1 Corinthians 7:1-24

Intro

Context:

On one hand, this is continuing the argument of sexuality, but is really addressing a whole new section of the book. Paul is beginning to address matters in which they wrote.

Paul’s audience is complex. The issue is complex, it is burdened with many contexts. We want to take the text at face value but this needs to be approached with much humility.

*Read the whole text*

Question: What kind of people are addressed here?

Question: What are some of the running themes or topics through all this?

Let me pin in on verse 24.

“Remaining with God” in calling.

God has given us gifts and callings and the way you abide with God looks differently in each of those.

Using the Mind of Christ for Marital Callings:

Remaining with God in Sexual Abstinence (vv. 1-7)

v. 1 - There is another group in Corinth that has swung the opposite direction, leaving God’s good design for sexual relations.

Including the married, abstinence is preferable.

Literally in greek: “not to touch a woman.”

v. 3 - Conjugal rights is quite literally called “reward” or “debt.” Notice he is addressing each spouse to give.

v. 4 - While each spouse has the right to one another, it is never wise to demand.

The command is to sexually satisfy your mate, not to focus on your own level of desire.

Implications: clothing, the way you dress should be out of deference to your spouse.

James says conflicts arise when our desires grow into demands.

Question: How far reaching does this ownership of your spouse’s body go? What does it look like in practice in a healthy marriage?

v. 5 - Abstinence is only preferable for devotion to the Lord in a way that will be healthy for the marriage.

Question: What are some examples where you could see abstinence being the right choice?

Remaining with God in Singleness (vv. 6-9)

Q: Paul says as a concession, not a command. How does that mean we should treat what follows?

v. 6 - Paul is starting a new section. He differentiates this by saying it is a wisdom from him, not authoritative.

Literally “I say this from knowledge, not authority”

v. 7 - Paul says that he enjoys his calling so much, he wishes other people were able to enjoy it.

There is a freedom to singleness that he delights in.

People tend to fear the gift of singleness like it’s a curse.

Going to Bible college I would meet with guys that were terrified that they were fated to it.

vv. 8-9 - In that time, it was better to be single. But burning with a passion is a sign you should pursue marriage.

Illust: Professor Essex saying to read Song of Solomon

Q: Young men and women sometimes have porn addictions and problems with lust and will marry to try and solve that. How would you counsel someone struggling with that?

Remaining with God in Separation (vv. 11-16)

v. 10 - Paul makes a charge not from his own words, but Christ’s himself.

Why the wives first? Some commentators read into this issue, but there is little evidence for any issue. We know that women were having issues submitting to church authority and being under their husbands.

v. 11 - “Separate” is different from “divorce.”

Paul is saying if you do divorce, you are not free to join another marriage.

This chapter does not include the exception clauses (Except on the grounds of pornea).

Pastoral Application: Live differently from what you have seen.

Three views on the issue: All agree that divorce is not preferable. The goal should always be reconciliation. (Really the discussion is how much spirit of the law is going on here verses letter of the law).

One is that no divorce is permissible.

One is that divorce is sometimes permissible in adultery and abandonment but remarriage after divorce is sinful as long as the unbelieving spouse is alive.

One is that divorce is permissible in adultery and abandonment and remarriage after.

Our church holds to the third view in practice. Either way, when you see a text that describes divorce, it always makes a point that if you divorce with the intention to remarry, it is sin.

Men and women are not compatable. We are complimentary.

vv. 12-13 - Marriage is a preferable common grace.

Marriage is a common grace.

Illust: Vermillions

v. 14 - “Made holy” (PPPerf 3S) We know that this sanctification is not salvation (v. 16).

Special blessing to live holier

Recipient of witness

Invited into covenantal status

“Clean and unclean” distinction.

1 Corinthians The Sanctification of Unbelieving Spouses

(1) to be set apart for God’s purposes and to exhibit a pattern of “holy” behavior; (2) to “set apart” an unbelieving spouse in a relationship that uniquely positions him or her to “receive a Christian witness”; (3) “sanctification” refers to the unbelieving spouse’s inclusion in the believer’s covenantal status; and (4) “sanctification” relates to the concepts of “unclean” and “clean.”

Q: What do we think of this issue?

Pauls main point is not to teach about bringing holiness into the family, it’s to show that divorce takes that away.

Ezekiel 37:28 ESV

Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”

v. 15-16 - The Abandonment Clause

The unbelieving spouse leaving might be doing it in sin, but you are not in sin by letting them go.

The preference is to stay in the marriage, but there is a freedom and permission to be spared from being yoked to an unbeliever.

In situations of abuse, this is a text often drawn from. Abuse is abandonment that leads to attack.

Take the word abuse very seriously. We always abuse our spouse in a minor sense when we sin against them, so remember to be long suffering like Christ is with you.

Remaining with God in All Callings (vv. 17-24)

v. 17 - “Assigned” means given a portion.

Psalm 16:5–6 ESV

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

That’s not unfair. God is sovereign. Some of us he gives on talent, some of us he gives five. Either way, he gives you what you are supposed to have.

To whom much is given much is required.

Luke 12:48 ESV

But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

The work required of marriage does not hit until you are in it.

“His rule in all the churches” - He is not singling out Corinth, he is telling them that is the goal of the whole passage.

v. 18-19 - Don’t try to change your heart by changing your circumstances. Circumcision was a big deal in marking your identity and calling as belonging to God’s covenant people. It pointed for the need of the heart to be cleaned. But it does not allow you to be holier.

v. 20 - I am a person that likes change. I want life to be improved, I want to tweak every knob until I am actualizing my comfort.

v. 21 - If God gives you opportunity for change, take it.

But there is a difference between a heart that wants to change circumstances to become more holy than a heart that wants to be holy even in changing circumstances.

I meet young guys who want to be in leadership all the time. My heart sometimes throngs about to have more opportunities. God wants me to be more concerned about how do I live more holy in my current calling rather than how do I achieve another calling.

We are young so the sky is still the limit for us. Could there be a better job? Could there be a better way? Yes, and it’s not wrong to search for that, but your focus should be more on am I living as holy as possible in where I am.

v. 22 - Focus on your spiritual status and identity. Do you have as much access to God as Pastor Chris? Do we not all recieve the same inheritance of Christ like Paul says in Ephesians 1 and Jesus talks about the laborers in the vineyard?

v. 23 - When you subject yourself earthly status and make your earthly vocation your identity then it is like identifying as a human slave.

v. 24 - Remain with God in any calling.

Divine wisdom arranges our lot, but our lots are not precisely alike. Owl Or Eagle?, Volume 49, Sermon #2860 - Psalm 102:6, Psalm 103:5

Charles Spurgeon

Conclusion

Christ has glorified the Father in every calling he was in. Before he had his bride the church he walked on earth and and stewarded his calling perfectly, but as he ascended he is the perfect husband and high-priest.

Remember that he holds your lot.