MAINTAINING GOD’s INTENT For MARRIAGE(& Singleness)-VIII—
1Corinthians 7:1-9
(Making Marriage(& singleness) Worthy of its Creator)
If we are careful to nurture God’s Intent in our marriages, then they will NOT end up ‘on the skids’ as do worldly marriages!
Paul answered the inquiries & clarified the concerns of the Corinthian Christians regarding marriage.
Christians maintain God’s intent/design for marriage.
How do/can Christian couples maintain God’s intent for marriage?
6 focal points for Christians regarding marriage.
There are at least 2 choices in most every decision, & one of those choices is always God!
We have found that Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
1. His DIRECTIVES(:1)
2. His LIMITATIONs(:2)
3. His AFFECTION(:3)
4. His AUTHORITY(:4)
5. His COMMITMENT(:5-6)
6. His GIFTEDNESS(:7)
7. His GOODNESS(:8)
8—Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...WHAT GOD CONSIDERS ‘BETTER’(:9)
Explanation:(:9)
:9—“but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is self-control
It may seem utterly impossible for the “unmarried” or “widowed” to maintain “self-control” in regard to sexual desire. The temptation will continue to resurface. In such a case, it is far “better” to “marry.” To remain unmarried, while having uncontrollable sexual ‘passions’, sets one up for overall failure...It is to ‘stack the deck’ against yourself.
“Let them marry” hints that this is a word for the gathered church as well as for parents:
a.--It is a word for the church in that they should not corporately establish & employ man-driven artificial traditions regarding sexual relationships. Legalism invites frustration thru lack of interaction & ungodly solutions.
b.--This is a word for Christian parents who would suppose they are able to artificially prevent their child(ren) from acting uncontrollably. After all, “foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child”(Prov. 22:15). Yet older ‘children’, in the throes of sexual temptation may have grown beyond any previous means of outward correction. Parents must get creative in their methods.
b. i.--This is especially a word for fathers, as they are answerable to God for what is allowed in the home. They are directed to “let them marry” rather than to hold them back(?for celibacy’s sake?). Such outward restraint is kin to asceticism’s inability to affect an indulgence of the flesh(Col. 2:22-23).
•But what about the age of accountability’?...There is no specific age applicable to all!...Yours individually was & is known by God, NOT by man!...So Christian parents are to work within the confines of mental ability to receive knowledge.
• ‘Asceticism’—“The practice of severe self-discipline & avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.”
Col. 2:20-3:3—“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments & doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, & neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, & your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Outward restraint(penance/self-help) is powerless/useless against inward drive. Flesh is intended to always be met with God’s power & direction.
*The power of the flesh can only be properly met & subdued with the power of God’s loving unmerited grace thru faith in Christ.
*Scripture never denies the existence of sexual urges(or any temptation), but rather encourages & equips us for a godly channeling of those desires(1Cor. 10:13).
1Cor. 10:13—“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Thus it is much “better” to “marry than to” continuously “burn” with sexual passion. “With passion” is an interpretation determined by the circumstantial evidence of the context, as Paul uses no direct wording(Greek) beyond “than to burn.”
The use of “burn”(purow) here means “to be inflamed,” & is best understood as referring to strong passion”...—MNTC
The picture here “of sexual desire as “burning”(:7-9) is commonest in the novels & in Greek erotic poetry.”—BECNT
And so is associated with sexual passion.
“Only in the embrace of one’s husband or wife is it appropriate to find sexual satisfaction.”—Micah Carter in Explore The Bible personal study guide, 1, 2 Corinthians, Spring 2018.
*The long & short of the matter concerning the “unmarried” & “widows” is that it is acceptable for these to marry.
“It is never God’s will for Christians to marry unbelievers(2Cor. 6:14), but neither is it right just to marry the first believer who will say yes.” Someone that is unmarried or a widow “should not simply seek to be married, but should seek a person they can love, trust, & respect.” “The best way to find the right person is to be the right person.”—MNTC
“But”(See :3, 4, 10, 11, 14)—de—Conjunction—1) But, moreover, and, etc.. Strong—a primary particle(adversative or continuative); But, and, etc..
“If”(See :8, 15; :16—“Whether”)—ei—Conjunction—1) If, whether. Strong—a primary particle of conditionality; If, whether, that, etc.
“Cannot”(See :10—“not”)—ou, ouk, OR--ouc—Particle—1) No, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. Strong—a primary word; the absolute negative[compare mh] adverb; No or not.
“Exercise Self-control/Contain/Continency/Have Self-control”—egkrateuomai—Present Deponent(middle/passive) Indicative 3rd Plural—1) To be self-controlled, continent—1a) To exhibit self-government, conduct one's self temperately, 1b) In a figure drawn from athletes, who in preparing themselves for the games abstained from unwholesome food, wine, & sexual indulgence. Strong—middle voice from egkrathv; To exercise self-restraint(in diet & chastity). RWP—To hold oneself in. Used 2X.?From—en—1) In, by, with etc.. Strong—a primary preposition denoting (fixed)position(in place, time or state), & by implication--Instrumentality(medially or constructively), i.e. A relation of rest(intermediate between eiv[into, unto, to, towards, for, among] & ek/ex[out of, from, by, away from]).—&—kratov—1) Force, strength; Power, might; A mighty deed, a work of power; Dominion; Vigor[“great”](literally or figuratively). Kratov is might, relative & manifested power.
