“Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit“
This verse gives Paul’s third basis of why Christians should flee sexual sins.
Therefore
The word “therefore” is an emphatic marker of result – “for this very reason.” A sex life governed by God’s call to holiness is the rationale for his next statements. The nature of the child of God stands in antithesis to the natural urges of the man without Christ.
He who rejects this does not reject man,
The word “rejects” means to annul. If we annul God’s call upon our lives (4:7), then we thwart the effectiveness of that call. We nullify God’s purpose for us on earth. God lays down His purpose, and we set it aside. In so doing, we refuse to recognize the validity of His call and claim on our lives.
but God,
If we annul God’s plan, we annul God in our lives. Standards about sex are God’s standards. The Romans did not base their view of sexuality upon their polytheistic religion. They were essentially utilitarian in their view of sex. If it works, it’s right. We can summarize their approach “Does this serve my self-interest?”
who has also given us His Holy Spirit
At the moment of salvation, God gives His indwelling Holy Spirit to each believer. The New Testament characterizes the “Spirit” as “Holy.” The Greek emphasizes the word “Holy.” The indwelling Spirit inside of each believer is “Holy.” The Christian cannot disconnect his life from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can work supernaturally in us to empower us to have victory in our sex lives. He enables us in this area.
“That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (2 Timothy 1:14).
Principle:
Rationalizing sin diminishes God.
Application:
When Christians rationalize sexual dalliance, they negate God Himself. Rationalization is just a way of kidding ourselves. God gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us to deal with any sin that might come our way. God wants us to rely on Him in these matters.
If we regard sexual sins as a minor matter, we minimize the whole nature of God. To descend to a lower level of Christian living is to belittle God. We despise God in His role as the Giver of His Holy Spirit. He is the one who makes the privilege of holiness possible. Instead of indulging in sexual gratification, we can live in the temple of the Holy Spirit.
“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).
