Keeping The Commandments Is Everything (1 Corinthians 7:17-24) Series

We've taken a little break from 1 Corinthians, and after getting back into 1 Corinthians 7, I remember why.

This is a hard chapter. Paul has one argument running through the length of chapter 7. There's a thread, that's woven through its whole length. But the chapter is too long, and too unwieldy, to try to grab it all at once, and teach it all at once. But I didn't want to risk fragmenting it, either. I got stuck, which is why I think I left it.

For this week, I think I'm just going to risk fragmenting it. Let's start today by rereading last week's passage, 1 Corinthians 7:1-16. And then we will push ahead only as far as verse 24. There's something in this passage that addresses a constant concern among Christians--something that I think there's a lot of bad thinking about-- and I'd like to take the time to try to address it.

(1) Now, concerning the things which you wrote, "[it is] good for a man a woman/wife not to touch."

(2) Now, because of sexual immorality, each man his own woman/wife must have,

and each woman/wife her own husband must have.

(3) To his woman/wife the husband his obligation must fulfill.

Now, likewise, also the woman/wife to her husband.

(4) The wife of her own body does not have authority over,

but her husband.

Now, likewise, also the husband of his own body doesn't have authority over,

but his wife.

(5) Do not defraud/deprive one another, except only perhaps by agreement for a time,

in order that you may devote yourselves to prayer,

and (then) again together you should be,

in order that the adversary/Satan may not test you because of your lack of self-control.

(6) Now, this I say as a concession, not as a command.

(7) Now, I wish all men/people could be like even myself,

but each one his own grace/favor/gift he has from God--

on the one hand, one in this way,

on the other hand, one in that way.

(8) Now, I say to the unmarried and to the widows, [it is] good for them if they remain as I am.

(9) Now, if they aren't controlling themselves, they must marry.

For better it is to marry than to be burning.

(10) Now, to the married I command-- not I, but the Lord-- a wife from her husband must not separate.

(11) Now, if indeed she separates, she must remain unmarried

or to her husband be reconciled,

and a husband [his] wife must not divorce.

(12) Now, to the rest I say-- I, not the Lord--

if any brother an unbelieving wife has,

and she agrees/consents to live with him, he must not divorce her,

(13) and a wife, if any has an unbelieving husband,

and he agrees/consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.

For the unbelieving husband is dedicated/sanctified/made holy by his wife,

and the unbelieving wife is dedicated/sanctified/made holy by the brother.

Since otherwise, your children unclean they are.

Now, currently holy they are.

(15) Now, if the unbelieving one separates, let him separate.

The brother or the sister hasn't been enslaved in such cases.

Now, in peace God has called us.

(16) For, how do you know, wife, if your husband you will save?

Or, how do you know, husband, if your wife you will save?

So, up to this point, Paul has been talking about "touching," mostly within the context of singleness, marriage, and divorce. We have married people in Corinth wondering if they should divorce. We have married people wondering if "touching" is unnecessary. And we have single people who are wondering if they should marry. These questions are some of life's biggest, right? Do I marry? Do I stay single? Do I divorce my spouse, if they aren't a believer, and life is hard?

Paul's response to these questions, is based on three underlying, guiding principles.

The first is that sexual immorality is a terrible sin.

Sexual immorality will keep you from inheriting God's kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). It will separate you from Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:15). Whatever decision you make about marriage and singleness has to start from an understanding of the dangers of sexual immorality.

The second guiding idea underneath all of this is this: God has given some people the grace of marriage, while to others he has given the grace of singleness (1 Corinthians 7:7). And people who resist the grace of marriage, when that's how God has made them, are miserable. They burn with desire; they find themselves ensnared in sexual immorality.

The third guiding idea is that marriage creates a bond between one man and one woman that should not be undone, as long as both of you live. Marriage is for life. The only exception to this, is if your spouse isn't a believer-- they didn't convert with you, when you did-- and your spouse wants out of the marriage.