Have You Considered Jesus?

Before you get all revved up, consider Jesus.

Have you ever promised something to God and then reneged on the promise?

I was watching a program the other day where a wounded soldier called for the chaplain.

The soldier confessed to the chaplain, “I was so scared.

“The enemy was everywhere and people were getting shot everywhere.

“And I prayed, “Lord, if you will get me out of this alive, I’ll become a priest.”

“Well,” he said, “He got me out of it alive, but I don’t want to be a priest.”

He got all revved up, and did something before he considered what it meant.

I was in my very early 20’s and went to a very popular conference.

It was held in the old Omni in Atlanta and the place was packed.

The speaker was charismatic and he spoke with such authority.

And he told us what that devil music rock and roll would do to our souls.

I came home all revved up.

We had a burn barrel in our back yard to burn trash in.

I fired up a good hot fire.

And before that devil music could send me to hell, I sent all of my albums that didn’t have Jesus in the title into the fiery abyss first.

It wasn’t too long after the conference was over, that I thought, “I wish I had my records back.”

I got all revved up, but didn’t consider what my actions meant.

We’re studying our way through 1st Corinthians, and the church at Corinth was getting pretty revved up.

We have to remember, anyone who is a Christian in Corinth is a reasonably new Christian.

Paul wrote 1st Corinthians around 55 ad.

Jesus was crucified somewhere around 33 ad.

The person who had been a Christian the longest anywhere would have only been a Christian for 22 years.

The Church at Corinth was established in 50 ad.

Most everyone in that church had only been a Christian for a few years.

And they didn’t have a New Testament to guide them.

So when they were saved, they’d get all revved up.

They’d hear a teaching and sometimes they’d take off on what they thought it meant.

And they didn’t consider or they didn’t know what Jesus would really want.

They just wanted to follow Jesus with all of their hearts.

And there certainly is nothing wrong with that except

They didn’t think about what they were doing, what it meant.

They were just revved up and ready to go.

But it wasn’t everybody at Corinth.

Some did get revved up - but then they wrote to Paul.

“Help us understand.”

“We want to do good - we’re just not sure what good is in this situation.”

You’ve been there, right?

We want to do good - but in this situation, what is good?

Our text is 1 Corinthians 7:10-16.

It sounds like just another scripture about divorce.

But there is more too it than that - so turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 7: 10-16 and let’s figure it out.

We want to welcome you if you are watching by live stream or listening to our podcast.

We are grateful to the Lord for bringing you our way and if you are ever nearby and are able, we’d love for you to worship with us in person.

And to our guests today - you aren’t here by accident.

The Lord called you here to sing, read, pray and listen to the Word.

I pray when you go home today, that you’ll know you have heard God’s Spirit whisper in your soul.

And as always, we hope you feel like you are home - we’d love to have you as a part of the First Baptist family.

Hear now the Word of the Lord from 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

1 Corinthians 7:10–16 ESV

To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Let’s pray:

Almighty God,

So many things vie for our attention.

We are often like the seed that is sown among the thorns - the weeds grow up around us and we get distracted.

For this moment, be all we think about.

Speak to our hearts your words of life.

And Lord, forgive my sins that nothing I do will stand between you and your people.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Yes this text speaks about divorce, but to understand what Paul is saying, we need to know why they were considering divorce.

Was it simply that the couple had grown apart?

Was it abuse?

Was it one of the spouses had found their soulmate?

Was it that one of the spouses turned out to be completely different than they had presented themselves to be?

Was it infidelity?

Was is simply that one spouse decided the grass was greener on the other side?

I bet if you thought of a million reasons that you think a divorce was necessary, I suspect you’d never guess their reason.

Here it is: Jesus is coming soon; Should I divorce my husband so I can devote myself to Christ?

1 Corinthians 7:10-11 “To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.”

Here’s the deal - they are both Christians, husband and wife.

But - and you married people know this - not every thought you have about your spouse is what we would consider pure.

Sometimes something as simple as a whiff of perfume, a pat on the backside, just the right glimpse in the sunlight

And as Paul said last week, we “burn with passion.”

And I’ve only heard one couple in my life that would kneel beside their bed and pray, “Thank you Lord for these and all thy blessings we are about to receive.”

So what they thought - and what a lot of people have thought over the ages is - that physical intimacy must be sinful because many times what gets things going is purely selfish.

I’m not thinking of your edification per se,

My motor’s running and it’s time to go - if you catch my drift.

So some of the women were saying, if we alleviate the temptation for both of us, we can avoid sin

And we can devote our lives to Jesus.

And while we might wonder at their logic, you’ve got to admit that what they wanted was admirable.

They wanted to follow Jesus the best they could.

And they certainly had this part right.

Following Jesus presents us with ethical challenges

We have to think about how we act and how Jesus would have us act.

The soldier that lived had to deal with his promise to God.

I was revved up about the conference and I had to deal with what I thought was the right thing to do but just turned out to be a thing to do.

These women - and apparently a man or two at least - had to deal with what they thought was the right thing to do for Jesus.

We all have to deal with ethical challenges - what is right and what is wrong - in light of our faith in Jesus.

It’s not just in marriage.

We’re offered a new job.

I’m being asked to join a new organization.

I want to add another sport to my resume.

I want to date.

I want to marry.

It makes me sad sometimes when I hear things people want to do and you can tell - they don’t stop and wrestle with they faith first - they just did what they thought best and now they are having to deal with it.

These people were wrestling because they wanted to follow Jesus.

