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1 Corinthians 6:17 - One In Him.

1 Corinthians 6:17 - One In Him.

1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV) But he who is joined to the Lord is 
one spirit with Him. 

1 Corinthians 6:17 (TNIV) But whoever is united with the LORD is 
one with him in spirit. 

1 Corinthians 6:17 (TEV) But he who joins himself to the Lord 
becomes spiritually one with him. 

Paul told the believers that each one of their bodies was a 
sanctuary for God (6:19). Paul also said that the church, as Christ's 
body, is a spiritual temple for God (3:16, 17; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 
2:21). What a special privilege it is to be God's spiritual dwelling 
place, both individually and corporately. The glory of God filled the 
tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) and the temple (1 Kin. 8:10, 11). Now the glory of 
God in the person of the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer 
(John 14:16, 17) and thus inhabits the entire church. [Nelson SB] 

He who loves and trusts the Lord seeks to unite himself with Him 
in every way possible. He actively rejects everything that 
displeases God, and accepts only that which is in harmony with His will. 
This joining of himself with Christ is a constant activity, one that 
becomes his all-absorbing interest. The act of fornication, whereby the 
body is joined to a harlot, is temporary. But the character is 
degraded by the act. Though the union is a physical one, it reduces the 
participants to the very lowest moral level. On the other hand, union with 
Christ lifts the believer to the highest moral and spiritual level. It 
is intended to be a lasting union in which the mind of Jesus 
becomes the mind of the believer, which is thus completely united with 
the will of God. He desires nothing more than to be the agent 
through which the will of God finds expression in human thought, word, 
and deed (COL 312). This joining to the Lord, here described by 
Paul, is another way of defining righteousness by faith. It is a 
beautiful statement of the mysterious transformation that takes place when 
the sinner lifts his eyes to Christ and by faith lays hold of the 
promise found in Jer. 31:33, 34. Jesus described this union under the 
figure of a vine and its branches (John 15:1, 4, 5). The believer does 
not lose his identity and personality, but he joins himself to 
Christ in such a way that he thinks Christ's thoughts with Him, and 
desires the things Christ desires and does the things Christ would do 
were He on earth. This experience is further likened to the marriage 
union (Eph. 5:22-33). The union between a man and a woman in marriage 
should be regarded as sacred and unchangeable. The union between Christ 
and the believer is more intimate, rich, pure, and complete than any 
earthly marriage could be. [SDA Bible Commentary] 

One spirit, that is, in a sense similar to that in which a man 
and his wife are one body. It is not to be taken literally; but the 
sense is, that there is a close and intimate union; they are united in 
feeling, spirit, intention, disposition. The argument is beautiful. It 
is, "As the union of souls is more important than that of bodies; as 
that union is more lasting, dear, and enduring than any union of body 
with body can be, and as our union with him is with a Spirit pure and 
holy, it is improper that we should SEVER that tie, and break that 
sacred bond, by being joined to a harlot. The union with Christ is more 
intimate, entire, and pure than that can be between a man and woman; and 
THAT union should be regarded as sacred and inviolable." O, if all 
Christians felt and regarded this as they should, how would they shrink 
from the connections which they often form on earth! (Barnes' Notes) 

   When a husband and wife become "one flesh," they begin a 
lifelong process of learning each other's personalities, tendencies, 
habits, and even thought patterns - to the point that they often know 
what the other is thinking even when those thoughts are not 
expressed. With no loss of individuality, they become one. And the world 
begins to see them as a unit, not without distinct personalities, but 
with a common will and purpose. They are joined to each other in a 
way that gives them the ability to know and represent each other's 
voices.  
   In a much deeper way, we are joined to God's Spirit when we 
enter a relationship with His Son. We then begin a lifelong process of 
learning His personality, ways, and thoughts - even to the point of 
knowing what He is thinking. Paul earlier noted that we have the mind of 
Christ, and now he writes that our spirits and Christ's have become one. 
Paul wrote these words in a specific moral context, but the truth, 
also expressed by Jesus in John 17:21-24, has huge implications. It 
means, among many other things, that when we are listening for God's 
voice, we aren't listening at a distance. When the Spirit leads us to 
speak His words, we aren't being presumptuous. We can hear and express 
His thoughts, not because we're well educated or superspiritual, but 
because we're connected. His Spirit and ours are one.  
   Many of us err by being either overassuming or underassuming 
about our awareness of God's presence and voice, but humble confidence 
is always appropriate. He has assured us that we are united with 
Him, not just theoretically, but practically. We don't know Him 
perfectly, but we do know Him with certainty. And when we need to hear Him, 
we need listen no further than our own spirits.  
   Lord, it's hard to understand how I can be "one" with You, 
and even harder to know how to hear Your Spirit when it's joined to 
mine. Yet this is the close relationship I've longed for. Help me know 
Your thoughts with certainty. [The One Year Hearing His Voice 
Devotional by Chris Tiegreen] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

