1 Corinthians 6:12-20
In today’s world, individual rights and personal freedoms are valued above almost everything else. We hear phrases like:
- “It’s a free country.”
- “I can do what I want; it’s my life.”
- “You do you.”
- “Live your truth.”
- “My body – My choice.”
These sayings reflect our culture’s deep desire for personal autonomy, the belief that freedom is about being able to do what we want, whenever we want. Yet, is this what true freedom looks like? The Bible offers a different perspective—one that speaks not only to our actions but also to the spiritual cost of the choices we make with our bodies, minds, and souls.
1. Freedom Comes with Responsibility
The Apostle Paul addressed similar attitudes in the church at Corinth, where believers were using their freedom as an excuse to indulge in self-destructive behaviors. He reminds them in 1 Corinthians 6:12: “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
Paul’s point? Just because we’re allowed to do something doesn’t mean it’s beneficial or wise. True freedom, especially as followers of Christ, requires discernment. Like a car given to us as a gift, we have the freedom to use it, but that freedom is paired with guidelines to protect us and those around us. We may say, “My body, my choice,” but we forget that our lives belong to God. And with that reality comes a higher calling.
2. False Freedom Often Leads to Slavery
Our culture’s emphasis on personal freedom can lead us to a kind of bondage. People often say they’re “free” to drink, party, or explore sexuality as they wish. But look closely, and you’ll see how often these “freedoms” turn into addictions and unhealthy identities. Someone who claims the freedom to change their identity, for instance, may find their whole life consumed by that pursuit. Similarly, what begins as a casual freedom to drink can devolve into dependency and addiction.
Paul reminds us that these choices, which may feel freeing at first, often bring bondage. Romans 6:16 speaks to this: “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey…?” Freedom, then, is more than being able to do as we please. True freedom is freedom from the control of sin and the power to choose what honors God.
3. Freedom in Christ Serves Others
Paul further challenges the Corinthians’ view of freedom by saying that their bodies are meant not for satisfying every physical urge but for glorifying God. In 1 Corinthians 6:13, he writes, “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord.” Our culture tells us to fulfill every craving, yet Paul flips this idea on its head. Our bodies belong to God, and they are sacred. This means that true freedom is found in resisting what might enslave us and embracing what serves and blesses others.
Christ sets us free, but that freedom is not a license for self-indulgence. Instead, it’s a calling to a life that helps others, aligns with God’s purposes, and doesn’t pull us into a cycle of sin.
4. Our Bodies Are Holy
The Corinthians struggled with separating the spiritual and physical, justifying actions with the idea that their bodies and souls were distinct. Paul firmly rebukes this notion, explaining that what we do with our bodies matters to God. He writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
As Christians, we are called to honor God with our entire being—body, mind, and spirit. Our bodies are temples, reflections of God’s presence, and what we do with them affects our spiritual well-being. The choices we make, the actions we take, should always keep this purpose in mind.
5. The Grave Is Not Our End
Paul reminds us that our bodies are not temporary shells to be discarded. They hold eternal significance. Just as Christ was resurrected, we too will be raised. Our ultimate purpose lies not in earthly pleasures but in eternal union with Christ. Every act that honors Him is a reflection of this hope. As 1 Corinthians 6:14 promises, “And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.”
6. True Freedom Comes Through Submission to Christ
Real freedom is not the ability to indulge in every desire but to be free from the bondage of sin and selfishness. Jesus didn’t redeem us to be slaves to our passions but to liberate us from the endless cycle of self-centered pursuits. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says that we were ransomed not with perishable things but with “the precious blood of Christ.” This precious freedom means we’re no longer held captive by desires that ultimately harm us but instead are free to live lives that glorify God.
In a world that champions self-determination, we, as followers of Christ, know a deeper truth: that the only way to true freedom is through submission to God’s will. In surrendering to His love, we find not oppression, but the fullness of life we’ve longed for.
Embracing True Freedom
Let’s take time to examine our own lives. Are there “freedoms” that have become masters over us? Are there habits or desires that we’ve let dominate us, mistaking them for expressions of liberty? True freedom, the freedom that Christ offers, is a gift—a liberation from the emptiness of sin and a call to a life that reflects His love, holiness, and purpose.
Freedom in Christ doesn’t enslave us; it empowers us to live in the fullness of joy and peace that only God can provide. By embracing this freedom, we can reject the illusion of independence that the world promotes and, instead, walk boldly in the freedom found in Christ alone.