“Let...Marry”(See below)—gamew—1Aorist Active Imperative 3rd Plural—1) To lead in marriage, take to wife—1a) To get married, to marry, 1b) To give one's self in marriage; 2) To give a daughter in marriage. Strong—To wed(of either sex). Used 29X.?From—gamov—Nuptials[i.e., relating to marriage or weddings].
“For”—gar—Conjunction—1) For. Strong—a primary particle; properly--Assigning a reason(used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles).
“Better”—kreisson—Adverb Nominative Sing. Neuter—1) Better. Strong—as noun--Better, i.e. Greater advantage. Used 2X.?Neuter of an alternate form of—kreittwn—Comparative of a derivative of—kratov; Stronger, i.e. figuratively--Better, i.e. Nobler.
“Marry”(See above)—gamew—1Aorist Active Infinitive—1) To lead in marriage, take to wife—1a) To get married, to marry, 1b) To give one's self in marriage; 2) To give a daughter in marriage. Strong—To wed(of either sex). Used 29X.?From—gamov—Nuptials[i.e., relating to marriage or weddings].
“Than”—h—Particle—1) Either, or, than. Strong—a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive--Or; comparative--Than.
“Burn”—purow—Present Passive Infinitive—1) To burn with fire, to set on fire, kindle—1a) To be on fire, to burn—1a1) To be incensed, indignant, 1b) Make to glow—1b1) Full of fire, fiery, ignited—1b1a) Of darts filled with inflammable substances & set on fire, 1b2) Melted by fire & purged of dross. Strong—To kindle, i.e. passively--To be ignited, glow(literally), Be refined(by implication), or figuratively--To be inflamed(with anger, grief, lust). Used 6X.?From—pur—Fire.
Argumentation:
1Sam. 15:22-23—the prophet Samuel to king Saul—“Then Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings & sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity & idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”
Heb. 9:11-14—“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater & more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats & calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls & goats & the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Mat. 5:13-20—“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out & trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp & put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, & it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works & glorify your Father in heaven. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven & earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, & teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does & teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes & Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Mat. 5:27-32—“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out & cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off & cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; & whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”
If you divorce for ‘spurious’ flesh-driven reasons, you cause your ‘former’ spouse to “commit adultery.” Thus you have set them up for an unavoidably adulterous situation.
Mat. 11:16-24—“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces & calling to their companions, “& saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’ “For John came neither eating nor drinking, & they say, ‘He has a demon.’ “The Son of Man came eating & drinking, & they say, ‘Look, a glutton & a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors & sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre & Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth & ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre & Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
!Ask God’s people who are here in this place, about what God has done in their lives!
Illustration:
A couple years ago, Duke Energy began installing new ‘main-line’(my term) utility(power) poles in our area along US Hwy. 98/The other power poles seemed to me to be substantial enough, so why replace them?...
•The problem with my opinion regarding those ‘utility(power) poles’ is that it is based on conjecture & appearance only!...
•However, those who are experts, making their living dealing with providing reliable power for millions if not billions of people overall—whose electricity-providing companies have done so for over 100yrs.—they continually update their knowledge & methods of electricity production & carriage...
•Those people who are most experienced & well-versed in it, those experts considered it ‘better’ to replace the existing concrete main-line utility(power) poles!/Amazingly, Duke Energy didn’t even consult with me about my opinion of their utility(power) poles!/But they didn’t need to, because they intrinsically know what’s best for the electric grid overall!
*Likewise, GOD knows what is ‘BETTER’ for your marriage, & for your life in general, whether you have electricity or not!WHAT GOD CONSIDERS ‘BETTER’
Walking Catfish(Clarias batrachus) is an invasive species from Southeast Asia that was introduced to South Florida in the 1960s/The catfish sometimes finds it's itself in temporary bodies of water/As the pond or pool gets smaller & smaller & depleted of food & water for the catfish, it motivates the catfish to leave that drying ‘mudhole’ for a much ‘better’ pond, lake, or stream/They use their pectoral fins to stay upright & wriggle in a snake-like movement to cross dry land, usually during wet weather/They have a special gill structure that allows them to breathe air for short periods of time/Admitted the catfish is making a sideways or horizontal move, while choosing to serve God is a vertical move!/It is a 'better' move to choose the life God offers!/WHAT GOD CONSIDERS ‘BETTER’
Alligators traveling from one spent/food deprived pond to one with plenty food/WHAT GOD CONSIDERS ‘BETTER’
Application:
?Is the focal point of your Marriage upon WHAT GOD CONSIDERS ‘BETTER’?
?Does your Marriage Maintain God’s Intent??
CONCLUSION:
Action:
Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
8. WHAT GOD CONSIDERS ‘BETTER’(:9)
1. His DIRECTIVES(:1)
2. His LIMITATION(:2)
3. His AFFECTION(:3)
4. His AUTHORITY(:4)
5. His COMMITMENT/Attention(:5-6)
6. His GIFTEDNESS(:7)
7. His GOODNESS(:8)
Pt# 8 only! presented 02/09/2020am to:
FBC C’belle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
