Sunday, November 25, 2012

1 Corinthians 7


The seventh chapter is Paul's answer to questions that the Corinthian Church had addressed to him in a letter. It deals primarily with marriage. The biblical mandate that all sexual relations should be within the God-given institution of marriage is a rule that is totally disregarded in our culture.  Paul's says in verse 2 "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband."  Paul even says in verse 9 "But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion."

We can clearly see that there is a sharp line between what God commands in His Word and what the culture of the world holds to be acceptable. The thing we must remember is that without the presence of the Holy Spirit none have a desire nor the ability to do what God commands. The world is continually saying that the divorce rate of Christians and non-Christians are the same. There are also the sexually scandals that rock the Church, as Pastors and other leaders are involved and caught in illicit sexual affairs. What does all this mean? Is God unable to keep His people? what is going on? First of all, all who claim to be Christians are not Christians (read Matthew 7:21-27).  The power of God is available for His people. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that gives us new life. The culture is totally opposed to the things of God. That is absolutely clear from what we read in the Word of God and the opinion and actions of  the culture. We have also seen that the whole world is under the deception of Satan (Revelation 12:9) The culture is promoting Satan and his ways. The Word of God is the Truth.

God's Word is about Eternal Life. He offers that opportunity to all who come to Him. He commands that all who come to Him regard Him as Holy. He does not say to regard Him as unholy, immoral, by claiming to have His Holy Spirit in us and living in sexual immorality. Someone is lying. God's Word is Truth. To live in sexual immorality and claim to be a Christian is a lie. God's Word makes a distinction between living in sin and falling into sin. God's people do sin, and they may become involved in sexual sin, but there is intense repentance over it, there is dread over it, and it comes to an end. There is prayer made to God for help in this area. God does provide. If our hearts are divided between God and the world (culture) The book of James says we are double-minded and we should not expect anything from God. Look at it from God's perspective, we are saying and living as if sin is of more value and importance than He is. That is the way to hell, not the way to heaven, and God says He will spit the luke-warm out of His mouth.

Marriage is the first institution that God created. That is why it has been attacked by Satan, and the world. That is why our country is saying marriage is not between a man and woman as God commanded, but it can be between a man and another man, or between a woman and another woman. That's the way to hell, and not the way to heaven. God's way is the right way, the healthy way. look at all the diseases and problems with sexual immorality.

Marriage presents certain problems as Paul talks about it also has its positive points as well. Most of us can attest to the goodness of the institution of marriage and family. Some of our most happy moments have been involved around these institutions, living in peace and love with parents, children, grandparents. We know in our hearts that the family and marriage are the background of a healthy vibrant godly culture. To head in the direction of evil, and hell just look at those who have had very bad experiences with marriage/family. We live in a fallen world, sin has been here since Adam's fall. That has placed God's judgment and wrath over all of us. Everything is affected by sin, because we all are sinners, everything we are involved in has sinful aspects. God has promised to bring this sinful existence to an end. He has promised that His people will experience a new heaven and a new earth, we will have a changed heart and sin will bothers us no more. The question is do we have the Spirit of God living in us now? and are we evidencing that by the way we live, the desires our hearts yearn for. Stand for the things of Christ and enjoy God on your way to the place He has prepared for those who love Him - leave the world and its opposition to God alone and let it go on its way to the place God has prepared for it.

Blessings!

No comments:

Post a Comment