Live in a Right Way

His emphasis to the severity of infidelity and sexual immorality is unquestionable— Paul put a lot of weight that he wrote 3 chapters on this subject matter on this letter alone!

He equated sexual immorality to our eternity— the grand completion of our salvation —

MY BODY HAS PARTICIPATION IN THE FINAL STAGE OF MY GLORIFICATION

I WILL RUN AWAY QUICKLY WHEN TEMPTED WITH SEXUAL IMMORALITY

I WILL HONOR GOD WITH MY BODY

The Corinthians had written Paul asking several questions relating the the Christian life. The first question was whether is it good to be married or not

Many people naively think that marriage will solve all their problems. Here are some problems marriage won't solve:

1. loneliness

2. sexual temptation

3. satisfaction of one's deepest emotional needs

4. elimination of life's difficulties

Marriage alone does not hold two people together, but commitment does - commitment to Christ and to each other despite conflicts and problems.

Marriage does not solve every problem— Whether married or single we must be content with out situation and focus on Christ.

Christians in Corinth were surrounded by sexual temptation.— The city had a reputation for sexual immorality and religious prostitution.

This is why Paul delivered his message to the Corinthians - they needed special instructions because of the society/culture they lived in

Sexual temptations are difficult to withstand because they appeal to the normal and natural desires that God has given us.

Marriage provides God's way to satisfy these natural sexual desires and to strengthen the partners against temptation.

Married couples have the responsibility to care for each other; therefore husbands and wives should not withhold themselves sexually from one another— but should fulfill each other's needs and desires.

The Corinthian church was in turmoil because of the immorality of the culture around them.

Some Greeks, in rejecting immorality, rejected sex and marriage altogether— The Corinthian Christians wondered if this was what they should do also, so they asked Paul several questions:

1. Because sex is perverted, shouldn't we also abstain in marriage

2. If my spouse is unsaved, should I seek a divorce

3. Should unmarried people and widows remain unmarried

Paul answered many of these questions by saying "For now stay put. Be content in the situation where God has placed you— If you're married, don't seek to be single— If you're single, don't seek to be married— Live God's way, one day at a time, and He will show you what to do."

1 Corinthians 7:17 (NIV)

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

We’ll try to cover the whole chapter today— because it’s quite long, we will not read the entire chapter but instead, I will lead you to some of the main points of Paul that I will focus on to get the most out of it in the time that we have this morning

BOOK / LOOK: 1 Corinthians 7

Grab your Bible let’s make some markings on them— the first phrase that I’d like you to highlight is on verse 2

BUT SINCE SEXUAL IMMORALITY IS OCCURRING, EACH MAN SHOULD HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH HIS OWN WIFE, AND EACH WOMAN WITH HER OWN HUSBAND

Some female believers may have deprived their husbands of sexual relations— in response, these men sought out prostitutes

Men and women have pledged their bodies to their spouses and thus do not have authority to deny their spouses sexual relations— they may abstain from sexual intercourse through mutual consent to devote themselves to praying and fasting

Depriving each other could lead them into temptation!

In verse 5

SO THAT SATAN WILL NOT TEMP YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR LACK OF SELF-CONTROL

I can rephrase that and say that it is because of our lack of self-control that Satan temps us

Galatians 5:22–24 (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

Paul said that it is good to the unmarried and widows to stay unmarried just like him— but if they cannot control themselves, they should marry for it is better to marry than to burn with passion— Paul considered his ability to remain celibate a gift from God

To the married, Paul invoked what Jesus said— that divorce is not permitted except in case of marital unfaithfulness [infidelity]

Matthew 5:32 (NIV)

32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Paul said these because apparently, there were Christians in Corinth that are married to unbelievers and they might have thought that the unbelieving spouse will defile them, hence they intended to divorce them

Paul explained to them that they are not defiled; instead, it is their unbelieving spouse who were sanctified through the process of knowing a believer— this this does not mean that such spouses receive salvation— salvation is personal— not even our spouse can save us

An exemption to prohibition of divorce is when the unbelieving spouse leaves— Paul said, let it be so!

In verse 17

THIS IS THE RULE I LAY DOWN IN ALL THE CHURCHES

Paul cited circumcision aside from their marital status— many Gentiles despised circumcision and considered it mutilation— this may have cause some Christian Jews in Corinth to feel ashamed about their circumcision and may have sought surgery— but Paul advises such people to remain circumcised

We remember that circumcision is a sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham

Genesis 17:11 (NIV)

11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

The Jews valued circumcision as a sign that they were part of God’s people— but Paul suggests the Spirit replaced circumcision as that sign— therefore, it no longer has any value

Paul emphasizes that believers should seek to obey these commandments over circumcision

Romans 2:29 (NIV)

29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

In verse 20

EACH PERSON SHOULD REMAIN IN THE SITUATION THEY WERE IN WHEN GOD CALLED THEM

I have to confess that I struggled heavily on this verse when I found myself committing sexual immorality while serving in the ministry— most if not all of you knew that part of my testimony was my infidelity

Tell the story about Joyce Puno— I was surrounded by friend Pastors, but they too aren’t able to give me clarification about what Paul really meant when he said these words

I was so confused that I even came here in the States December of 2012 just to talk to my wife to tell her that I am ready to move on with my new life in ministry

It was only after God has turned things around for me, my wife and my family that I finally realized that the word “called” in this verse was from the Greek word “klesis”, same with that on…

1 Corinthians 1:26 (NIV)

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

“Klesis” means called to salvation— not called to ministry service— the Greek word used for called to ministry service is “proskaleo” which means summoned to do something— look!

