Harold S. Paisley
Question: What is the meaning of the words of 1 Cor. 6:13? An answer in Words in Season would be appreciated.
Answer: These words "meats for the belly and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body," do at first appear difficult but we will seek to give an explanation.
I believe a contrast is drawn in the verse between the belly and the body. The natural appetite for nourishment is a present temporal experience and is perfectly in order. This will cease when life is terminated, hence the words, "God will destroy (bring to nought, R.V.) both it (the belly) and them (the meats). In the latter statement, the body, which represents personality, is unlike the belly, as the deeds of the body are for eternity. Therefore, the teaching of the passage is plain. Unlike food, which is lawful, fornication is never allowable under any circumstance. It is likely that this solemn precept was to counteract false teaching at Corinth which is even evident today. That as natural desires for food was right, then natural desires leading to sin were also right. The Spirit of God used Paul to refute such error. He contrasts the belly which is part of a human body and the body which is for the Lord and His service. The obvious and needful lesson for today is that holiness becomes each blood bought body. In a day of increasing impurity, we who are redeemed, should remember the exhortation, "Ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Question: It has been taught that prayer should not be addressed to the Lord Jesus directly in this age and that singing to the Lord is not appropriate. Is this Scriptural?
Answer: This is an important subject. We have no desire to enter into a realm of controversy, but we have plain scriptural statements in the precious Word of God giving direction to the saints in their approach to God. The Lord Jesus Himself addressed the Father in prayer. He taught His disciples to pray, saying "Our Father" (Matt. 6:9; 7:11). The early church prayed to God, making mention of the Son, but not directing their prayer to Him. Paul addressed himself to the Father "who hath translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:3,10). Praying on behalf of other believers, he states that he bowed his knee to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:14). The statement in Ephesians 2:10 is a true guide in our approach to God. "Through Him (Christ) we both (Jew and Gentile) have access in one Spirit to the Father."
It has been said that Stephen spoke directly to the Lord Jesus. The occasion of this was altogether unique and is not the usual pattern of approach to God. It is clear from the Scriptures that prayer is properly addressed to the Father in the Name of the Son and by the power of the person of the Holy Spirit (Jude 20).
In our presentation of worship as spoken by the Lord Himself (John 4:24) He shows that the Father is the One we should address. We worship God by the Spirit and rejoice in the Son (Phil. 3:3). For the balance of truth, we should also have in mind that the Son is essentially God, and He claimed that all should honor the Father. The fact that the Lord Jesus, God’s blessed Son, is God, shows He may be worshipped also.
The song of the redeemed in the glory will be "Worthy is the Lamb." With this before our heart, it is perfectly in order and acceptable to God our Saviour to sing some of our praises directly to the glorious person of our Lord Jesus. The special occasion of being gathered together in His Name, and around His person, will be enhanced in devotion and adoration as we sound the high praises of our Lord Jesus and directly offer the outpouring of our hearts to His matchless person.
The usual address of prayer to God and the Father may be set aside in certain circumstances and the Lord Jesus spoken to directly by His blood bought people who would express their thoughts of Him who first loved us. The spiritual mind will understand the suitability of approach and be guided aright.