1 Corinthians (Written)

Thursday, 24 July 2014

Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 1 Corinthians 7:18

In the previous verse, this was noted: “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk.” In addition to the verses which preceded this thought and which pertained to marriage, Paul now gives other real-life examples of what he means, beginning with circumcision.

To the Jews, circumcision was the sign of the covenant and a sign of being the covenant people. It was first given to Abraham and it was noted at that time that “…the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” Genesis 17:14

Throughout the history of Israel, circumcision continued to be used as a standard by which the faithful were measured. To those Jews or proselytes to Judaism who came to Christ and who were already circumcised, Paul directs, “Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised.”

It might be that some converts to Christ may have been anxious to do away with the badge of their previous life in Judaism and go to a surgeon in an attempt to change what had been previously been marked upon them in this way. Paul says that this shouldn’t be considered. Rather, he is asked to remember that as the Lord called him while circumcised, so let him walk in that circumcision.

And the reciprocal is true as well. He next states, “Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.” For those gentiles who were coming into the faith, Paul now gives the amazing words of release from this ancient rite by stating that their condition, at the time of their calling, was of higher importance than that of the rite of circumcision.

To understand this, it needs to be remembered that we are saved by grace through faith. To attempt to earn God’s favor through circumcision would be to set aside the grace of God in an attempt to be justified by the works of human hands. Paul spends much of the book of Galatians explaining this and calls such attempts out as heresy. And to those who require such things, he notes them as heretics who proclaim “a different gospel, which is not another” (Galatians 1:6, 7). Rather it is something which is accursed.

Life application: Let us again consider Paul’s words “as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk.” Did you have a tattoo when you came to Christ? If so, don’t let someone bully you into thinking that you must have it removed. Did you eat pork before you came to Christ? Don’t let anyone tell you that you must now stop. There are things which should be changed, but they are explained in Scripture. Those things which are not mandated to be changed are things which we are at liberty to keep just as they are.

Heavenly Father, I love the freedom I have in Christ. I was accepted by You by mere faith in His work and His ability to save. I will cling fast to that freedom and always remember that I was saved by grace through faith, and that it was all from You. Help me to continuously remember that I cannot “earn” your favor through any works, nor can I add to it in any way. Instead, I am saved, remain saved, and will never lose that precious salvation – all because of the work of Another, my Lord Jesus! Hallelujah and Amen.

Wednesday, 23 July 2014

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 1 Corinthians 7:17

The words now issued by Paul reach back to cover the preceding 6 verses (10-16) and at the same time they are an introduction to other concepts which Paul will comment on. In verses 10 and 11 came the Lord’s command concerning marriage; that it should not be terminated through divorce. Then in 12 and 13, he noted that the believing spouse was not to depart from an unbelieving spouse and he gave the reason for it in verse 14. After this, he qualified the marriage arrangement by saying that the unbeliever, if he or she wishes to depart from the marriage, should be allowed to depart.

These are the thoughts which are included in the all-encompassing “But God has distributed to each one…” In other words, the position that one is found in when they became a believer was so chosen by God for that time in their lives; it was not unknown to Him and He understands the details and complexities of the situation. Because of this, what He has allowed should remain. Thus, “as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk.”

This phrase means that we are to remain in whatever state we were in when we were “called.” We cannot say, “Because I am now a Christian, God would want me to leave my unbelieving spouse.” Nor can we find any other excuse to be disobedient to His word because we are now “in Christ.” Rather, He selected the path we are on and we are to walk it, regardless of the weight of the load upon our shoulders, because it really is no true weight which we bear alone. Instead it is one which Christ shares with us. From this stepping stone, Paul will continue with this line of reasoning in the verses ahead.

For now though, he shows that what he is telling the Corinthians is not arbitrary or suddenly enacted by him. Rather, the instructions he is giving are consistently applied elsewhere as well. As he says, “And so I ordain in all the churches.” Since the writing of the epistle, and because it is included in the canon of Scripture, it is set and fixed. It is a part of God’s word and thus we are to be obedient to it, just as obedience was expected on these matters from those in Corinth.

Life application: As believers, we can’t use the past as an excuse to get out of our present situation. God has directed our steps which lead to the moment we called on Christ and He did so knowing the baggage that we brought along with us. In His wisdom, He has placed us where we are for His reasons. Let us accept our state with gratitude and work within it as faithful servants of Christ.

