be
a channel of My Love, Joy, and Peace by listening to Me as you
listen to others. (Exo. 3:5; 1Co. 6:19; John 7:38, 39) [Jesus Calling
by Sarah Young]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Some of us speak about God, but rarely experience Him. We
quote scripture, talk about Christian books we have read, throw up
prayers in the shower, go to church and say a few corporate prayers, but
often will not carve out a portion of our day to enter into the secret
place to listen to the Master. Why? Because it's hard. Because it's
scary. Because it takes time. Because it makes us feel small and
vulnerable and afraid. We doubt our ability to hear. (Was that really God?)
We come face-to-face with our sin as His Word penetrates our
hearts, (I can't believe that sinful attitude is in me!), and we know
that if we actually listen that God might expect us to do something
with what we hear.
If I don't spend time in His presence, if I don't enter the
secret place, I can still be a Christian without feeling like I am
accountable to my Creator. I can live a self-focused life without being
confronted with the depravity of my own soul. I can stay safe and avoid the
discomfort of God asking me to do anything that upsets the apple cart of my
carefully-arranged life. If I don't hear from God, I won't hear truth, and truth
can at times be very uncomfortable, even when it's healing.
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
(Hebrews 4:12)
So we make excuses for why we don't have time. But the
reality is that anyone can find time for that which they truly want to
do. Look at how people behave when they are in love. Nothing can
stop them from expressing affection to their beloved. They find time
because they want to, because it's important to them. So when it comes
to spending time in the Master's presence, saying we don't have
time is, well . . . a cop out.
So rather than spend time in the secret place, we only get
second-hand messages from our pastor, or an author who has spent time with
the Master in the quiet place writing down His secrets. We read or
hear them from these messengers of God, and--thankfully--we may even
apply the truths we hear to our lives. But how tragic that we have
received just a cup of water from someone who went to the Spring of
Living Water for us, but we won't go to the Spring ourselves to get
filled to overflowing! The distractions that can pull us away from
spending authentic time with the One who made us are too many to list:
our kids, our mate, our job, our parents, our sleep schedule, the
lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and a
Saturday baseball game. But if we really believed that the God of the
Universe was listening, would we stop in a quiet place, prostrate
ourselves in prayer and really listen to Him?...
Lord, you are my greatest treasure! Help me remember that I
forfeit receiving so much wisdom and your words of life when I don't
spend time with you. Shana Schutte of www.wisdomhunters.com re Mat.
22:37
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he
with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Power of the Gospel Testimonies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUVyxqAV3-Y&feature=youtu.be
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Guides:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
Or Send Request for Bible Studies to Fred Gibbs at:
fggibbs@aBible.com
