Gnosticism was a philosophical heresy that started in 2nd centrury by some Christians who were trying to establish their own theodicy. They said this material world is evil including the body but only the realm of the Spirit is pure and holy.
They went as far as saying that a false god( Demiurge) created this imperfect world but the real God created the spirit world which is perfect. In a bid to promote their dual view, they opined that Christ couldn't have come in the flesh to die for mankind because the flesh is evil and a pure man like Christ couldn't have come in flesh.
They said his body that was crucified on the cross was not real, it was phantom. That heresy is known as docetism. Some gnostics went as far as saying the god of the old testament was not the same God revealed in the new testament. Marcion built his doctrine on this and some have revived this doctrine.
Having said all these, the belief of the gnostics that material world is evil including the body led to a gross behavioural misconduct in the early years of Christianity that has remained till date. The believe is that since the body is inherently evil, whatever is done in it doesn't matter to God.
I once read&heard something similar to this when someone said that If Jesus comes while a believer is committing adultery, he will still go to heaven because it is his body that sinned not his spirit. How does that sound to you? That ideology gives liberty to indulge in all kinds of nonsense. Isn't it?
The tenor of scriptures never separated man into components in matters of sin. I did not read anywhere in the testaments where a sinner's sin was separated into components: body sinned but not his soul. Those who believe this fail to acknowledge that whatever is done in&with the body has its source from the inside.
In Matthew 15:18, Jesus said, "But the things that come out of a person’s mouth(body) come from the heart, and these defile them"( NIV, Emphasis mine). Meaning that when a man sins, it is an interplay of who he is on the inside being manifested on the outside.
If what is done with the body is not important, in Romans 12:1, why did Paul say, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to GIVE YOUR BODIES TO GOD because of all he has done for you. LET THEM BE A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him"?(NLT)
Dearest, whatever is done in the body is important to God. The opinion of men won't change God's standard.
ACTION POINT: "Don’t you realize that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, [20] for God bought you with a high price. So you must HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT).
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