To Marry or Not to Marry that is the Question - Or is it?

Sermon Notes

1 Corinthians 7:1-8; 25-38

 

 

The view of marriage & singleness & sex in Corinth (and today) …

 

 

The Question Whether we are Married or Single is:

Are we living for the Glory of Jesus Christ in Gospel Love?

 

How the gospel applies to the big questions concerning singleness, marriage and sex:

1. Is marriage a bad thing? … (7:1-2) 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Is sex a bad thing? … (7:3-8) 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  If single how should I determine whether I should get married or not?  … (7:25-38)

 

Notes, Quotes & Scripture References:

“Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”  But because of the temptation of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.  The husband should give to his own wife her conjugal rights and likewise the wife to her husband.  For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does.   Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.  Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Now as a concession, not a command, I say this: I wish that all were as I myself am.  But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am.  But if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry.  For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”     [1 Cor. 7:1-8]

 

 

 

“Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.  I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.  Are you bound to a wife?  Do not seek to be free.  But if you do marry, you have not sinned.  Yet those who marry will have earthly troubles, and I would spare you that.  This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.  From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as thought they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had not goods, and those who deal with the world as thought they had no dealings with it.  For the present form of this world is passing away.

I want you to be free from anxieties.  The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.  But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife and his interests are divided.  And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit.  But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.  I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

If anyone thinks he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry - it is no sin.  But whoever is firmly established in his heart being under not necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, will do well.  So then he who marries his betrothed does well and he who refrains will do even better...”    [1 Cor. 7:25-38]