Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Don’t forget who you are” is a common refrain used in many different ways. Sometimes it is uttered to remind people of their true identity and purpose in this life. It may be used to give one courage to carry on with their given role, and it may also be used to keep one humble when success is found in said role. Perhaps the most common usage is to tell people to be true to themselves despite the circumstances in life. If our identity and purpose are properly defined, this notion can be quite helpful in our pursuit of faithfulness. When we add to this the concept of remembering whose we are, the value of this mindset cannot be overstated.
Paul, writing to a very troubled and sin-sick congregation of the Lord’s people in Corinth, gave this very call in hopes of turning the troubled ones back to the Lord and His ways. Having addressed a litany of sinful behaviors which preclude people from inheriting the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), Paul reminded them of their cleansing from these things in and through Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11). This reality sets up his argument concerning the true purpose and identity of a Christian.
In the verses that follow, Paul discussed proper and improper uses of our bodies, grounded in the fact that our bodies are “members of Christ” (6:15). This truth begs the question of why one would use such a body for ungodly purposes (6:15-16). Though fornication is the specific issue addressed here, the principle applies to every misuse of our bodies (theft, murder, drunkenness, extortion, etc.). It is absurd to attempt to be joined to the Lord while simultaneously living in these sinful ways (6:16-17; cf. Matthew 6:24; James 4:4; 1 John 1:5-6).
His concluding question probes the heart and reminds us who and whose we are. “Do you not know…” is not an expression of Paul’s curiosity as to whether they were aware of these things, but it was a rhetorical question intended to prick their conscience and remind them of truths they had abandoned in their behaviors. If their bodies were the temple (dwelling place) of the Holy Spirit, as Paul so plainly told them was the case, they needed to grasp the gravity of the matter and respond accordingly.
The weight of Paul’s argument rests on two critical realities. First, our bodies are not ours to use in whatever ways we please. Though granted the freedom to choose, we will face the consequences of our chosen usage of these bodies. Secondly, this is so because, as Christians, we were bought at a price. That price, as we all know is the blood of Jesus shed on a cruel cross (cf. Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:7ff; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9). So much for the “My body, my choice” rallying cry. With such a sacrifice made for our benefit, it is only fitting that we give Him sway over our person.
Paul’s conclusion is simple. Since our bodies are not our own, and since we were bought at such a tremendous cost to the Lord, and since God’s Spirit is to dwell in us, we must strive to glorify God in our body and in our spirit (6:20). So, as we go about our day-to-day business, may we never forget who and Whose we are.