   Take Time To Be Holy. The word holy does not mean 
goody-goody; it means set apart for sacred use. That is what these quiet 
moments in My Presence are accomplishing within you. As you focus your 
mind and heart on Me, you are being transformed: re-created into the 
one I designed you to be. This process requires blocks of time set 
aside for communion with Me. 
   The benefits of this practice are limitless. Emotional and 
physical healing are enhanced by your soaking in the Light of My 
Presence. You experience a nearness to Me that strengthens your faith and 
fills you with Peace. You open yourself up to receive the many 
blessings that I have prepared for you. You become a cleansed temple of My 
Holy Spirit, who is able to do in and through you immeasurably more 
than you ask or imagine. These are just some of the benefits of being 
still in My Presence.  [2 Thes. 1:10; Psa. 27:4; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 
3:20] Jesus Calling by Sarah Young  

   I am the Eternal I AM; I always have been, and I always will 
be. In My Presence you experience Love and Light, Peace and Joy. I 
am intimately involved in all your moments, and I am training you 
to be aware of Me at all times. Your assignment is to collaborate 
with Me in this training process.  
   I have taken up residence within you; I am central in your 
innermost being. Your mind goes off in tangents from its holy Center, time 
after time. Do not be alarmed by your inability to remain focused on 
Me. Simply bring your thoughts gently back to Me each time they 
wander. The quickest way to redirect your mind to me is to whisper My 
Name. (Exodus 3:14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Psalm 25:14-15) [Jesus Calling 
by Sarah Young] 

Learn to listen to Me even while you are listening to other 
people. As they open their souls to your scrutiny, you are on holy 
ground. You need the help of My Spirit to respond appropriately. Ask Him 
to think through you, live through you, love through you. My own 
Being is alive within you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. If you 
respond to others' needs through your unaided thought processes, you 
offer them dry crumbs. When the Spirit empowers your listening and 
speaking, My streams of living water flow through you to other people. Be 
a channel of My Love, Joy, and Peace by listening to Me as you 
listen to others. (Exo. 3:5; 1Co. 6:19; John 7:38, 39) [Jesus Calling 
by Sarah Young] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

   Some of us speak about God, but rarely experience Him. We 
quote scripture, talk about Christian books we have read, throw up 
prayers in the shower, go to church and say a few corporate prayers, but 
often will not carve out a portion of our day to enter into the secret 
place to listen to the Master. Why? Because it's hard. Because it's 
scary. Because it takes time. Because it makes us feel small and 
vulnerable and afraid. We doubt our ability to hear. (Was that really God?) 
We come face-to-face with our sin as His Word penetrates our 
hearts, (I can't believe that sinful attitude is in me!), and we know 
that if we actually listen that God might expect us to do something 
with what we hear.  
   If I don't spend time in His presence, if I don't enter the 
secret place, I can still be a Christian without feeling like I am 
accountable to my Creator. I can live a self-focused life without being 
confronted with the depravity of my own soul. I can stay safe and avoid the 
discomfort of God asking me to do anything that upsets the apple cart of my 
carefully-arranged life. If I don't hear from God, I won't hear truth, and truth 
can at times be very uncomfortable, even when it's healing.  
   "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any 
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints 
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." 
(Hebrews 4:12)  
   So we make excuses for why we don't have time. But the 
reality is that anyone can find time for that which they truly want to 
do. Look at how people behave when they are in love. Nothing can 
stop them from expressing affection to their beloved. They find time 
because they want to, because it's important to them. So when it comes 
to spending time in the Master's presence, saying we don't have 
time is, well . . . a cop out.  
   So rather than spend time in the secret place, we only get 
second-hand messages from our pastor, or an author who has spent time with 
the Master in the quiet place writing down His secrets. We read or 
hear them from these messengers of God, and--thankfully--we may even 
apply the truths we hear to our lives. But how tragic that we have 
received just a cup of water from someone who went to the Spring of 
Living Water for us, but we won't go to the Spring ourselves to get 
filled to overflowing! The distractions that can pull us away from 
spending authentic time with the One who made us are too many to list: 
our kids, our mate, our job, our parents, our sleep schedule, the 
lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and a 
Saturday baseball game. But if we really believed that the God of the 
Universe was listening, would we stop in a quiet place, prostrate 
ourselves in prayer and really listen to Him?...  
   Lord, you are my greatest treasure! Help me remember that I 
forfeit receiving so much wisdom and your words of life when I don't 
spend time with you. Shana Schutte of www.wisdomhunters.com re Mat. 
22:37 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice 
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he 
with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video] 

Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782

Power of the Gospel Testimonies: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUVyxqAV3-Y&feature=youtu.be 

Musical Devotional On Christian Living: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c 

Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Amazing Facts Bible Guides: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx 

Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/

Or Send Request for Bible Studies to Fred Gibbs at: 
fggibbs@aBible.com