You know there was hurt and angst and tears.

This isn’t a passing fad - they are revved up to follow Jesus.

That really want to do the right thing and they are willing to sacrifice a lot to do the right thing.

I really want to think that they aren’t just in a bad marriage and here’s a chance to dump the bum.

It seems they are in a committed relationship - that they really care - they are really in love.

But they love Jesus more.

So what does Paul tell them is the right thing to do and how does he know?

Well, Paul goes to Jesus.

Did you notice the peculiar wording that’s in parenthesis in my ESV - (not I, but the Lord)?

We immediately contrast that with verse 12 where he says, again in parenthesis (I, not the Lord).

And that confuses us.

We think when we read it that in one place the Lord spoke to Paul and this is the Lord’s answer

But in this other place, Paul’s just making it up.

But that’s not right.

In verse 10, when Paul says essentially, “The Lord gives this charge,” he’s actually referring back to the words Jesus said - several times, in fact.

Look at what Jesus said during the sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:31-32

Matthew 5:31–32 ESV

“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

In fact, in Matthew 19, Jesus takes them right back to how God designed life to be lived.

Matthew 19:4–6 ESV

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

And then a few verses later Jesus repeats what Jesus said at the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 19:9 “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.””

Here’s the deal: When we get revved up and we’re all gung ho for the Lord.

Don’t forget what the Lord has already said in His word.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The rules won’t change.

If you are married stay married and grow to understand that your desire for each other is a gift from God.

It has to be, right?

Do you remember what we read from Malachi earlier in the service?

Malachi 2:15 “Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring...

In creating marriage as He did, God’s desired result is Godly offspring.

Well, you’d don’t get those holding hands.

So, married Christians who truly want to follow Jesus, stay married.

Stay married, and learn to follow Jesus together.

You’ll find out, that’s good.

But now they have another situation that has to be address.

But what if I become a Christian and my spouse doesn’t?

In the first situation, they are both Christians, but here, one gets saved and the other doesn’t.

Now, what do I do?

1 Corinthians 7:12-14 “To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”

Ok, listen - when Paul says, I, not the Lord - he’s not saying he’s flying by the seat of his pants here.

What’s he’s saying is that the Lord never specifically spoke to this situation - there is no “Thus saith the Lord” moment for him to refer back to.

But Paul, being a trustworthy servant of the Lord who has the Spirit of God, he has a word for them.

This doesn’t lose it’s authority because Paul says I, not the Lord

It is still holy and inspired, it’s still the Word of the Lord - it’s just that Jesus didn’t specifically address this situation.

But Jesus did address marriage.

So the same underlying principle applies.

If you are married - stay married.

Now, just so we don’t think they are nuts for asking this - let’s remind ourselves of something here.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:11 “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”

His writing is a reminder - he had taught them those very things when they were face to face.

And no, my husband or wife is not a brother or a sister - but I am!

And I’m sleeping with this person every night - and they are guilty of these things - because I was!

They show no signs of repenting - they show no signs of change.

Shouldn’t I leave so I won’t be dragged down by their sin?

And here is the coolest argument - it’s a little confusing the way it’s worded, but it’s meaning is powerful.

1 Corinthians 7:14 “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”

Simply, if your husband isn’t saved he won’t make you dirty.

But you will make him clean.

Not saved - although Paul says in verse 16: 1 Corinthians 7:16 “For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”

Don’t give up.

If they will stay married to you, stay married to them.

Don’t give up on them.

You never know - one day how you live, how you love, how you care, how you talk, how you suffer, how you rejoice

How you follow Jesus - the Father might just might use that to open your spouses eyes so your spouse will be saved.

I love this because we often fret that the darkness is going to overwhelm us.

We are always afraid the darkness is going to overwhelm us.

That things will get so bad, I’ll fold and the evil one will win.

But we forget.

John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

No matter what you think - no matter what you feel - Jesus will prevail.

So your best option is to follow Jesus.

Now look at

1 Corinthians 7:15 “But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.”

So, I’m a new Christian and I’m revved up to follow Jesus.

But my husband finds my faith odious and leaves.

Because of Jesus teaching on divorce, am I supposed to live single for the rest of my life?

If I marry another, will I be committing adultery?

Paul says no - you are not enslaved - you are not in bondage to the non-Christian.

However, this isn’t license to lust after a Christian if you are married to a non-Christian.

And to drive the non-Christian away.

No, you should love the non-Christian and show them Jesus.

And if they leave, you should be heart broken.

You’ve loved and cared for and shown Jesus to them.

But your spouse rejected Jesus.

And that should break your heart.

Because you know the wages of sin is death.

And this person you loved with all of your heart is going to die and go to hell.

Can there be anything worse than that for someone you love?

But if they do leave you, you are free.

Now, Paul is going to say it would be better for you to remain single.

But as he said earlier, it’s better for you to marry than burn with passion.

You know, all of this is something we’ve said over and over again.

If you trust Jesus as your savior, Jesus has to make a difference in your life.

When Jesus walked out of that tomb to make all things new

Those all things include us.

And new things operate in new ways.

I don’t think it would hurt us to be a little bit like the Corinthians here.

Before you accept that promotion or transfer,

Before you add another sport to your routine,

Before you do anything - wrestle with your faith a bit.

Is this what Jesus would want for me or am I just trying to create my heaven on earth?

What guidance does God’s Word have for me?

What does the Lord say to me when I pray?

Before you get all revved up, consider Jesus.