Maintaining Marital Purity (1 Corinthians 7) Part 2 of 2
By Ed Barnes
(Reprinted from The Expository Files http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4051/)
THE MARRIED COUPLE SEEKING DIVORCE
Next, in verses 10-11 Paul addresses the married couple who, for
whatever reason (the exception of adultery is not considered here)
seek to divorce there is a command involved (as opposed to the
"advice" in the previous point). The command is - DO
NOT DIVORCE. Paul recognized that some however, would not live
according to the commandment and for them there are only two options,
remain single or be reconciled to your mate. We may be left with
questions here regarding the sinfulness of the person who goes
ahead and seeks a divorce, but one point is clear, sexual relations
are confined to marriage.
THE BELIEVER SEEKING DIVORCE FROM AN UNBELIEVER
Paul now (verses 12-14) discusses those in mixed marriages (i.e.
a believer married to an unbeliever). This discussion assumes
that New Testament marriage laws pertain to believers as well
as unbelievers. Paul here may be alluding to the possible custom
of first century Greeks to divorce a mate who became a Christian
(Mike Willis. A Commentary on Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.
p 225). Under this scenario the unbeliever may choose to seek
a divorce, but the Christian is commanded not to initiate a divorce
procedure. If the unbeliever is willing to continue living with
a mate who has become a Christian, then the Christian partner
in the marriage should be willing to live peaceably with the unbeliever.
Such an attitude on the part of the Christian would bring blessings
to the union as well as to any children involved.
THE UNBELIEVER SEEKING DIVORCE FROM A BELIEVER
Here (verses 15-16) Paul looks at the other side of the previously
described situation. If the unbeliever does seek a divorce from
a spouse who is a believer, then the believer is not bound to
remain in the marriage. In other words, a believer is not acting
sinfully in being divorced from a mate who is insistent on destroying
the marriage. Paul goes on to say that in this difficult situation
the believer should strive to conduct himself or herself peaceably
in the hope of eventually saving their unbelieving mate.
FOR THE ENGAGED COUPLE
In verses 28 - 38 Paul discusses virgins, and those contemplating
marriage. His advice is the same as before. If you can live without
marriage, it would be better to live a single life under the present
crises, but if you choose to be married, you are not sinning.
FOR THE WIDOW CONSIDERING MARRIAGE
The apostle points out that a widow would be happier if she stays
unmarried, but she is not sinning if she chooses to remarry. The
only condition is that her re-marriage must be to one who is "in
the Lord" i.e. a Christian.
In conclusion, there are two basic lessons within the context
of I Corinthians 7 that our modern culture is badly in need of.
Both lessons concern sexual activity. First of all, there needs
to be more mutual respect and consideration between husband and
wife with regard to their sexual life within the marriage. Paul's
instructions concerning this "sanctified sex" should
be considered more seriously and practiced more consistently.
Secondly, there is no "sanctified sex" outside of marriage
for anyone. Thus Paul's divinely inspired instructions on abstinence
should be taken more seriously also.
Resisting Temptation: Acts 13:36; Gen. 39:7-13 by Wayne Greeson (waynegr@sbcglobal.net)
Men who trap animals in Africa for zoos in America say that one of the hardest animals to catch is the ring-tailed monkey. For the Zulus of that continent, however, it's simple. They've been catching this agile little animal with ease for years. The method the Zulus use is based on knowledge of the animal. Their trap is nothing more than a melon growing on a vine. The seeds of this melon are a favorite of the monkey. Knowing this, the Zulus simply cut a hole in the melon, just large enough for the monkey to insert his hand to reach the seeds inside. The monkey will stick his hand in, grab as many seeds as he can, then start to withdraw it. This he cannot do. His fist is now larger than the hole. The monkey will pull and tug, screech and fight the melon for hours. But he can't get free of the trap unless he gives up the seeds, which he refuses to do. Meanwhile, the Zulus sneak up and nab him.
You Face The Same Temptations Everyone Faces
Every generation faces temptations. "(1) Moreover, brethren,
I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under
the cloud, all passed through the sea, (2) all were baptized into
Moses in the cloud and in the sea, (3) all ate the same spiritual
food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank
of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
(5) But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their
bodies were scattered in the wilderness. (6) Now these things
became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after
evil things as they also lusted. (7) And do not become idolaters
as were some of them. As it is written, 'The people sat down to
eat and drink, and rose up to play.' (8) Nor let us commit sexual
immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand
fell; (9) nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted,
and were destroyed by serpents; (10) nor complain, as some of
them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. (11)
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were
written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have
come" (1 Cor. 10:1-11). Just because you change the packaging
doesn't mean the temptation is different.
Everyone faces the same temptations. "No temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to man " (1 Cor. 10:13). The
temptations you face are the same ones your parents have faced
and still face! This should give you some comfort You are not
the only one being tempted. Others know what you are going through
being tempted. Others can help you get through temptations.
You Must Resist Temptation - How?
Avoid "(14) Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. (15) Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on" (Prov. 4:14-15). On the TV show "Hee Haw," Doc Campbell is confronted by a patient who says he broke his arm in two places. The doc replies, "Well then, stay out of them places!" Stay away from those people and places that would tempt you to sin.
Resist "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (Jas. 4:7). " nor give place to the devil" (Eph. 4:27). "(11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:11-12).
Flee "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness,
faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure
heart" (2 Tim. 2:22). Paul didn't say to flirt with temptation,
play with temptation, see how close you can get to temptation,
he said "Flee." Children grow up with teddy bears and
often figure that since the toys are cuddly, the real things might
also be so. In 1990 two boys scaled the fence at the Bronx Zoo
in New York City and went into the polar bear compound. The next
day they were found dead. Your pet sin can kill!
You Can Overcome Temptation
Some say you can't overcome temptation and sin. "Son,"
ordered a father, "Don't swim in that canal." "OK,
Dad," he answered. But he came home carrying a wet bathing
suit that evening. "Where have you been?" demanded the
father. "Swimming in the canal," answered the boy. "Didn't
I tell you not to swim there?" asked the father. "Yes,
Sir," answered the boy. "Why did you?" he asked.
"Well, Dad," he explained, "I had my bathing suit
with me and I couldn't resist the temptation." "Why
did you take your bathing suit with you?" he questioned.
"So I'd be prepared to swim, in case I was tempted,"
he replied. Too many of us expect to sin and excite sin.
The Lord says you can overcome temptation and sin. "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" (1Cor. 10:13). And he gave
us examples such as Jesus, Daniel & others. One of the greatest
examples in the Bible is a young man about the same age as you
are right now. "(7) And it came to pass after these things
that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said,
"Lie with me." (8) But he refused and said to his master's
wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the
house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. (9) "There
is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything
from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this
great wickedness, and sin against God?" (10) So it was, as
she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie
with her or to be with her. (11) But it happened about this time,
when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the
men of the house was inside, (12) that she caught him by his garment,
saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her
hand, and fled and ran outside. (13) And so it was, when she saw
that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside"
(Gen. 39:7-13).
Don't allow those who are your age to tempt and lure you into
doing things that you will regret not now, for the rest of your
life and even for eternity. If Joseph as a teenager could avoid,
resist and flee temptation and keep himself from sin, then so
can you!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our weekly services are held at 1318 Griffin Road, Leesburg, Florida
34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/~cdillinger/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: Aug. and Sept., Leviticus and Numbers
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our weekly services are held at 1318 Griffin Road, Leesburg,
Florida 34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/~cdillinger/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: Aug. and Sept., Leviticus and Numbers
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of, and
visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly Shores, Leesburg,
Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: dillinc@yahoo.com