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Christians are to be DEVOTED to the Lord. 

But it seems that many of us are DISTRACTED. 

Today we are reminded that no-one and no-thing should distract us from the Lord Jesus having 1st place in our lives - including our spouse.

1. Paul is writing to Corinthian Christians to answer their questions about marriage, separation, divorce, and remarriage. Roman marriages were typically arranged, especially by prosperous parents, with little personal choice from the married couple.
2. While the Jewish culture did not allow a woman to divorce her husband, the Roman culture did.
3. Paul teaches what Jesus taught on this issue, but he also speaks to specifics that Jesus did not address.
4. Paul is most concerned about the Corinthians being “devoted to the Lord without distraction.”

This is not Paul’s command, but a command from the Lord Jesus (Mat 5:31-32, Mk 10:11-12, Luke 16:18).

• This is a broad brush statement, that Christians who are married should stay in the marriage.

For those spouses who refuse to stay have 2 options:

1. Stay unmarried until your spouse dies (v39).
2. Be reconciled to your spouse.

Jesus taught that neither men nor women were allowed to leave their marriage partner and pursue another, as this would be adultery. 

The one exception for divorce that Jesus addresses is in the case of sexual immorality - that’s the word porneia that Paul has used in 1 Cor 5:1, 6:13, 18, 7:2 - term for any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage. According to Jesus, one can’t simply divorce your spouse for any reason and then marry someone else as this is adultery. 

And since God still sees you as being married to your spouse, and you both become sexually intimate with other people, then you BOTH commit adultery.

In the case of sexual immorality, God allows for divorce & remarriage. 

• This should NEVER be the 1st option, as the 1st option is forgiveness & restoration.

Can a person who has has biblical grounds for divorce be remarried? 

• Some say Jesus allows for divorce in the case of adultery, but not remarriage. 
• If God allows and recognizes the marriage as being over, then why couldn’t they be remarried?
• Others say that Jesus implies that remarriage is an option for the innocent spouse.

What does Paul mean by “I not the Lord say”? Paul is answering a question that Jesus didn’t specifically address. Paul gives his best answer as led by the Holy Spirit.

A Christian can’t leave their spouse simply because they don’t follow Jesus.

If your non-Christian spouse is willing to stay with you, you must not divorce him/her.

The unbelieving spouse and children are made holy by the Christian spouse & parent.

• This doesn’t mean that your spouse and children are saved because YOU are. The Scriptures are clear that individuals are saved by turning from sin and trusting in Jesus - not because of a relative’s faith.
• The Christian’s influence in the home will impact your household. God’s blessings to the believer will overflow to the family and God’s grace will be extended in a tangible way to the spouse and children!

What does “not bound” mean? 

• Craig Keener writes, “Paul’s words recall the exact language for freedom to remarry in ancient divorce contracts” and his ancient audience would have understood his words that way. 
• John MacArthur writes, “Throughout Scripture, whenever legitimate divorce occurs, remarriage is assumed. Where divorce is permitted, remarriage is permitted.”

However, if the unbeliever is willing to stay in the boat, the Christian spouse should too - and be ready to throw the life-preserver to the non-Christian spouse who realizes they need help. God might use you to save them!

If the unbeliever leaves, the Christian is not bound to the marriage anymore and is free to remarry

since GOD SEES the marriage as being over.

• Divorce is legitimate for ADULTERY - sexual immorality outside the marriage (Mt 5:31-32, 19:9).
• Divorce is legitimate for ABANDONMENT, when one spouse leaves the other (1 Cor 7:15-16).
• It is likely that Jesus & Paul would allow divorce for physical ABUSE, as the spouse who is being UNFAITHFUL to his vows to protect and provide for her.

In any of these situations, the Lord’s desire would be that both spouses REPENT of their sin toward Him and one another, and be restored to recreate a marriage that loves God and one another.

Gentiles didn’t need to become good Jews by circumcision. Jews didn’t have to reverse the outward sign of circumcision. God wants His people to be circumcised in their souls, given a new heart that cares about what matters most - keeping God’s commands (Rm 2:27-29; Gal 5:6, 6:15; Col 2:11-14).

Paul’s encourages Christians to ‘bloom where you’re planted’ - to live for Jesus in whatever situation you find yourself in rather than putting all your effort into changing your status. We are to live as Christ’s slaves because we were bought at a price.

* Note: Many “slaves” in the Roman Empire were treated more like indentured servants who were part of the family rather than the harshly treated slaves in the 1800s of America.

Craig Blomberg: “All Christians should therefore sense an urgency to serving the Lord…[but] distractions of marriage may temper this urgency. So those who choose to wed must not become so preoccupied with their families that they can no longer effectively serve Christ.”

Paul was more concerned about eternal impact than earthly issues. The time is limited for Christians to share Christ with our dying culture.  

• Believers who live in this world must experience moments to weep, rejoice, buy and own stuff, but shouldn’t act like any of that is going to stick around forever because this world in its current form is passing away.

Have you ever asked God if He wants you to remain unmarried so He can use you without distractions?

To remain unmarried (celibate) is NOT a curse. To remain unmarried doesn’t lessen a person’s purpose or value in any way. The apostle Paul remained unmarried from the time of this writing until his death. Paul is NOT commanding Christians not to marry, but letting them know this is an option, whereby a believer might be focused on how to please the Lord.

Are you devoted to the Lord Jesus? Is your primary goal today…to please HIM or someone else?

• LIST the people, events, and practices of your life that consume your time. How much of that demonstrates that you are DEVOTED to the Lord?
• If these lists are way out of balance, what should this tell you about whether you a DEVOTED or DISTRACTED?

Engaged couples often struggle with acting improperly toward one another (i.e. staying sexually pure). If this is the case, the couple needs to get married quickly instead of living in sin. If the couple enjoys one another without sexual activity, then the relationship can continue without immediate marriage.

We have already seen that the Christian spouse who is abandoned is free, not bound, and therefore able to marry again. But the believer who is married to the non-believer who stays, is to STAY in the marriage until the spouse dies. After that, they may be remarried, but only in the Lord.

It is God’s will for you to marry a follower of Jesus.

Need Some Help?

• A follower of Jesus, but you don’t know where to start? Ask a mature believer for some help. Check out our Groups on Sunday 10am or Wed Night Guys/Ladies Group 6:30pm. 
• NOT yet a follower of Jesus, and you have questions? Ask us or another real follower of Jesus.

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

discussionquestions

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

1. What challenged or encouraged you most from this teaching? Explain your answer. (You might scan these teaching notes to remind you of what stood out.) 
2. Read 1 Cor 7:35 (our theme verse from this passage). Take a few minutes and LIST the people, events, and practices of your life that consume your time. How much of that demonstrates that you are DEVOTED to the Lord? What are some unnecessary things that DISTRACT you?
3. Today’s teaching covered a lot about marriage, divorce, remarriage, and celibacy. What questions or answers did that prompt for you? 
4. What advice would you give to an unmarried Christian who wants to marry someone who doesn’t follow Jesus? Give some practical ways that a Christian couple (dating, married, or engaged) can keep Jesus in the middle of their relationship?
5. What other questions has this teaching or discussion prompted for us to talk about?
6. Share prayer needs and pray for one another. Pray for our Supreme Court decision on Roe v Wade. Pray for Christians in Ukraine and Russia to carry the message of Jesus with them wherever they go. PRAY that God will greatly use us to impact people who need to follow Jesus. PRAY as we search for our next Student Pastor.