1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
This one little verse says a lot. To begin with this lets us know that our position in society is of little importance to the Lord. Also that no matter what job we are doing, whether it is at a physical job, or working for the Lord we are to do it as if we were doing it for the Lord Himself. Finally it shows us that if we abide in God everyday and continually dwell with Him we will do what He would have us do. We should not seek to be changed or moved from what God has doing unless He says it is time for us to move on to something different. We should start every day asking God what He has for us to do today and then praise Him at the end of the day when we know we have fulfilled His will for us.
1 Corinthians 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
In these next few verses we see that even if we are a servant we are to use it for God just as if we were free. This is not saying that slavery should be approved of but that we can still serve the Lord even if we are. We should not take our freedom lightly, we are free in the Lord but we still have to obey him. There is no better freedom than that of the Lord, just as there is no worse bondage than that sin, from which Christ sets us free. Last we see that we are bought with a price , which is the blood of Jesus, but we are not a slave to any man. Being servants of men is where sin starts in so many ways in the worldly things that happen and where the flesh takes over and enslaves men. Lord help us to reach people that enslave by the world today so they can be free in You.
1 Corinthians 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
Here Paul is clarifying an issue that the Jewish Christians felt the gentiles should abide by and Paul was saying not. Paul needed to clarify the issue by saying that neither was necessary, the idea is that when a Jew became a Christian that he was not to give up his racial and cultural identity in order to appear like a Gentile. The same for a Gentile they were not to become culturally like a Jew. Culture and social order and external ceremony have no bearing on spiritual life because what matters is faith and obedience. Verse 19 continues to say that it does not matter if you are circumcised and become a Christian it is ok and if you are not circumcised and become a Christian it is ok. We are to accept people the way the Lord does because circumcision was a law Jesus fulfilled on the cross. Lastly he states here that if the Lord approved of your calling who is man to question what the has ordained.
1 Corinthians 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
Paul is encouraging the Corinthians here to serve in the capacity that you called into no matter what state you are in. If you are married do not divorce your spouse to serve the Lord but stay together and do it as one. If your are single and God gives you a calling serve Him in that calling as a single person devoting all you have to it. Just serve where you were called, and how you were called. The Corinthians were not happy with there way of life in many areas, marriage, slavery, and some just to use there freedom in Christ to sin. This passage plainly repeats the basic principal that Christians should be willing to accept the marital condition and social situations into which God has placed them and always be content to serve Him there until He leads them elsewhere.
1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
Moses permitted divorce, so that there might be peace in the family. The very fact that two people could not agree in their worship would be a very unsettling factor in a family. If an unbeliever in a relationship cannot tolerate a partners faith then they should divorce to keep peace in the family. The bond of marriage is broken only by death, adultery, or an unbeliever’s leaving. When the bond is broken in any of those ways then a Christian is free to marry another believer. I have always believed that if a person lives a good Christian life around anyone it would have great influence on the non-believer. This is saying to love them with the love of the Lord and live peaceably with them and they will be won over to the Lord by your great devotion to your Lord. Couples who are struggling need to see good Christian couples demonstrating how two should get along with the Lord leading them. Hope to see everyone in church toady to receive the blessings of
1 Corinthians 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
Here in 12 and 13 Paul is saying that if two are married and one is a believer and the other is not then they should stay together. The word teaches we should not be unequally yoked, meaning a believer an a non believer but if they are they should work to stay together and hope the unbeliever becomes a believer. Verse 14 lets us know that because there is one believer in the marriage that there is an umbrella over the family for the blessings of God. This could lead to the unbeliever to come the salvation of Christ. One Christian in a marriage brings grace that spills over on the spouse. The presence of even one Christian parent will protect children from undue spiritual harm and they will receive many blessings, and often that includes salvation.We all probably know of situations like this and we need to pray for these families that the one believer stays strong and God grants the them rest of their family through salvation.
1 Corinthians 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
Paul writing here to the married people is just saying if you are married you should stay married. The couple can work for the Lord while they are married. The word says one can put a thousand demons to flight then two can put ten thousand to flight, so it is beneficial for the two to work together. When this scripture says depart it is the same as divorce and if a spouse leaves then they should remain unmarried or be reconciled to the other spouse. Divorce today is rampant and the Bible says the only cause for divorce is because one spouse is unfaithful. The union of husband and wife is to be a permanent arrangement. As long as they bond as one in Lord they should never have any reason for separation of any kind.
1 Corinthians 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Paul continues here in verse 8 to reassure the single and the widows to remain single. He says this this where they will be able to devote their full attention to serving the Lord and not have any added distractions. He continues in verse 9 to say that if you have a burning desire for the opposite sex you would be better for you to marry than commit an act of a sexual sin and lose you relationship with God and be lost to Satan. It is important that we realize whether we are single or married we should live our lives for Christ everyday. A single person should stay focused on God and not let the distractions of this world pull them in wrong direction. The married couples need to be holding each other up to the standard of living that God laid out for them in His word so they do not stray from the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
Paul is speaking here to those that are going into the ministry. He realizes that he is freer to go and minister because he has no family ties. He chose to be single and Jesus made reference to being single in the book of Matthew 19:12, “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” Then Paul says that he would that all men be like but that each man has a different gift from God. Which ever way a person chooses to go whether it be a single life or marriage they are gifts from God. All believers are not not expected to be single, nor all who were that way to stay single, nor all who were married to act like they are single and try to be celibate.
1 Corinthians 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Paul continues with these two verses in instructing us as husbands and wives as to how we are to treat each other. He first lets us know that we should not be ashamed in the presence of each other, we have become one flesh and and our bodies belong not to one of them, but each belongs totally to the other. Each partner is given the right over the spouse’s body for the satisfaction of the other in the covenant of marriage. Verse 5 is saying that the two should comfort one anther and not refuse the closeness a husband and wife should have. If they have agreed to a period of no personal contact because of a time of pray fasting it is OK, or if there has been a sickness or pregnancy. This abstinence period should not last long though so that one or the other becomes vulnerable to a sinful desire. This is not just a physical togetherness with the husband and wife, but is a bond between them.
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." I John 5:7
