Really good advice here for those who are having disputes with others, as well as for those seeking marriage. Hopefully the two are not connected.
1 Corinthians 7: Principles for Marriage
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.
3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 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.
5 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.
6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.
7 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.
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am.
9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
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.
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Live as You Are Called
17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)
22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.
23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
The Unmarried and the Widowed
25 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.
26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.
29 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,
30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,
31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
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,
34 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.
35 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.
36 If anyone thinks that 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.
37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.
38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Things to think about…
1. Immorality is addressed a lot in 1Corinthians. When Paul says “"It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.", 1Cor 7:1 he means in general, but certainly if one is to have sexual relations, it is only reserved within the sanctity of marriage. Corinth had a culture of prostitution and there was immorality within the church. Sexual immorality was a part of the cultural context of Corinth. Paul says that it is better to get married than burn with lust, 1Cor 7:9. I would agree. Why have long engagements or try before you buy deals. Paul says sexual immorality, I.E sexual relations or living with someone you are not married to is not just harmful to the other person, we also sin against our own bodies when we do, 1Cor 6:18. If two people love Christ and each other- get on with it and get married and stay married. Marriage is a wonderful blessing and our culture has twisted and burdened the importance and blessing of marriage. Marriage under the blessing of Christ cannot be compared with any other earthly relationship. If you know people who are making their minds up on this – show them Paul’s advice. Note here that Paul is only referring to marriage between a man and a woman. The bible knows nothing of ‘same-sex’ marriage.
2. Live as you are called, 1Cor 7:20, but do not become slaves of men, vs 23. Christ has bought us with the price of His blood on the cross. If you want to be a slave – be a slave of Christ and free yourself from other worldly distractions.
3. Paul says “Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that”, 1Cor 7:28. He is speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit of course, but a godly marriage, while Paul is right as it is still under the curse of the fall and Gen 3. It is still however, one of the strongest binders and builders of church and society. Godly marriages are a blessing to both when they are under the blessing and instruction of Christ.
4. What does Paul mean when he says ‘Live as if you had none’, 1Cor 7:29, referring to those who are married with wives? The reality is that our husbands or our wives cannot save us. Sometimes I think people get married and think they can change the other person; this is a tragic lie. The Holy Spirit is the only One who changes anyone in any lasting moral/spiritual sense. Live to honour Christ and your wife or your husband will be blessed as a result.
5. Paul’s final advice on marriage or remaining single, 1Cor 7:36-40. If you want to get married, do so. Are you single? Don’t seek after a husband or a wife. Such seeking is bordering on idol worship if it replaces Christ in your heart. Seek Christ and see what He brings you as the One who loves your soul. As a husband to an amazing wife I agree with Solomon “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the Lord”, Prov 18:22. Amen.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. 6:30pm every Wednesday. 5:30pm prayer.
Young adult Life group – This week – how do we know the bible is God’s word?
Prayer Points
1. Pray for the work we have going on with site development and TMR.
2. Pray for Pastor Ric who had a fall yesterday. He is badly bruised. Pray he is able to preach this Sunday.
3. Keep praying for Anna and the PlaygPatch on Fridays, pray for more families to be reached.
4. Pray for Chaplaincy and Kids Hope at Karalee State School. Training happened this week
5. Pray for peace over the US elections
6. The ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.
7. Church finances to continue to grow and expenses to be more than met.
8. Pray for Kids@Church, Life groups. Young Adults.
9. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Wednesday afternoons, 5:30pm at church. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
10. Pray about the possibility and planning of a Farmers Market at Chuwar Baptist Church once a month on Saturdays. Anastasia taking the lead on this. Pray for us as we plan
11. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Great discussion at LifeGroup How to love our neighbour. Will be approaching tent town today at Kholo to see if we can help out.
2. Praise God for all the work done at the working bee on Saturday. Great effort.
3. Praise God for our Bean Redeemed Café team! Serving you every week
4. Reconciliation beginning in some areas in estranged families
5. Worship team did a great job.
6. Praise God for young people stepping up in a number of ministries.
7. New people helping with Playgroup.
8. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Ron Naylor – Creation Ministries International coming to CBC on the 18th Aug 6pm
2. Members meeting 25th Aug after morning tea.
3. Monday and Wednesday evening prayer at church 5:30-6:30pm
4. Life Group Wednesday 6:30pm at church.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for August...
Q. 23. What is meant by transgression? A. Doing what God forbids.
