Epistles (written)

Friday, 1 August 2014

I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is:1 Corinthians 7:26

A portion of the words in today’s verse are probably either a direct quote from the letter he had received (verse 7:1), or are the same basic substance of what was asked. There was obviously a “present distress” which afflicted those in Corinth. Possibly the entire population, or Christians in general, were affected by this distress which might have made getting married a difficult proposition at that time. Some believe it was a time of general famine and deprivation (see Acts 11:28). Others believe it was from the persecution of Christians by Nero which was coming around that time. Whatever is being spoken of, they had probably asked Paul, “Don’t you think that it is good, because of the present distress, for a man to remain as he is?”

His response then would follow their words – “Yes, I suppose therefore…” Having said this, there is nothing to suggest that this was anything other than a temporary arrangement and not the standard for all times. In other words, Paul is not promoting monasticism. Were there a massive famine in the world today, his words would still ring true. Why would someone want to get involved in a marriage, which is a time of expected happiness and family growth, when neither of those could be expected because of the difficult circumstances? Should things get worse, only sadness and death would result. This isn’t what one would expect for a marriage!

Likewise, if it were a time of war or major persecution, would it be wise to get married and spend those moments of life together fleeing, hiding, and possibly dying? No. Rather it is better to get through such a major calamity without the additional burdens and heartaches which may come from a marriage.

Having noted this, the next few verses will show that even if staying single is a wise choice during such a time of deprivation or hardship, remaining married is expected for those who are already married. Paul is covering each contingency in order and ensuring that proper biblical and Christ-honoring standards will be upheld at all times.

Life application: The context of life around us is an important guide in making big decisions about the future. Would it be wise to invest in a construction company when the housing market had collapsed? Would it be wise to buy land for a farm during a cycle of severe famine? Likewise, is it wise to consider getting married in a time when one cannot provide for a spouse and family those things that they need to remain healthy and content? Just as ensuring proper context when reading the Bible is necessary, so is considering context when evaluating the world in which we live concerning major decisions about the future.

Most gracious heavenly Father, I would ask that You direct my steps according to Your infinite knowledge. I cannot see the future before it unfolds, but You can. And so, should there be obstacles or hindrances to a sound walk with You and a content life for me in the time ahead, grant me the ability to make decisions now which will allow me to honor You through them. Guide me for the sake of Your glory and honor. Amen.

Thursday, 31 July 2014

Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 7:25

Based on the opening words “Now concerning virgins,” we can infer that this begins another section of answers to questions addressed to Paul by those in Corinth. This is based on his opening line of chapter 7, which said “Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me…” The question which begins in verse 25 is about virgins. What is it that a family with young virgin daughters who are coming of age should do with them? Should they keep them in an unmarried state? Should they allow them to be married? And so forth.

His response begins with, “I have no commandment from the Lord.” There is nothing that was spoken about concerning this issue by the Lord during His earthly ministry, nor did Paul receive anything specific from Him during his time of direct instruction from Him. He is careful to note this so that his words are not intended to be taken as such. Instead, he is giving his personal opinion on the matter for their consideration. Because of this he says, “yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.”

In other words, the Lord demonstrated confidence in Paul to reason out an issue and to make a right, sound judgment on it. What he writes has the full force and authority of that bestowed upon him by the Lord. Being considered “trustworthy” also implies that he will render a judgment which has no self-seeking motivations or biases, but rather will be with the intent of bringing glory to Christ and also building up those who receive his instruction.

Life application: Paul wrote his letters to the Corinthians who received them and kept them for sound counsel. Eventually, these letters became a part of the Bible. They are the inspired words of God, spoken through Paul, as doctrine for the church age. Let us consider them with that in mind, never deviating from the precepts he has laid down under this state of inspiration.

Lord, help me to stand fast on Your word, even when tested by those who “pick and choose” what they want to accept from it. Help my doctrine to be pure and my understanding of Your word to be kept in proper context and with the intent that You have given. Be with me in this, because so many refuse to submit to its precepts and it takes fortitude to stand up and proclaim what is correct and right. Without Your hand of help, it is a battle which seems overwhelming. So be with me in this daily fight. Amen.

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. 1 Corinthians 7:24

This verse is somewhat of a repeat from verse 17 and it covers the entire thought from verses 17-23. In essence, Paul is saying that whatever state one was called in is acceptable and that there is nothing wrong with remaining in that condition. Whether one is married or single, a slave or a master, or whether they are circumcised or uncircumcised, there is nothing in the Christian faith which they have accepted that would ask them to change that state.

In this thought though, there is nothing which condones a lifestyle which is contrary to the Christian message. In other words, if someone’s lifestyle was contrary to what is expected of a Christian, that is not included in Paul’s word here. Only those things which are neutral, or those things which are set aside in Christ (such as circumcision) fall within the parameters of these words. We are not granted license to continue in the life of sin which we were engaged in when we called on Jesus.

We are to conduct our walk side by side with the Lord and in harmony with His expectations, but not fearing that we must change our state now that we are in Christ.

