The Man of God (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Glory to God
The Man of God
“Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
We are those who have been bought with a price by God. We are bought, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:19). Therefore the love of Christ constraineth us, that we should no longer live unto ourselves, because we are not our own, but we must live for Jesus Christ who died for us and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:14-19) that is, we must live for God (Galatians 2:19). As the Shulamite says, we must belong to our beloved (Song of Solomon 2:16). That is, we must become men of God (2 Timothy 3:16). If so as a sure foundation of the Lord, as an abiding reality, the Lord knoweth them that are His (2 Timothy 2:19).Our God which make the day of the Lord they shall be His, and God will receive as such them unto Himself (Malachi 3:17).
When we study about the man of God, we can see two things. First, the man of God must flee from the things from which he have to flee (1 Timothy 6:11). Leaving the city of destruction, leaving the world of destruction must flee toward the mountain of salvation, toward Mount Zion and run leaving behind everything (Genesis 19:16-18). Without remembering what left behind (Hebrews 11:5) and without looking back (Genesis 19:26) must run. Moreover must run with patience (Hebrews 12:1). Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, must press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).
We can also see many other things from which we must flee. Jesus the Good Shepherd calls those sheep who are His by name and lead them out, thereby we must know His voice and follow Him. Since we do not know the voice of the strangers, we must flee from the strangers (John 10:3-5). Today many who are strangers and they that should become strangers to us came by raising their peculiar voices in the Christian world to allure and deceive. They are deceivers and antichrists who do not accept that Jesus Christ who manifested in the flesh as God (2 John 1:7). They deny both the Father and the Son by declaring that Jesus is not the Christ (1 John 2:22-23). There are those who speak about one God yet deny the deity of Jesus Christ and do not accept that He is the Son of the Most High God; such have the spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:2-3). There are also false Christs and false prophets who show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24). In these days there are prophets who are not sent by God, yet prophesy lies, false visions, divinations, and things of nought and the deceit of their own hearts in the name of the Lord (Jeremiah 14:14).
Furthermore, there are false teachers who secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, bringing upon themselves and to others swift destruction. Through their lustful ways they make merchandise because of covetousness causing them to reject the way of truth, today thereby Christianity became a scoff to the world (2 Peter 2:1-3). Just as Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, today in the Christian world we could see many deceitful workers as false apostles transforming into the apostles of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13-14).There are also false brethren who secretly come into the churches amidst the people of God bringing them into bondage (Galatians 2:4). It become dangers to the children of God and to the church itself (2 Corinthians 11:26) they come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15). Thus in the Christian life we can see many strangers whom we should never follow so that we must flee from them. Because they strive to alienate us from the words of Christ and to cause us not to live according to the Word.
When we think further about the things from which we must flee, we see that it is possible only through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that we can escape the pollution of the world (2 Peter 2:20). We must not remain only in the basic teachings of the Christian life, but leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ we must go on unto the excellency of the knowledge (Hebrews 6:1-6). Such will count all things that were gain to them in the world as loss for ever, for the sake of Christ they will forsake things in the world and consider all things as filth and dung (Philippians 3:8-11). They receive and understand the exceeding great and precious promises and thereby escape the corruption that is in the world through lust, becoming partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). They will not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2), but will keep themselves unspotted from the world (James 1:27).Since they don't want to become the enemies of God they will not desire to love the world (James 4:4). They will not love the world or the things that are in the world the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life knowing that the world and its lust pass away, they live as those doing the will of God (1 John 2:15-17).
Today one of the sins that is greatly increasing in the world is fornication. The man of God must flee from it (1 Corinthians 6:18). This is because just as a man cleaves to his wife and they become as one flesh, Christ has joined Himself to the church and made it His body (Ephesians 5:31-32). Likewise, the one who is joined unto the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). In order that we to become God's the Spirit of God comes into our body and we become the body of the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:18-19). But the one who joins himself to a harlot becomes one body with her. This is a great offence against Christ, for our bodies are the members of Christ and must not become the members of an harlot (1 Corinthians 6:15-16). Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body (1 Corinthians 6:18). This sin destroys their precious life even thier own soul (Proverbs 6:26-32). Adultery is a great iniquity that burns like fire even unto hell. That will consume all the experiences of our life to destruction (Job 31:9-12). They that keep the commandment as a lamp and the law as light, and the reproofs of instruction are the way of life such will be delivered from these (Proverbs 6:23-24).
On the other hand, there are many in these days counting feast with temporary satisfaction as pleasures who indulge themselves in the feast of love thereby becoming spots and blemishes and worthy being men of cursed ones. They have eyes full of adultery and cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls (2 Peter 2:13-14). Those who devour widows’ houses will receive greater condemnation (Luke 20:47). God will judge fornicators and adulterers (Hebrews 13:4). If one does not flee from fornication, the Lord Himself will be the avenger of all such things (1 Thessalonians 4:4-6). But the man of God who pleases God will depart from this fornication which is the evil devil thereby he will flee and escape (Ecclesiastes 7:26).