I will love You, O Lord, my might
The Lord is my rock and my fortress too
He is my deliverer, through day and night
My God, my strength, Him I will trust all my days through

My shield and the horn of my salvation
My stronghold, it is He
I will call upon the Lord with elation
He is worthy to be praised now and for all eternity

Lord God, I remember the day that my heartstrings were pulled and I met Your Son. It was a moment that I will never forget and it was a time of immense joy and yet sadness. The feelings of sorrow for having walked apart from Him for so long, and in a way which was contrary to You. But the joy was, and still is, exceedingly far greater. All the past was forgiven and the future became certain and clear. Thank You for the day I met my Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, 22 July 2014

For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? 1 Corinthians 7:16

In this verse, Paul certainly returns to the thoughts given in verses 12 and 13 which read –

“But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.”

The reason for a believer not being allowed to depart from a non-believer has especially been given in verse 14 when considering the state of the children. Paul was very careful to note that the children are considered “holy” because of the marriage bond which exists, even if one is an unbeliever. Along with that most important of reasons, Paul gives another reason for the believer to remain with the non-believer, and he does it in the form of two questions:

“For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?”

It very well may be that the non-believing husband or wife may come to salvation through the marriage by observing the conduct and witness of the believer. Our happiness or unhappiness in a marriage is of far less value than the salvation of even one person that we may no longer be in love with. Our lives are called to be witnesses to Christ, even in a marriage which is unsatisfactory.

The verse also confirms that the “sanctified” status of the non-believer which Paul spoke of in verse 14 had nothing to do with salvation, but was rather directed solely to the setting apart of the children as “holy.” Also, Paul is not saying that the husband or wife could actually “save” the non-believer. Only Jesus can do this. He is implying that their actions would lead to Jesus saving them. This should be obvious, but still is worth stating.

Having noted this about the connection to verses 12 and 13, it is also likely that the thought of verse15 is considered in this verse as well. That verse said –

“But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.”

Taking that verse and tying it to verse 16 (our verse being analyzed now), Paul may also be saying that allowing the non-believing spouse to depart is acceptable because there is no way that they could know the outcome of the marriage. If they refused to allow the non-believer to depart as they wished because they were thinking they could “save” the non-believer, it could inevitably lead to strife which is in opposition to the statement that “God has called us to peace.”

So, in all situations, the onus is on the believer to 1) never voluntarily depart from the marriage; 2) to allow the non-believer to stay if they wish; and 3) to allow the non-believer to go if they wish. The free-will choice of the non-believer takes precedence, just as the free-will choice of an individual to accept or reject Jesus as Savior takes precedence. This free-will choice of the non- believer pictures the freedom God has given us in our marriage relationship to Him and shows implicitly that the doctrine of being “regenerated in order to believe” is false. Free-will is granted to humans concerning our relationship with Christ and free-will is granted to the non-believer to stay in the marriage or to depart from it.

Life application: God, through His word, asks us to be willing to sacrifice our own happiness for the sake of our marriage. Our choices, when self-centered, will inevitably turn out bad. But when we are obedient to God’s word, there is a chance that things will turn out for both our happiness and an increase in the kingdom through the conversion of others. Let us adhere to God’s word even if it is contrary to our happiness.

Glorious and wonderful God! How good it is to rise early and hear the light breeze on the leaves. It is marvelous to hear the birds coming to their morning activity, flitting about and singing the songs You have taught them. And the smells of the dawning day are vibrant and alive – flowers opening, coffee brewing, the dew on the grass. The morning is a special time where I can sit back and enjoy being in Your presence in a special way. Thank You for the morning time, O God. Amen.

Monday, 21 July 2014

But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 1 Corinthians 7:15

Jesus had said that the only reason for divorce is adultery. When saying this, He was speaking to the covenant people, Israel, and at a time which was under the law. Paul, now writing to the church for church-age doctrine, has been careful to repeat Jesus’ words and note that they are, in fact, His words. After citing that, he said in verse 12, “But to the rest I, not the Lord, say…”

He then went on to say that a believer cannot leave a non-believing spouse and he gave a very important reason for it. Verse 15 is still a part of Paul’s personal directions and it may seem, at first, contrary to Jesus’ words, but it is not. He is being carried by the Spirit and his words have become a part of God’s word.

“But” begins this verse and it is in contrast to the two previous verses. “If the unbeliever departs, let him depart.” This goes in either direction, whether the unbeliever is a man or a woman, but he uses the masculine for both as will be seen in a moment. Either way, if an unbeliever wants to be out of the marriage, then the believer may let them go. In fact, they probably don’t have any choice in the matter in most countries and cultures anyway. If they want to go and can go, then there is nothing which mandates that they must stay.

Paul then explains this position by saying that “a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases.” We, as believers, have been brought out from the bondage of sin to a new master. To be in a different form of bondage wouldn’t suit our new position and calling, and it could only be detrimental to our walk with the Lord. Therefore, to release the unbeliever is acceptable when they wish to go. And the reason is that “God has called us to peace.”