Life application: Let us walk confidently with Christ, knowing that He has accepted us in the state in which He called us. If we are poor and drive an old car, we are just as acceptable to Him as if we were loaded with money and had a large house and many possessions. What we possess is not what is important. Our faith in Him and our adherence to His word, however, is worth much in His sight.

Heavenly Father, I feel so blessed just to be allowed to come into Your presence knowing that You hear my prayers. Thank You for access to Your throne of grace which I have because of the shed blood of Christ. Today, my prayer is one of thanks, gratitude, and praise. Be exalted, O God, in my life and in the lives of all Your saints. Amen.

Tuesday, 29 July 2014

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23

This verse isn’t saying what may initially come to mind when it is read. What it sounds like is that because we were bought at a price, meaning the finished work of Jesus which included His cross, that we are now His and so we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be sold into literal slavery as bondservants of another. However, this is not what is being referred to.

Rather, the idea of being a slave that Paul is speaking of would be yielding to unnecessary rites and customs which a false teacher or non-believer might impose on them. As slaves of Christ, we are under His ultimate authority. We have been granted grace and are freed from the constraints of both the law and of the world around us. We are to live as slaves to Him. If we were to allow ourselves to fall back under the law, or to be swayed by those who reject or manipulate the gospel, we would be brought into a form of slavery from which we had been bought from.

Paul explains this in a concise statement found in Ephesians 4:14 where he says that “we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” If we fall into their trap, we are making ourselves a slave to a far lesser authority than Christ who redeemed us. The Pulpit commentary gives an excellent explanation of this verse when they say the following:

“There is a grand play of words in the advice to them not to become slaves, at the very moment when he is advising them to continue in slavery. In that which the world called “slavery” the Christian slave might enjoy absolute liberty. The price which a master paid for them was but an unmeaning shadow; they had been bought once and eternally by an infinitely nobler price, and that purchase was the pledge of absolute emancipation.”

Again, the words of Paul in Galatians 5:1 give another beautiful rendering of the thought he is making when he says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” The “yoke of bondage” which makes us “slaves of men” is speaking on a spiritual not a physical level.

Life application: The greatest freedom we can ever possess is to be found as a slave of Christ. To enjoy the fullness of this freedom, we must read, learn, and apply the Bible to our lives. If we don’t do this, but rather trust in the doctrines of men, then we are putting ourselves back into bondage, even if we think we are following a path of freedom and ease. Read your Bible, keep its precepts in context, and apply them to your life. In doing this, you will truly experience the fullness of the life that Christ desires for you during this earthly existence.

Let us no longer be children
Tossed to and fro and carried about
With every wind of doctrine
By the trickery of men who rave and shout

In the cunning craftiness of their deceitful plotting
Let us their wayward tricks be a’spotting

And let us speak the truth in love
That we may grow up in all things into Him
Who is the head—Christ, our Lord above
Let us in His doctrine immerse ourselves and swim

Let our walk be acceptable in His sight
Let us always follow the noble path, the one just and right

Yes, Lord! It is my prayer today that I would be grounded in Your word and kept from the bondage of those who would twist it in a way that would keep me from a sound and joyous walk with You. In Your word is freedom, wholeness, and the path for right living. So fill me with proper understanding and then the desire to apply that to my every step. Amen.

Monday, 28 July 2014

For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 1 Corinthians 7:22

In the previous verse, Paul said, “Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it…” That may seem uncaring about the plight of the slave unless one understands the freedom of those in Christ, even if they are in bondage to another human. In an exchange with the Jews of His time we read these words between Jesus and them in John 8 –

“‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ ³³ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?'” ³⁴ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.'” John 8:31-36

The premise of the Bible is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because we are in our father, Adam, we inherited his sin. Further we eventually come to the age where we commit our own sin on top of the inherited sin in our lives. Because of this, we are in bondage to the devil, and he is a cruel and harsh taskmaster. But once in Christ, we have become free of the devil’s power. Thus, “he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman.”

Regardless of the burden of being bound to a human master, it is nothing in comparison to the freedom that is found in Christ. The earthly master may have temporary say over the earthly existence of the believer, but Christ has eternally set those in Him free from a much greater bondage. Building on that, Paul then says, “Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.” In other words, we are all slaves in some way. Nobody is truly free to act in complete independence.

Therefore, in Christ the slave and the one who is free are actually on the same spiritual level. We are bound to His laws and the freedom that we have in Him is equally shared regardless of our fleeting time on earth. In this then, a sense of complete contentment should be shared by all. In Christ, we have all been freed from the power of Satan and we all are slaves of the One who created us, redeemed us, and has complete and eternal control over the endless future which lies before us.

Life application: If you feel the weight of day to day trudge and toil because of your work or because of those who are appointed over you in some way or another, let that not overly displease you. Rather, if you are in Christ, you are the freest of all beings. Whatever temporary displeasures you face will be erased for all eternity when you are glorified at His return.

Heavenly Father, I long for the day when Jesus returns for His people. The thought of no more grief, pain, toil, or sleepless nights is a wonderful hope which I can almost taste. Moment by moment I wait in antici…….pation for that wondrous sound when the trumpet blows and we are gathered to be with Him. May that fantastic moment be soon. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.