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pursuing holiness

Or 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.  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV) 

 While going over 1 Corinthians 6 in my daily Bible reading, I was impressed with the reasons the Apostle Paul gives for the pursuit of holiness.

He points out two big problems in the church at Corinth: legal conflicts among the people (1 Cor 6:1-8), and sexual immorality (6:12-18)  The Corinthian believers needed to pursue meekness, forgiveness, and reconciliation with one another, and in the second case, sexual purity.  

Here are 8 reasons to pursue holy character:
  • We should so live as to be good examples before unbelievers (6:6)
  • We belong to a kingdom where unrighteousness does not belong, and such character will be judged (6:9-10)
  • We have a new identity in Christ -- cleansed, sanctified, justified (6:11)
  • We are to pursue things which are helpful and freeing (6:12)
  • We are to live within the good purposes God has designed (6:13)
  • Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (6:19)
  • We have been purchased (redeemed) and do not belong to ourselves any longer (6:19-20)
  • We are redeemed to live for God's glory (6:20)


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