Acts 13:2 (NIV)

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

It was only then that it dawned on me that my struggle within is a result of taking scriptures out of context— twisting the God’s Word to fit our narrative— and when we do that, it is not just confusing, but also dangerous!

Aside from circumcision and marital status, Paul also covered slavery— during that generation, slavery were part of the society— some believing slaves in Corinth may have been concerned that their social status inhibited [prohibited from doing] them from living for God

Paul argues that if their status did not inhibit God’s call to salvation— it will not inhibit them now that they have the Spirit

Paul also used this metaphor of freedperson to suggest that while believers are free, they still obey the Lord and belong to His household— remember he said previously, “I have the right to do anything— but not everything is beneficial.”

Paul said to remain in the situation when God called them 3 times in this section alone— but he also said particularly about slavery— if they could gain their freedom from their human masters— they must do so

And then Paul redirected his attention to the unmarried— to the singles he said that he has no command from the Lord — Jesus did not teach on this topic during His earthly ministry nor He provide Paul with any specific revelation about it

But he gave judgment in the light of the present crisis [food shortage] at that time

Some Corinthian believers may have advised the virgins within the church community not to marry

He told them them to marry is not a sin— but staying single will allow a Christian like himself [a single] to dedicate and devote himself more to God— his focus is undivided

Paul does not consider marriage sinful, but he does acknowledge that married couples will face difficulties

In verse 28

IF YOU DO MARRY, YOU HAVE NOT SINNED

In verse 29

THE TIME IS SHORT

Paul urges all believers to make the most of their time before Christ returns— Every person should have the sense of urgency about telling the Good News to others

Paul urges the Corinthians not to become consumed by the temporal matters or worldly concerns— they must not allow such things to control their lives — we must live in a right way

Paul told them the reason for saying everything he said here—

1 Corinthians 7:35 (NIV)

35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Paul recognized the tension of attempting to please both spouse and the Lord— Paul hoped that his instruction would free the Corinthians from anxiety— not cause them more of it

How do we live in a right way?

We have to build hedges against adultery, infidelity and sexual immorality

Faithlife Study Bible Building Hedges against Adultery

During the Allied invasion of France in 1944, a lot of fighting was done in areas bordered by hedgerows. Hedgerows were mounds of earth situated along roads and between fields. These mounds, which measured between 4 and 8 feet high and as much as 10 feet thick, were heavily planted with trees and shrubs. During the war, the dense growth made them tough barriers for armies to get through. In addition, areas surrounded by hedgerows could be easily defended by very few troops.

Faithlife Study Bible Building Hedges against Adultery

In the Bible, the word “hedge” is used as a picture of protection. For instance, in Job 1, Satan complains that God has put a hedge around Job and everything he has. With this protection in place, Satan is unable to attack Job. The seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” is God’s way of putting a protective hedge around marriage. This hedge is a strong barrier that is meant to keep the union safe and to keep temptation out.

Job 1:10 (NIV)

10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.

Of course, adultery is not the unpardonable sin, and it can be forgiven— but you prevent adultery by putting hedges around our marriages

How do we live in a right way?

IN UNDIVIDED DEVOTION TO THE LORD

TOOK

I WILL SECURE MY MIND

Faithlife Study Bible Building Hedges against Adultery

You need to put a hedge around your mind. That’s where the battle is fought and where it is either won or lost. Job offered good advice when he said, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl”

Job 31:1 (NIV)

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.

QUESTION: Our mind is like a sponge. It absorbs anything in proximity. What are you surrounding your mind with? How are you securing your mind from being polluted by the wickedness of this world?

I MUST BLOCK OUT TEMPTATION

Faithlife Study Bible Building Hedges against Adultery

Build a hedge against temptation. This is more than just avoiding the magazines, movies, and TV channels that cause you to stumble (not to mention the internet). It also means severing any emotional attachments that threaten your marriage. Maintain appropriate distances in relationships. Flee from temptations

2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

James 4:7 (NIV)

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

QUESTION: We are flooded with temptations, what is your greatest temptation and how do you block it out? Life Group is a safe place to live life together. It is where believers carry each other’s burdens. But your Life Group cannot help you unless you disclose to them what is tempting you. Do you have a problem making your temptations known to your Life Group? If yes, then why?

I SHALL RECOGNIZE MY WEAKNESSES

Faithlife Study Bible Building Hedges against Adultery

Christians often fall into immorality through overconfidence. They leave themselves wide open to an emotional hook—and then a physical hook. Paul cautioned, “Let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

QUESTION: Do you recognize your weaknesses? Your Life Group is your spiritual support group, they can pray for you, they are there to encourage you. Are you comfortable sharing your weaknesses to your Life Group? Yes or No, and why?

And if you’re married!

I HAVE TO PROTECT MY MARRIAGE

Faithlife Study Bible Building Hedges against Adultery

Build a hedge of affection around your marriage. Marriages don’t collapse overnight; they suffer a slow leak. Find ways to help your partner grow and feel satisfied. Try writing a letter telling him or her how you felt the day you got married. Maybe renew your vows in a public ceremony. Commit to meeting each other’s needs—emotional, spiritual, and sexual

1 Corinthians 7:3 (NIV)

3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

QUESTION: What are you doing to protect your marriage? Are you and your wife living for Christ? Are you both serving God in some capacity together? If not, are you looking for opportunities where you can serve the Lord?

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