Grace to you, and peace,
Today we continue in our Chapter Memory Study of 1 Corinthians with chapter 7.
The memory passage for this chapter are;
1 Corinthians 7:1-2, 10-11, 32-33 (ESV)
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,
The outline theme for chapter 7 is Correct Marriage Relationships
The first 9 verses deal with the physical relationship of a man and woman. Paul teaches that abstinence is good, but because of the temptation to sexual immorality it is good for people to be married to have the correct context for sexual contact.
Spouses are not to withhold sexual relations from each other except for a time of prayer, and only for a limited time so that they do not open the door for temptation.
Again, in verses 6-9 he says that it is good to be single, but better to be married than full aflame with passion.
Next, Paul spends considerable time (10-24) on the marriage relationship. Neither believing spouse should seek a divorce; whether married to a believer or a non-believer. The benefits to a non-believing spouse who has a believing spouse is great. They are blessed by having someone who loves Christ, prays for the spouse and the family, and who loves the family the way the Christ does. Children also are blessed when there is at least one believing parent. If the unbelieving spouse leaves the marriage, there is no restrictions on the believing spouse to remarry if they choose (although Paul encourages 'each one to remain with God in whatever condition they are; 17, 20, 24, 26)
Verse 25 through verse 38 deal with the status of the unmarried, engaged, or virgin children. Paul starts by saying, again, that it is good to remain as you are for a time; married or unmarried. When persecution comes to us who believe, we must respond with full-hearted devotion to God. Those who are married can be divided in their devotion. When Paul says to 'live as though' you are unmarried it is not license to do whatever you wish and forsake your marital responsibility. Rather, keep your mind and your heart focused fully on pleasing God. We are to be anxious only about the things of the Lord and how to please the Lord.
Verses 36-38 have caused some confusion as to who the 'anyone' is. Many believe that the 'anyone' is the father of a virgin daughter, while others believe that the 'anyone' is a bridegroom. The principles are still very clear; if you can't keep your desires under control and disciplined, marry, for it is no sin. But those who can abstain are better off.
The last two verses deal with widow-hood. Widows are free to remarry, to a believer, if they wish. But Paul still offers that they might be happier not remarrying.
How does this affect my worship?
The principle that Paul states 4 times in this chapter rings true for me in my worship. No matter in what condition I am, my heart must remain steadfastly devoted to the Lord. Whether married or single, rich or poor, sick or well, persecuted or blessed; my heart's desire should be the things of the Lord and how to please the Lord.
How does this affect my discipleship?
I'm guessing that marriage issues will come up once or twice along my journey of discipleship. These principles give very clear guidance to people at any stage of the marriage relationship (or non-relationship if they remain single). Along with the goal of this study, to hide God's Word in my heart, is the goal of studying and remembering principles like these for when questions come up about this very topic. Discipleship may not always be neat and tidy; there may be times of digging through dirt and mud with someone in order to set them on the path of righteousness. I must be prepared.
May you remain, today, in the place God has called you,
Ethan
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
1 Corinthians 6
Grace to you, and peace in our Lord,
1 Corinthians 6 deals with two particular issues; how believers should resolve conflict and how believers should remain pure. The memory passage for chapter 6 is;
1 Corinthians 6:1, 9-10, 18-20 (ESV)
1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
The outline theme is Correct Conflict Resolution and Purity.
The first main theme of 1 Cor 6 is the correct way to handle grievances between believers. Paul lays out a string of questions to challenge the approach that the Cor church was employing. It appears that believers were taking their matters of grievance to the secular courts instead of before the leaders of the church. Paul's challenge is based on the fact that the secular courts have no standing in the church, and that believers are better qualified to give guidance on issues between other believers. "...is no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between brothers..." is an indictment against the church's immaturity related to conflict resolution. Paul writes that if it escalates to the point of requiring the secular court to step in, both sides have already lost.
Paul is not condemning the secular courts altogether (Rom 13), but reminding the church of the correct roles it has to play in the conflict resolution of believers.
This section ends with a contrast of the unrighteous and the righteous. This 'list of sins' is followed by a powerful statement reinforcing the standing of the believer before God as one washed, sanctified and justified.
The second main theme in 1 Cor 6 is the purity of the believer. More specifically the sexual purity of the believer. Paul sharply contradicts the idea that our liberty in Christ and freedom from the eternal punishment of sin somehow condones sexually immoral behavior. "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body" (13b). And because our bodies are 'members of Christ' we should never 'become one flesh' with a prostitute, or any other sexual partner outside of marriage. (15) This is directly contradictory to the institution and relationship God created for men and women. We become one with Christ in Spirit, and become one with a mate in flesh.
