November 9, 2021 — 1 Corinthians 7:1 – 16

“Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is well for a man not to touch a woman.” But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. This I say by way of concession, not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am. But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.

To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. To the rest I say—I and not the Lord—that if any believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. And 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 through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through 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 a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called you. Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.” 1 Corinthians 7:1-16

“For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband.” Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles — and it did not take a lot of lawyers nor a lot of money to make it happen. Marriage is a Divine institution; even if more and more people are getting married outside of the church. Marriage is intended to be for life, by G-d’s appointment, for better and for worse. But Paul then carries this another step — that since we are to live together, in marriage, for the betterment of all, we also should remain in marriage, and in turn all relationships, even with unbelievers. It should be the work and the study of those who are married to live for the other in the manner that we live for Christ. Should a Christian desert a husband or wife just because they do not believe? Paul says we are to stay, and work for the betterment of all, including our spouse or relative. In every marriage, in every relation and relationship, the Lord has called us to live in peace; and everything should be done to promote harmony, as far as truth and holiness will allow.

Let us Pray,

Lord Jesus, you call us into relationship with you, and into relationship with one another. I ask now that you strengthen all of my relationships through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pastor Dave

November 10, 2021 — 1 Corinthians 7:17 – 40

“However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything. Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever. For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters. In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God. For the present form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties.” 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, 32

In Greek thought there was a strong tendency to despise the body and the things of the body; and this tendency could result in a position where people might think: “The body is utterly unimportant; therefore we can do what we like with it and it makes no difference if we allow its appetites to have their fullest play.” But that tendency could also lead one to the opposite point of view — where someone might say: “The body is evil; therefore we must bring it into subjection; therefore we must completely obliterate, and if that is not possible, we must completely deny, all the instincts and desires which are natural to it.” It is that second way of looking at things with which Paul is dealing here.

The Corinthians, or at least some of them, had suggested that, if a man was going to be a Christian in the fullest sense of the term, he must put away all things physical (like relations with a woman) thus refusing to marry altogether. Paul’s answer is extremely practical. In effect he says, “Remember where you are living; remember that you are living in Corinth where you cannot even walk along the street without temptation rearing its head at you. Remember your own physical constitution and the healthy instincts which nature has given you. You will be far better to marry than to fall into sin.”

This may sound like a low view of marriage — or that Paul is advising marriage in order to avoid a worse fate. Actually he is honestly facing the facts and laying down a rule which is universally true. No one should attempt a way of life for which they are naturally unfitted; no one should set out on a pathway whereby they deliberately surround themselves with temptations. Paul knew very well that all people are not made the same. “Examine yourself,” he says, “and choose that way of life in which you can best live the Christian life, and don’t attempt an unnatural standard which is impossible and even wrong for you being such as you are.”

Let us Pray,

Lord Jesus, though we are 2000 years past the time of Paul and his churches, still

what was true for the Corinthians in the church is true for us in the church today. Give us your Spirit so we can endure temptation and sin. Amen.

Pastor Dave

November 8, 2021 — 1 Corinthians 6:1 – 20

“When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels—to say nothing of ordinary matters? If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another, but a believer goes to court against a believer—and before unbelievers at that? In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—and believers at that. Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food,” and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

Paul is warning the Corinthians against many evils, behaviors of which they had formerly been guilty. Paul carries a lot of authority and seeks to establish that point: “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?” All sin is sin; all sin, every actual sin, committed with knowledge of it or not – sin is sin. Humans are very much inclined to flatter themselves that it is okay to live as they choose, believing if they have faith in Christ or at least repent once in a while, then all will be fine since all go to heaven. But Paul hopes to warn these people that they cannot hope to sow to the flesh, and continue to reap everlasting life. They are reminded that the gospel and grace of Jesus Christ is to make them a new people.

Our justification is owing to the suffering and merit of Christ; our sanctification to the working of the Holy Spirit; but both go together. All who are made righteous in the sight of G-d, are made holy by the grace of G-d.

Some among the Corinthians seem to have been ready to say, “All things are lawful for me”. I would say there are many among us today who live by this same banner — wear a mask, don’t wear a mask; get vaccinated, don’t get vaccinated; we are not much different than the people of Corinth. But Paul opposes such thinking. Yes, Christ has made us free, and in that banner we all must stand fast. But Paul also says that we should not continue to sin because Grace abounds. Our body is for the Lord; just like all we have is the Lords.

Let us Pray,

Lord Christ, help me to trust in my faith in you, but then help me also to live as you call us to live. When I depend upon your cross, then I have the comfort to know that it will be to your honor and glory to be raised with you. Amen.

Pastor Dave