SPRINGCREEK FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Psalm 31:1–8CSB
- House of the Lord
- Graves Into Gardens
- What A Beautiful Name
- The Wonderful Cross
- This morning I would like us to continue looking together at what God says about marriage & singleness.We began our study of 1 Corinthians 7 (last week) by considering the different AUDIENCES to which Paul spoke:I. Christians Married to Christians – (7:1-11)A. You are to be married to only ONE PERSON – (v. 2)B. You are to FULFILL YOUR MUTUAL CONJUGAL RIGHTS – (vv. 3-4)C. The EXCEPTION is for times of FASTING and PRAYER – (vv. 5, 9)D. You are NOT TO DIVORCE for just any reason – (vv. 10-11)II. Christians Married to Non-Christians – (7:12-24)READ TEXT (7:12-24) – PRAY
1 Corinthians 7:12–24 CSB But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. For the unbelieving husband is made holy by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace. Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife. Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches. Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God’s commands is what matters. Let each of you remain in the situation in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people. Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called.In our passage today, Paul deals with a common problem in Corinth: a newly converted Christian married to an unbeliever.· As one partner is converted, this leads to immense, and at times intolerable, strain on both.2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!Imagine what this is like for an unbeliever married to a believer!A Cape Town brain surgeon put it most descriptively: When asked what he found so difficult about his wife’s new-found faith in Christ, he stressed two things: First, she was no longer the person with whom he had originally fallen in love and whom he had decided to marry; Secondly, there was another Man about the house, to whom she was all the time referring her every decision and whom she chose to consult for his advice and instructions. He was no longer the boss in his own house: Jesus gave the orders and set the pace.· Apparently, another problem developed in Corinth: Christian partners looking down on their unconverted spouses.Having recognized the problem at Corinth, Paul stresses the need for PERSEVERANCE; the need for them to NOT GIVE UP…to stay in their marriages, to HANG IN THERE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE – (vv.12-13)!If the unbelieving spouse is “…willing to live with him/her” then DO NOT DIVORCE!Paul then shares THREE REASONS for them to remain married:A. The FACT of SANCTIFICATION – (v.14a)“…made holy”– perfect tense (established in the past and is continuing now). When one is converted to Christ and is born again, the other became ‘sanctified’ in a special way!Apparently, the Corinthians felt the unbelief of the one cancelled out the belief of the other. Paul insists that it is the exact opposite!NOTICE that this sanctification does not equal salvation – (v.16)CALVIN writes: “The godliness of the one does more to “sanctify” the marriage than the ungodliness of the other to make it unclean.”B. The STATUS of the CHILDREN – (v.14b)“unclean” – from akathartia – impure, unclean – used in (Mark 5) to describe the “unclean spirit” in “Legion.”The same root word (hagia – ‘holy’) to describe the children.“What does this verse mean? Are children automatically ‘saved’ or ‘unsaved’ based on the faith of the parents?NO!John 1:12–13 CSB But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.– You cannot receive Christ for your children!DON’T MAKE THIS VERSE TO COMPLEX!“What would be the normal outcome of godless (or unclean) parents?” Godless, or “unclean” children!In my youth, I was an “unclean, impure, unholy” child!There is NO COMPARISON to children growing up in a home where one or both parents are believers in Jesus Christ has a sanctifying influence, or effect on the home.There’s a third reason to remain “unequally yoked…”C. The POSSIBILITY of CONVERSION – (vv.15-16)2 Peter 3:1 CSB Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere understanding by way of reminder,If the unsaved spouse is willing to remain, then hang in there!HOWEVER, if they say, “I’m out of here!” and they “leave” (there is much debate as to whether this means ‘separation’, or ‘divorce’) then the believing husband or wife is “…not bound.”(v.16) seems to trigger a thought in Paul that the PRINCIPLE behind the instruction concerning marriage extends to other aspects of one’s life!(v.17) – What a powerful statement!He is urging us to be content with whatever lot God gives to us, even if the circumstances cause friction and frustration!Paul uses two examples that were HOT BUTTONS of their day:CIRCUMCISION – the great religious barrier - (vv.18-19)SLAVERY – the greatest social barrier - (vv.20-24)When is the POWER of the Gospel seen? When we are strong? When we have all the answers, or have figured all the angles?NO –2 Corinthians 12:7–10 CSB especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.Folks, when you are at the end of the rope, and you have no where else to turn, when you are not sure you possess the strength to continue, GET READY!JESUS SAID – “My strength is made perfect in weakness!”NEXT WEEK: III. Unmarried Christians – (7:25-40) 1 Corinthians 7:12–24CSB
2 Corinthians 5:17CSB
John 1:12–13CSB
2 Peter 3:1CSB
2 Corinthians 12:7–10CSB