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NASB | 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? |
Bible Question: I'm a smoker. I know I am born of God and will not lose my salvation,but I would like someones input on this issue based on scripture. |
Bible Answer: Dear Russ, Our righteouness is imputed to us through the substitutionery death of Christ. In other words, even though we still sin God sees us as if we were perfect. This position of righteousness is by faith alone and not by works. It is a judicial righteousness whereby we are "reckoned" or "considered" guiltless. It is not an inherent or inward righteousness. Even the apostle Paul found it impossible to live a sinless life (Romans 7) but rejoiced in his Lord and Saviour. There are those who claim that smoking is sinful and those who say it is not. But if you have been a daily smoker for an extended period of time you are probably addicted. I know because I am and have been for 40 years. I also know that I have been a christian for over 20 years. It is very difficult to be beset with such a visible sign of our sin nature. I have prayed earnestly for deliverance and continue to do so. Nevertheless, it has pleased God to allow me to suffer this humiliation up until this very day. I do not allow myself to consider my smoking to be anything but sin and I try not to rationalize otherwise. But I continue to pray for grace to quit and thank him for his mercy. I detest the mindset that says we may sin all we want because we have grace. Be careful not to allow satan to place condemnation upon your head, so keep your helmet of salvation firmly in place along with the rest of the armour of God. Do not look to yourself (that will bring nothing but despair) but look to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith. I do not believe that 1 Cor 6:19 and 20 apply to anything but sexual impurity. Paul is explicit in saying that we should not join in sexual intercourse with a prostitute and that this is because the one who does becomes one flesh with her. He also said "Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." That is, thru sexual sin. (We are all guilty occasionally of forcing a meaning on a verse, for we are all sinners.) I wonder if those who use this verse to chastise smokers also use it to chastise overeaters. I have heard many a fat preacher use this verse to heap guilt on "puffin' prophets" and "sippin' saints" but never mention the one sin that IS named in scripture, which is gluttony. Prov 23:20 "Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; Keep praying and keep looking forward to His return. At that time we will not only be reckoned perfect but will also be perfect. God Bless Russ, John |