July 6, 2008
Evening Service

I Cor. 7:12-40

 

Review:

We are dealing with the faults that were in the church at Corinth.  Paul will tell us in a little while that all things are done for our learning.  These problems at Corinth are no exceptions.

If there was one thing I wanted us to get this morning was the fact that we live in a dispensation of grace, and truth, and not of the law. 

God is not pleased with us when we are disobedient children, but we are none the less His children.

 

We want to continue tonight in chapter 7 of I Cor. Which deals with principles of marriage.

 

1Co 7:12-40  But to the rest I speak, not the Lord, If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is pleased to dwell with him, do not let him put her away.  (13)  And the woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is pleased to dwell with her, do not let her leave him. 

• I’m sure someone has ask this question before.
• I don’t think we have any trouble understanding this.

(14)  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 

• Now these are difficult scriptures!  Just because one of the parents is a believer in the Lord Jesus, does not mean that they save the other spouse by just their faith.  I lean more toward the family appears to be set apart from heathenism.  The chances and likelihood of the other spouse becoming a Christian is much greater, if the faithful one abides in the home, and relationship.
• Same for the children.  The marriage is acknowledged, and the children legitimate.

(15)  But if the unbelieving one separates, let him be separated. A brother or a sister is not in bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.  (16)  For what do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or what do you know, O man, whether you shall save your wife?  (17)  But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all churches.  

• Every time I read this scripture I think of Sister Dorothy, and her husband Philip.  Dorothy lived with Philip a long time, her confessing, and him not.  Eventually, Bro. Duane and I baptized Philip into Jesus for his salvation.

(18)  Was any called having been circumcised? Do not be uncircumcised. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? Do not be circumcised.  (19)  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 

• And of course the keeping of the Commandments of God, means to rightly divide the Word for the dispensation in which we live.

(20)  Let each one remain in the calling in which he was called.  (21)  Were you called as a slave? It does not matter to you, but if you are able to become free, use it rather.  (22)  For he who is called a slave in the Lord is a freed man of the Lord. And likewise, he who is called a free man is a slave of Christ.  (23)  You are bought with a price, do not be the slaves of men.  (24)  Each in whatever way he was called, brothers, in this remain with God. 

• Remain in whatever situation you were in when called by God to the gospel message.

(25)  But concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. Yet I give my judgment, as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.  (26)  Then I think this is good, because of the present necessity; that it is good for a man to be so. 

• The following verses explains this verse.

(27)  Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.  (28)  But if you do marry, you did not sin; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such shall have trouble in the flesh, but I spare you. 

• I spare you a more laborious explanation, that is going into further details.

 

(29)  But this I say, brothers, The time is short. It remains that both those who have wives should be as not having one. 

• It makes since to think Paul is saying, life is short, the main purpose is to be prepared for the next life, so don’t put your wife before God.  The wife is not to be neglected, but also not to be put before God.

(30)  And they who weep are as though they did not weep. And they who rejoice are as though they did not rejoice. And they who buy are as though they did not possess.  (31)  And they who use this world are as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world is passing away. 

• God had probably shown the Apostle that things were about to change drastically.  Jesus said, 1Jo 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
• Just get ready, and stay ready.

 (32)  But I desire you to be without anxiety.

• Notice what can cause anxiety.

The one who is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how to please the Lord.  (33)  But the one who is married cares for the things of the world, how to please his wife. 

• This is why Paul said earlier “that I would that you would be like me, not married.”  He didn’t have this situation of trying to please his wife. 
• Nor did he experience the joys of being married, having children, and a loving companion.
• But Paul is telling us the truth, and the things that distract us in our walk with God.

(34)  The wife and the virgin are different. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.  (35)  And this I speak for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare on you, but for that which is right, and that you may attend on the Lord without distraction. 

• But remember this is a gift from God.  Some can live a celibate life, and some can’t.

(36)  But if anyone thinks it behaving himself indecently toward his virgin (if she is past her prime, and so it ought to be) let him do what he will; he does not sin; let them marry. 

• Paul recognizing that this is a gift from God.  And he doesn’t want someone feeling guilty if they marry.

(37)  But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but who has authority over his own will (and has so judged in his heart that he will keep his virginity) he does well. 

• Very admirable.  Not many protestants are encouraged to do this, however, I am sure that there are some that will.  They truly will be blessed.

(38)  So then he who gives in marriage does well. But he who does not give in marriage does better. 

• And no doubt he means eliminating problems, and trials in his life.

(39)  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives, but if her husband sleeps in death, she is at liberty to be remarried to whom she will, only in the Lord.

• Paul stresses obedience to the law, and I believe Paul walked in obedience to the law, to a certain degree.  Gentiles are not under the laws that God gave the Jews.  However, they are beneficial for guiding ones conduct, and life, and our laws are based on much of the Bible.
• Only in the Lord, would mean, to marry a Christian man.

(40)  But she is happier if she so remains, according to my judgment. And I also think that I have the Spirit of God.

• Again this depends on their ability to live without the desires of the flesh, for Paul said, “it is better to marry than to burn.”  Meaning with passion.   Someone who has this need is better off to go ahead and marry, and I believe this is what we have seen in this chapter.