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I. THE PROPOSITION: "Ye are not your own."

1. Note here two things:(1) What this phrase implies — viz., That no being can be simply its own, but what is supreme, absolute, and independent; and that essence, which is its own, must he itself the end of all its actions. From these two principles it evidently follows that there is no being simply its own, but that which is the First Cause and the Last End of all beings — God. All others are

(a)  Derivative beings, and flow from the Source of Being.

(b)  Dependent beings, and owe their continued preservation to the goodness of God.

(c)  Subordinate to the First; made for His ends and uses.

(2) What it infers. If we are not our own, then —

(a)  We ought not to seek our own. But, when gain shall be preferred before godliness, what is this but a base self-seeking unworthy of a Christian — nay, of a man?

(b)  We are not at our own disposal. And this should teach us patience in all the crosses and sad occurrences of our lives.

(c)  We ought not to follow our own wills and affections.

(d)  We ought not to look upon anything as our own.

(e)  No sin should be our own.

2. Now, lest you should be put to seek for an owner, the apostle informs you who it is that lays in His claim to you, even the great and universal Lord of Heaven and Earth, whose all things are by a most absolute and indisputable right: Ye are God's.

(1)  As He is your Almighty Creator and Preserver.

(2)  Your Governor.

(3)  By covenant engagement and solemn promise.

(4)  By profession, and our own voluntary and free acknowledgment.

(5)  By the right of redemption, as in the text.Now the love and mercy of God, in redeeming us, is far more eminent than in creating us. And therefore His right and title to us, upon this account, is far greater. For —

(a) Creation only gives us a being, and in this our sinful condition only capacitates us for woe. But redemption opens a way to happiness.

(b) Redemption has been more expensive to God than creation.

II. THE REASON: "For ye are bought with a price."

1. What this price is (1 Peter 1:18, 19).

2. To whom this price was paid; to our great creditor, God.

3. What we are redeemed from.

(1)  From the wrath of God.

(2)  From the vassalage of the devil.

(a)  His tempting power is restrained.

(b)  His accusing power is rebuked.

(c)  His tormenting power shall be wholly abolished.

(3) From the reigning and condemning power of sin.

(4)  From the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13).

III. THE INFERENCE: "Therefore glorify God," &c.

1. What is it to glorify God?

2. How we ought to glorify God.

(1)  By a most devout adoration of His infinite perfections.

(2)  By declaration of those perfections.

(3)  By conforming ourselves to the likeness of them.

(4)  By performing those duties which they oblige us unto; by being holy as He is holy, &c.

(1) Now the true notion of holiness is a separation from all sin and impurity.

3. What force and influence the consideration of our redemption ought to have upon us, to oblige us thus to glorify God.

(1) We are bought with a price, and therefore it is but justice and equity to glorify God. Consider —

(a)  The price He paid infinitely exceeds the value of all that thou art and hast.

(b)  All the use which thy Saviour can make of thee is only that thou shouldst glorify Him; and, by obedience shouldst serve to the setting forth of His praise (Titus 2:14).

(c)  If thou livest not to thy Saviour, who by His death purchased thee, thou art guilty of sacrilege, the worst robbery and most branded injustice in the world.

(d)  If, instead of glorifying Him by thy obedience, thou dishonourest Him by thy rebellions and impieties, thou not only defraudest Him of His servant, but, what is infinitely worse, of the very price that He paid.

(2) We are bound, not only in justice and equity, but in ingenuity and gratitude, to glorify God upon the account of our redemption. For consider —

(a)  What it is you are redeemed from.

(b)  With what price He hath bought us.For consider, first, if God had put the terms of thy redemption into thy own hands, couldst thou have offered less for the ransom of thy soul? Secondly, that Christ hath infinitely abased Himself to procure thy redemption; and therefore, at least, ingenuity and gratitude should engage thee to exalt and glorify Him,

(3) In point of interest and advantage.

IV. APPLICATION. Consider —

1. It is the great end of our beings to glorify God, and indeed the noblest end that we could be created for. And if thou dost otherwise

(1)  Thou degradest thyself from the dignity of thine own being.

(2)  Thou degradest God too, and exaltest something above Him.

2. That God will certainly have His glory out of thee. If thou Wilt not glorify His holiness by thy obedience, thou shalt glorify His justice by thy perdition.

3. By glorifying God we do indeed but glorify ourselves. For He hath been pleased so graciously to intwist His glory and ours together, that, whilst we endeavour to promote the one, we do but indeed promote the other (1 Samuel 2:30).

(E. Hopkins, D. D.)

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KJV: 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?

WEB: Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own,