The Sermon by S. B. Whitney

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 21, 1868

The Sermon.

By S. B. Whitney

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; PREACH THE WORD. 2 Tim. iv, 2.

THE BODY FOR THE LORD.

BY ELD. S. B. WHITNEY.

TEXT.—“Now the body is . . . for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.” 1 Cor. vi, 13.

We do not approach this subject again, dear hearers, because it lacks for advocates, or with the egotistical presumption that we can do more than others have already done; but with an honest purpose to answer our responsibility in the measure given us; desirous that our influence, though small, may be cast in favor of a subject of such importance.

By many, the fact expressed in our text is entirely overlooked, supposing that no moral obligation rests upon them as to the treatment of their bodies, seemingly ignorant of the relation existing between the body and mind, and consequently the development of the moral faculties. It is not our design, however, at this time, to discuss this relation, but to inquire concerning the obligation that does rest upon us to glorify God in our bodies.

That the body is for the Lord, our text positively states; and this would lead us to inquire, By virtue of what does the Lord lay claim to our bodies? And the apostle answers us in the first clause of verse 20: “For ye are bought with a price.” None that “know the Scriptures and the power of God,” will deny but that he has purchased his people, body and spirit, so far as concerns their future redemption; but this testimony evidently has reference to our present condition; and “therefore,” continues the apostle, “glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Agreeing with this, is his testimony in 1 Tim. iv, 8: “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

But we may inquire again right here, For what purpose has God bought the bodies of his saints in this world? Verse 20 gives us the answer: “What? 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?” From this we learn that God has purchased our bodies for the express purpose of making them the recipients of the influence of his divine Spirit, the reprover, instructor, comforter, helper, and sealer of his people. And this is perfectly consistent when we consider that it is through the medium of our physical organization that the effect of this influence is experienced by ourselves or manifested to others.

Being taught by the foregoing that we are not our own, having been bought with a price, and especially our bodies, for the purpose of being made the temple of the Holy Ghost, how can we fail to perceive that our bodies are really at the disposal of another instead of ourselves? or how can we expect to enjoy the influence of the Spirit of God unless we acknowledge and strive to fulfill our obligation to yield up our bodies to Him to whom they rightly belong, for the purpose for which he designs to use them.

But this consideration brings us to another thought, and that is, that God proceeds in this matter in harmony with our acknowledged agency and responsibility; and instead of making violent seizure upon the goods and asserting his absolute right to them, leaves us free to choose whether we will accept the benefits of the purchase by fulfilling our part of the contract and making delivery of the goods, or be dealt with as criminals, after trial and conviction, for retaining in our possession and appropriating to our use the property of another. Our duty in the matter is thus clearly pointed out to us: “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service.” Rom. xii, 1. Here, with earnest entreaty, appealing to our nobler faculties, with the mightiest consideration ever brought to bear upon them, namely, the mercies of God, are we asked to do that which the commonest justice would dictate to men not wholly devoid of a sense of justice. But furthermore, brethren, this matter is not to be viewed in the light merely of a civil contract, in which the pur-

chaser seeks only his own advantage; but in this case the highest good of the party making the delivery is sought and gained. How, when rightly considered, does this enhance our obligation, and leave us without excuse if we fail to fulfill it.

There is still another consideration in connection with the last text quoted, which may be regarded as another portion of our subject. “Holy, acceptable unto God,” says the apostle. This certainly implies a different condition from that in which they are now found, and makes it necessary that they be purified, or that the process of cleansing be performed upon them. And this is clearly taught in the word of God. Paul, in 2 Cor. vi, in speaking of the illicit intercourse in which the church were in danger of participating, after asking several questions which we should all agree in answering correctly, presents one very pertinent to the subject before us. “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” Verse 16. Why cannot we answer this as readily? But what is the temple of God? He continues in the same verse, “For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people;” or, “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God?” 1 Cor. vi, 19. It is by his Spirit that God dwells and walks in his people, and by the union thus established that he becomes their God, and they his people. Having learned what the temple is, we are prepared to judge of the idols, for they must correspond; and we must certainly conclude that they are not persons nor principles, but those things that carnal appetites and passions lead us to lust after. And in harmony with this conclusion is the following exhortation: “Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Verses 17, 18. And in view of these exhortations and promises, the apostle continues, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Chap. vii, 1.

The filthiness of the flesh is removed by a course of strict Christian temperance, by which the contaminating and injurious effects of hurtful things upon our systems are remedied, or avoided, as the case may be; and the filthiness of the spirit, by the victory thus gained over our appetites and passions, and our hearts being taught the lesson of submission and self-denial prescribed by such a course; and thus holiness is perfected; and the “end of our faith” will be “the salvation of our souls.”

But we cannot accomplish all this alone; and therefore we read, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly [how much does wholly include in this case?]; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. v, 23. We must be made blameless in order to be preserved so, and we are made thus by being sanctified wholly, spirit, soul, and body.

But you inquire, Can the body be accounted blameless or guilty? I answer, Yes, in this way: We are

accounted blameless or guilty with respect to our bodies, as we do or do not purify them, and present them to God a living and acceptable sacrifice. So we read again, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Cor. iii, 16, 17.

Solemn and momentous is this question, then, and woe to the one who shall lightly esteem, or disregard it.

Eve, tempted with the fruit of a tree, sinned; and whatever other lusts may have conspired to keep man under the thralldom of sin, combined with them, in the beginning, middle, and end of his career, and foremost in the group, has been the lust of appetite; and in these days of “eating and drinking,” how can we expect to be prepared for the Judgment while we remain the willing slaves of its pleasing, but destructive tyranny. “But respecting you, beloved, we confidently hope for BETTER things, even those connected with Salvation, though even we thus speak.”—Emphatic Diaglott. “But take heed to yourselves, lest your HEARTS be oppressed by Gluttony and drunkenness, and Anxieties of life, and that DAY should come unexpectedly upon you. For it will come like a snare on ALL THOSE DWELLING on the WHOLE LAND. Be ye watchful, therefore, at all times, praying that ye may be regarded worthy to escape ALL THESE THINGS BEING ABOUT to occur, and to stand before the Son of MAN.”—Emphatic Diaglott. Luke xxi, 34–36.

May the Lord help us to get the entire victory over ourselves, by submission to him, that we may be able to endure in the time of trouble, and permitted to enter that land where lust will never again conceive, and sin never entering, death will be forever banished. Amen.