Vv 18-20 speak more to our status as believers. We have the Holy Spirit living in us, and are thus His temple. Sexual sins are sins against our own body, which is not even our own anymore since we were bought with the blood of Christ. What do we do? Flee from sexual immorality and glorify God in our bodies.
How does this affect my Worship?
As a worshiper of God, my goal is to give Him all glory and honor and praise. This can not be with just my words or my thoughts; it must be with my body and my actions. James seems to have a few things to say about a faith that does not show fruit. It's the same with worship that does not show fruit. If the 'fruit of my lips' is small, hollow, rotten, or diseased, how can I offer it to God as a sacrifice. A sacrifice must cost something. Costless worship is not our calling as spirit-and-truth worshipers. I am not my own, I was bought with a price, I must glorify God with all that I am.
How does this affect my discipleship?
I have been recently challenged with situations concerning grievances between brothers; and let me say that I don't think I handled them well. If there are two believers who have submitted to Christ in their lives and to the body of Christ in the local church then their disputes, if there would be any, should be addressed by the body of Christ in the local church. If there are Elders or spiritual leaders who have standing in the church, they should be the ones who address these grievances. In a properly functioning body that is committed to intentional disciplemaking and is seeking the unity of the body, 'family matters' should be dealt with in the family. This is a loose association with discipleship in some ways, but a direct result of my own discipleship journey as I encounter situations like this.
May you walk not as your own, but as His,
Ethan
1 Corinthians 6 deals with two particular issues; how believers should resolve conflict and how believers should remain pure. The memory passage for chapter 6 is;
1 Corinthians 6:1, 9-10, 18-20 (ESV)
1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
The outline theme is Correct Conflict Resolution and Purity.
The first main theme of 1 Cor 6 is the correct way to handle grievances between believers. Paul lays out a string of questions to challenge the approach that the Cor church was employing. It appears that believers were taking their matters of grievance to the secular courts instead of before the leaders of the church. Paul's challenge is based on the fact that the secular courts have no standing in the church, and that believers are better qualified to give guidance on issues between other believers. "...is no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between brothers..." is an indictment against the church's immaturity related to conflict resolution. Paul writes that if it escalates to the point of requiring the secular court to step in, both sides have already lost.
Paul is not condemning the secular courts altogether (Rom 13), but reminding the church of the correct roles it has to play in the conflict resolution of believers.
This section ends with a contrast of the unrighteous and the righteous. This 'list of sins' is followed by a powerful statement reinforcing the standing of the believer before God as one washed, sanctified and justified.
The second main theme in 1 Cor 6 is the purity of the believer. More specifically the sexual purity of the believer. Paul sharply contradicts the idea that our liberty in Christ and freedom from the eternal punishment of sin somehow condones sexually immoral behavior. "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body" (13b). And because our bodies are 'members of Christ' we should never 'become one flesh' with a prostitute, or any other sexual partner outside of marriage. (15) This is directly contradictory to the institution and relationship God created for men and women. We become one with Christ in Spirit, and become one with a mate in flesh.
Vv 18-20 speak more to our status as believers. We have the Holy Spirit living in us, and are thus His temple. Sexual sins are sins against our own body, which is not even our own anymore since we were bought with the blood of Christ. What do we do? Flee from sexual immorality and glorify God in our bodies.
How does this affect my Worship?
As a worshiper of God, my goal is to give Him all glory and honor and praise. This can not be with just my words or my thoughts; it must be with my body and my actions. James seems to have a few things to say about a faith that does not show fruit. It's the same with worship that does not show fruit. If the 'fruit of my lips' is small, hollow, rotten, or diseased, how can I offer it to God as a sacrifice. A sacrifice must cost something. Costless worship is not our calling as spirit-and-truth worshipers. I am not my own, I was bought with a price, I must glorify God with all that I am.
How does this affect my discipleship?
I have been recently challenged with situations concerning grievances between brothers; and let me say that I don't think I handled them well. If there are two believers who have submitted to Christ in their lives and to the body of Christ in the local church then their disputes, if there would be any, should be addressed by the body of Christ in the local church. If there are Elders or spiritual leaders who have standing in the church, they should be the ones who address these grievances. In a properly functioning body that is committed to intentional disciplemaking and is seeking the unity of the body, 'family matters' should be dealt with in the family. This is a loose association with discipleship in some ways, but a direct result of my own discipleship journey as I encounter situations like this.
May you walk not as your own, but as His,
Ethan
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