We are also told to flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). Here it says not to eat things sacrificed to idols. Because the Gentiles sacrifice it to devils therefore we must not eat the things sacrificed to idols and become partakers with devils (1 Corinthians 10:19-22). Today in the name of religious harmony many Christians show much concern about this matter and eat things offered to idols. But in the first-century church, the very first clear instructions given to the Gentiles who turned to God was to abstain from the pollution of idols and things offered to idols (Acts 15:19-20, 28). Therefore we must abandon idolatry and idol offerings. Because if we don't do so we provoke the Lord to jealousy (1 Corinthians 10:22). When God gave the ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, He commanded that no graven image should be made, neither made to bow and serve are written as they will hate the Lord. For that it is said our God will show to them His jealousy visiting their iniquity even to fourth generation (Exodus 20:4-5). When God said no manner of similitude to be made therefore when God spoke to the people at Horeb, they saw no form of God (Deuteronomy 4:15-19). Therefore we should not make any images saying it as God (Exodus 32:4-5) we must neither bow nor serve it (Deuteronomy 10:8-9).
God who said not to make any images ask to make even the cherubims (Exodus 25:18) and the cherubims woven in the veil (Exodus 26:31), and in the hem of Aaron’s garments to make pomegranates with threads and bells of gold (Exodus 28:33). Shadow of Jesus (John 3:14) Moses made the brazen serpent in the wilderness by God’s commandment (Numbers 21:8). Therefore the intention is not that no image should be made, but the image should not be made to worship in order to consecrate.The godly king Hezekiah did destroyed the brasen serpent that Moses had made along with the the groves and other images since the children of Israel did burn incense to it (2 Kings 18:4). When it is said that no stone to be set up as image it means it should not be made to bow (Leviticus 26:1). We could see that Joshua set up stones in the midst of Jordan and Gilgal (Joshua 4:9,20). It is set by the commandment of God not to bow but it is set as a sign.Therefore images or idols should not be made to worship nor to serve. To such God will be as a consuming fire, even a jealous God therefore let it happen for us to flee from idolatry (Deuteronomy 4:15-19, 23-24).
When we consider other aspects of idolatry, we could see our God is jealousy towards idolatry, we could read that the people of Israel have set the seat of the image of jealousy which provoketh to jealousy (Ezekiel 8:3-5). Since it is of great abomination God says He will go away from His sanctuary (Ezekiel 8:6). It is because our God abhor even the godly zeal which is against the will of God, for it change as idolatry. For example it is said that Joshua will not kill the Gibeonites for he had made covenant with them (Joshua 9:15) As king Saul in his zeal or jealousy killed the Gibeonites for it provoke God's anger thereby famine came upon the land(2 Samuel 21:1-2).
Furthermore when we refuse to obey God’s commandments we become stubborn and rebellious ones (Nehemiah 9:16-17). Because of this stubbornness we become as those having idolatry and witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). When Israel made the golden calf, God called them as stiff-necked people (Exodus 32:8-9). Otherwise their stubbornness became idolatry. Again Covetousness (Ephesians 5:5) and all kinds of greediness (Colossians 3:5) is said as idolatry. "People sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play" this work of the Israelites is also called idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:7).Therefore idolatry is also listed among the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19). Because whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame (Philippians 3:19). Therefore it is also idolatry. So we must flee from every form of such idolatries.
Next we see that we must flee from youthful lusts and follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace (2 Timothy 2:22). Youth is the most important period in a person’s life, and God remembers the devotion of youth (Jeremiah 2:2). Not only that we are told to remember our Creator in the days of our youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). It is said that though in our youth we may walk in the ways of our desire and walk as of our heart and live cheering ourselves yet God will bring them into judgment for all these things (Ecclesiastes 11:9). Since God jotted all of our sins of youth therefore we ought to suffer according to it (Job 13:26). Since in our bones we have full of youthful sins until our end these sins are dwelling with us in the dust (Job 20:11) They carry their iniquities in their bones and are lying in the hell (Ezekiel 32:27). Not only that later it will happen to come upon us on the day of judgement (Ecclesiastes 11:9). Therefore we must not forget our Creator in our youth and living according to our youthful lusts so that we must live more godly in our youth without departing away from our God therefore let us flee from youthful lust. Let none despise our youth therefore let us cheer ourselves to live as a man of God and become an ensamples (1Timothy 4:12).
The man of God must also flee from the love of money, for the love of money is the root of all evil, and many have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10-11). Since our riches take wings and fly away like an eagle it is said not to make haste to become rich ones (Proverbs 23:4-5). Not only that one who hastens to be rich will not be innocent (Proverbs 28:20). Because it is not by our labour but by the blessing of our Lord will make us rich (Proverbs 10:22). Therefore our conversation must be without covetousness, knowing that God will never leave us nor forsake us let us cheer ourselves to live being content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5). We must lay up our treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Matthew 6:19-21). Therefore let us cheer ourselves to become rich toward God not being fools in labouring that which is destroyed literally as well which is not beneficial in eternity (Luke 12:20-21).
Secondly, it should happen for the man of God to live as the one belong to God and as the man of God itself therefore he ought to flee from all these things. For that he have to hear the voice of Jesus and run to Him for refuge (John 10:4-5). To those who run as such it will happen to receive sound exhortations so that they can able to lay hold upon the hope which is set before them (Hebrews 6:18). These teachings and exhortations help us become perfect in Christ (Colossians 1:28).These instructions and the exhortations through the word of God is the experience only to the man of God.The Scriptures given by inspiration of God are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness so that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Jesus gave Himself as a whole sacrifice for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14). Therefore for a man of God in such a manner he become God's own so that it is possible for him to belong to God. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand thus the purpose of God to be fulfilled in us so that it will happen for us to live as those belongs to God and live with Him forever and ever in eternity (Ephesians 2:10). Therefore in our life we have to live as the man of God who belong to God always for that let our God help us.
