Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 15
In our message, LIVE AS YOU ARE CALLED (1 Cor. 7:17-40), Paul continued to respond to specific questions asked of him now by the church at Corinth. The first series of questions given to the apostle was on the delicate subject of marriage in an immoral culture (1 Cor. 7:1, 25; 2 Tim. 3:16-17, etc.). Last week the Holy Spirit went back to the creation account, as did Jesus, citing the design and sanctity of marriage (1 Cor. 7:2-7); God then briefly addressed individuals who had never been married before and widows (1 Cor. 7:8-9); He cited the Lord Jesus’ command and high standard for married couples (1 Cor. 7:10-11); and answered the specific question on what to do if a Christian was married to an non-Christian (1 Cor. 7:12-15, *for more information on this- please see last week’s sermon).
Today the Bible emphasizes Jesus’ calling on Christians to LIVE “AS THE LORD HAS CALLED each one,” “remain in the same calling in which [we are] called,” and “remain with God in that state in which [Jesus has] called [us]” (1 Cor. 7:17, 20, 24, caps my emphasis). In other words, “STAY PUT!” If you are single never having been married before and possess the gift of celibacy, remain so (1 Cor. 7:7-9, etc.). If you are married, honor God by keeping your marriage vows by not divorcing… and if you do separate, Jesus commands us to remain single (i.e. not remarry) or be reconciled to our spouse (1 Cor. 7:10-11, Luke 16:18; Mark 10:10-12, etc.). If you have not followed the Lord’s command and remarried, then be faithful in that new marriage for life (Eph. 4:32, 1 Cor. 4:1-2, etc.). If you are married to an unbeliever, stay in that calling (1 Cor. 7:12-14, 16, etc.). If your spouse leaves in that situation then stay single or be reconciled to that person following Jesus’ command again (1 Cor. 7:10-11, 15, Rom. 5:8, etc.).
In this section of Scripture Paul explains some callings cannot be changed like a person who has been circumcised. Obviously, such a person cannot now “become uncircumcised!” (1 Cor. 1:18b). This is also true for someone who is Jewish (i.e. he cannot get rid of the DNA God gave him), the physical sex we are born with, and marriage in God’s eyes which is an indissoluble lifelong covenant made by Him (Matt. 19:6; Mark 10:9, etc.). The Bible explains for God’s child, what matters is “keeping the commandments of God” (1 Cor. 7:10-11, 19b- i.e. being FAITHFUL Eph. 5:18). The Word also shows us here some callings God might change in our lives over time- like the example of slavery from the culture in that day, but in the meantime, we are still called to be faithful where we are at not being “concerned about it.” (1 Cor. 7:21-22, 39, etc.) All things we do (short of sin) in whatever vocation or position we are is to be for His glory and ministry for Him (1 Cor. 7:22; Eph. 1:6, 12, 14; 2:10, etc.). Because we have been “bought at a price,” we should also not be concerned about what people think of us but in serving the Lord alone (1 Cor. 7:23; Gal. 5:1, etc.).
“Now concerning,” shows us Paul was asked a new question at this point from the Corinthian church, but it was also related to marriage (1 Cor. 7:25). The “unmarried” in 1 Corinthians 7:8 included all people who had not yet been married to include those who had fallen into sexual sin in the immoral culture of Corinth who had not yet wed, but here in verse 25 the question is narrower with only “virgins” in view (1 Cor. 7:25). (Note: As mentioned before, sexual sin nor does any other sin constitute a marriage [Gen. 34:1-8; Deut. 22:28-29, etc.]. Marriage is a consensual covenant between one man and one woman for life ordained by God from the beginning of creation [Gen. 2:24; 1 Cor. 7:2; Ex. 22:16-17, etc.]. First Corinthians 7:8-9 addresses all single people who have never been married [as well as widows no longer married through the death of their spouse] while 1 Cor. 7:10-11 addresses all married couples. As Dr. Wiersbe correctly notes on verse 25, “Paul had already addressed a brief word to this group in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9, but in this closing section of the chapter, he went into greater detail.”). But the question in 1 Corinthians 7:25 is even more narrow than just “virgins,” as it was focused specifically on the virgin ladies (not men) of the church in the culture of that time. Should they marry? What if they are getting “past the flower of [their] youth?” (1 Cor. 7:36). This question here also addresses the fathers of these young ladies who in that culture had the authority to decide if, to whom and when their virgin daughter could marry (1 Cor. 7:36-38)
This question, like the one in verse 12, Jesus had not directly addressed in the gospels, so Paul gives his “judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy made trustworthy” (1 Cor. 7:25) emphasizing the gifting he possessed of celibacy but at the same time realizing many do not possess that gift. Even though Paul advocates for celibacy here, he realizes it is also not sin for such young virgin ladies to marry (1 Cor. 7:7, 9; Matt. 19:11, etc.).
Paul argues “because of the present distress… the time [being] short… [and wanting Christians] to be without care… [serving] the Lord without distraction” it is better for these young ladies not to marry and be like he is- celibate for their entire life (1 Cor. 7:26, 27, 32, 35b). People who marry have to be concerned about the needs of their spouse and children which could distract them from serving the Lord wholeheartedly Paul explains- much like Martha was distracted from the “one thing” that was necessary (1 Cor. 7:26-35; Luke 10:38-42, etc.). Paul was saying marriage can, if not handled right, distract us from our devotion to Christ if we value our spouse over God’s Word or put our children in front of what the Bible calls us to do (Matt. 6:33; 1 Cor. 10:14, etc.). But he did not suggest it was impossible for a man or woman to be married and serve God acceptably or that it was sin (1 Cor. 7:28a, 35a, 36, 38, etc.). Marriage also is a good gift from God with multiple purposes to include imaging His love and character to the world he has placed humanity in (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:18; James 1:16-17; Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:2; 2 Cor. 11:2, etc.). This, by the way, is true even for non-Christian couples as this covenant was ordained from the beginning of creation- though such people do not yet know their Creator personally (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12, etc.).
While principles from this question asked can be applied to our culture today to single people thinking of marrying, the people being addressed here are fathers of these virgin daughters who, in that culture, decided whether their girls would marry or not (1 Cor. 7:36-38). “Keep his virgin” in 1 Corinthians 7:37 means to keep his virgin daughter- at home with him- never married, and the statement “behaving improperly toward his virgin” is not like our culture would advocate- a fiancé who cannot control himself- but is addressed to fathers of the virgin daughters who should not keep them from marrying the right Christian man if they DO NOT possess the gift of celibacy as Apostle Paul did (1 Cor. 7:36; Matt. 19:11; 1 Cor. 7:7, etc.). In that culture, it was the father alone who could “give her in marriage” (1 Cor. 7:38). This wording, “give her in marriage” (Grk. ekgamízō) is used in the New Testament never for marrying but for a person giving another away in marriage much like dads do today in a traditional wedding ceremony (i.e. Matt. 22:30; 24:38, etc.). But we can still apply these principles to young Christian people today in our culture who are thinking of marrying. They should always, if they marry, do so “only in the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:39). That is, they should marry ONLY a Christian person in the will of God after His design, timing, and way (2 Cor. 6:14; Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 2:10; 1 Cor. 4:1-2, etc.).
Paul then concludes with “widows” and widowers who are “at liberty to” remarry because their spouse has died (1 Cor. 7:39a; Rom. 7:2-3, etc.). Paul urges them also to consider remaining single in the state they now are in (1 Cor. 7:40), but if they do remarry, it needed to likewise be “only” another Christian person in God’s timing and way (1 Cor. 7:39; Rom. 12:1-2; Matt. 6:33, etc.).