March 22, 2015
Evening Service

I Cor. 7:12-40

 

(1Co 7:12)  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord:

·         Paul meaning there is nothing concerning this from the Lord.

If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.  (13)  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.  (14)  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 

·         One of the most reasonable explanations of this Scripture is this:  In the union of marriage we are told this; (Mar 10:8)  and the two shall become one flesh: so that they are no more two, but one flesh.

This union of marriage produces one flesh.  So if one spouse becomes a Christian the whole family, including children are sanctified, or set apart for the use of the Lord.  However, at some point the unbelieving spouse, and the children must accept Christian baptism in order to be saved.  Being sanctified only means they are set apart, not that they have accepted Jesus as Lord.

(15)  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 

·         I think that is clear enough.  Remembering that the only reason given for divorce is fornication.

(16)  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?  (17)  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 

·         Every time I read this Scripture I think of Dorothy Hughes.  Dorothy was a devout Christian woman, but her husband Skunk had never accepted the Lord.  Dorothy lived faithfully with Skunk all their lives, and at the end he accepted the Lord as Savior.

(18)  Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.  (19)  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 

·         One of the teachings in Judaism that Paul tried to get people to understand it was not mandatory to be a Christian. 

(20)  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.  (21)  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.  (22)  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.  (23)  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.  (24)  Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. 

·         Paul and Peter both teach how we are to respond, and act if we are servants, slaves, or bondmen, and women.  Paul is saying live a life of peace, and be content with whatever state you are in when called to be a Christian.

(25)  Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.  (26)  I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.  (27)  Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.  (28)  But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 

·         Paul just gives some good sound advice with no back up Scripture to use, but we know, and accept that what he says comes from God.

 

 

(29)  But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;  (30)  And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;  (31)  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 

·         Now Paul follows this advice with the reason he thinks people should remain unmarried.

(32)  But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 

·         Do we not recognize this to be true?

(33)  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 

·         We find this also true.

(34)  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth 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 upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 

·         Paul again giving good advice.  He is talking to a church that is surrounded by sin.  They worship an adulteress idol, and prostitution is rampant in Corinth.

(36)  But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 

·         This no doubt speaking of a man and his daughter, of the father permitting the daughter to marry.

(37)  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.  (38)  So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. 

·         Remembering what Paul said earlier concerning gifts.  It may not be one’s gift to be celebate, and if that’s the case then there is not a thing wrong with marriage.

(39)  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth;

·         The thing we must remember is that the law here referred to is the civil law of Israel.  It was in the law of Moses, but it is also the civil law of the Israelites.  Just as we have derived many of our civil laws from the Bible, so Israel had many civil laws that was from the laws of Moses.

but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.  (40)  But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

·         This is not difficult to understand.  Most of the Bible’s teachings are this way.  We need not try and make them say what we want them to say, but to accept them as they are.

 

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY HELP US TO CONTINUE TO STRIVE, WITH A HUNGER FOR YOUR WORD, THAT WE MIGHT BE PLEASING IN YOUR EYES.