Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• A long passage - will likely be split over two weeks
• Paul is responding to questions asked of him
• They have other questions - 8:1
• The Church have written a letter with various questions to the Apostle Paul
• Reading 1 Cor 7:1-16
• The Book of Corinthians is very practical
• The Corinthians were living in a very pagan society
• Last week we saw a warning against temple prostitution
• Another sexual area - marriage, singleness and divorce
• Paul answers a number of questions - examples
• There are other passages that give advice - Matthew
• This passage asks many but not all questions
• It gives us good principles - though it does not address every case
• We must take passages in their context
• Personal example
• However, Paul was giving advice in the context of persecution - 1 Cor 7:26
• Marriage is not to be forbidden
• We are not to pit singleness against marriage
• Singleness, Marriage and Sexual Intimacy (v1-9)
• Marriage and Divorce (v10-16)

Singleness, Marriage and Sexual Intimacy (v1-9)

• Singleness - "It is good for a man not to touch a woman" (v1) - this means sexual intimacy
• It would seem that God is saying that it is a good thing to be celibate
• Jesus, John the Baptist, Martha, Mary and Lazarus - were all single and not incomplete
• What does the Church teach about singleness?
• There are more women than men
• You are called to marry in the Lord
• To address society's viewpoint
• Marriage - It is better to marry than burn with passion (v9)
• It is better to marry that allow your sexual drive to overtake you
• Some people have a gift of singleness
• Personal example
• What do you do for those who want to marry but cannot find a partner?
• Marriage is a partnership - Gen 18
• Most people don't have the gift for singleness
• Is for procreation, pleasure and purity
• Marriage and singleness are a gift from God
• The Bible teaches monogamy
• 1 Cor 7:39
• 1 Cor 7:2
• Sexual Intimacy - Frank and radical advice that was counter cultural (v3-4)
• It is the responsibility of the husband to give affection (and vice versa)
• There is equality
• Neither has responsibility of their own bodies
• This is a glad principle for a loving relationship
• There are questions around this - examples
• Sexual intimacy is given by God
• Do not defraud each other (v5)
• Is this just Paul speaking? (v6)
• Paul writes the commandments of the Lord - 1 Cor 14:37
• These are principles given by God through the Holy Spirit for the good of God's people
• To each their own gift (v7)

Closing Remarks

• We will pause there and continue next week - some thought and questions
• Example of Missionaries - Amy Carmichael
• In the Roman world there 10 men to 8 women - today there are more Christian women than men
• Other passages help us:
• Phil 2 - consider other peoples needs before our own