I Corinthians 7:10-16 (Part 33) New Testament Standard on Sexual Behavior

NT standard on sexual behavior

• It may controlled

• It may gratified: 1) Legitimately—as in marriage; 2) Illegitimately—as in fornication

Marriage (v. 10 “married”)

• Getting married—optional

• Staying single—optional

• Being married—not optional

Realism of the Bible

• Do not depart, v. 10

• But if she does, v. 11

• The Word of God knows it isn’t always going to work out as commanded (in this context): 1) The wife’s obedience, v. 10; 2) The wife’s disobedience, v. 11; 3) The wife’s obedience within her disobedience, v. 11: a) Remain unmarried; b) Be reconciled

• God in grace gives the one who disobeys (in this context) a chance to live a life of obedience

What to do in a mixed marriage, vv. 12-16

• “The rest”—v. 12 (married but only one is a believer)

• How? 1) Believer married an unbeliever; 2) Two unbelievers married

• Paul speaking not the Lord: 1) Jesus had not spoken on the subject; 2) Paul is just as authoritative (14:37)

Principles

• The continuation of the marriage is the option of the unbeliever not the believer

• The believer remaining sets the unbeliever apart for Christian influence (by nature of the Christian’s conduct)

• If the unbeliever does not want to remain, the response of the believer is passivity. 1) The action you take—let go; 2) The freedom it gives—not under bondage; 3) Principle—tranquility needs to

• be sought

• No guarantee the Christian influence will lead one to believe, v. 16