We are His and we are to live in peace under His authority. If our allegiances are skewed because of a marriage fraught with conflict and trial, then we are not living in the peace which He intends for us. And so in this verse we have the only other reason which is biblically acceptable for dissolving a marriage. Understanding this then, we need to think rationally and carefully about our marriage choices and do our utmost to adhere to the commands of the Bible.

Life application: Let us stand firm on the Bible, even through those issues which may be difficult or even displeasing. We have been called to obey the prescriptive statements made there and it is unwise and inappropriate to pick and choose which ones we will adhere to.

Heavenly Father, again I look at Your word and I see commands which are hard for me to accept at given times of my life. But if I am honestly concerned about pleasing You, I will accept them as written and in the context in which they are given. Those which apply to me directly will be those things which I will determine to do, even if they are hard to meet or unpleasant to me. Your will O God, not mine! Amen.

Sunday, 20 July 2014

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 1 Corinthians 7:14

Paul now states a truth about marriage that affects the children of the marriage. It is a tenet which is so remarkable that this verse should be remembered by every believer. There is a premise in the Bible which is inescapable and which goes all the way back to the fall of man. God created our first father, Adam. At this time, there was a spiritual connection between the man and his God.

However, Adam was given a warning –

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'” Genesis 2:16, 17

The narrative goes on to show that Adam disobeyed God. However, he continued to live until the age of 930 years. This shows us one of two possibilities:

1) Either what God said wasn’t true, or
2) The man did die, spiritually.

The second is correct and it is the premise of the Bible from that point on. Adam became a physical being with a soul, but no “spiritual” connection to God; he died spiritually. What is implied throughout the rest of Scripture is that all men are born into Adam. We are physical beings, with a soul, but no “spiritual” connection to God. We are conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5) and are spiritually dead and thus all are “condemned already” (John 3:18 & Ephesians 2:1, etc).

This is actually confirmed implicitly in the account of Cain and Abel. They brought an offering to the Lord without the Bible noting any offense committed by them before the offering was made. In essence, the implication is that they understood this spiritual disconnect existed in them. And the fact that sin reigned is evident by the actions of Cain who killed his brother. Thus Paul’s words, “all have sinned” confirms that we are born in sin; it is inherited and we are born separate from God; spiritually dead.

Time and again, the Bible uses this concept of being “in” someone to remind us that we are all descendants of Adam by blood and thus we are “in” Adam. This is why there are such meticulous genealogies recorded in both Testaments of the Bible.  It is to show that connection all the way back to Adam who was created by God. When Adam sinned, we therefore sinned “in” Adam. Paul explains this in Romans 5:12 –

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12

Jesus came to repair this spiritual disconnect. Without Him, there is no hope for restoration to God. Only through Him can the breech be repaired. Understanding the rite of circumcision will help us comprehend this. Circumcision was given as a sign to the covenant people. It pictures “cutting away” the inherited sin, because that sin transfers through the father. Thus, by cutting the male organ, the sin is pictured to be “cut away.” As it was only a picture, the covenant people waited for the Messiah who would actually fulfill that picture.

When Jesus came, He was born of a woman (thus He is fully human), but without a human father. He inherited no sin from Adam. His Father being God (thus He is fully God) meant that He was born without sin. Therefore, He was qualified to replace Adam. The four gospels are then given to provide a record of His life. He was born without sin, just as Adam was created without sin. But He still needed to live without sin. The gospels show this to be the case. He lived without sin, prevailed over the law, and He died under the law without sin. Therefore, He prevailed over sin. In Him, sin (and thus spiritual death) is defeated. The Lamb had overcome. So what does this have to do with 1 Corinthians 7:14? Paul says, “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband.” This does not mean that they are “saved” through the unbelieving spouse. But it sanctifies them for a very important reason. And this reason is that, “otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.”

The inherited sin of Adam exists in all people from the moment of conception. We are conceived, born, and live separate from God until the time we call on Christ and are spiritually regenerated (John 3:16, Romans 8, etc). If we never call on Christ, we will die “in Adam” and thus separate from God. But in His great mercy, God has allowed these children of a believer to be regarded as “holy” until the time that they are old enough to choose or reject Christ. Nothing “unclean” can ever enter into God’s presence and, therefore, no child is saved – at any age – without Christ’s covering.

In the case of a Christian family though, these children are set apart. However, if the marriage is dissolved by the believer, this is lost. Therefore, the sanctification of the parents is necessary to provide this set-apart state for the children. Without it, they are no longer set-apart. This may sound like a cruel and uncaring God, but it is exactly the opposite. He allows us free-will. From Adam to us we have made our choices and we must live by them. But He has also offered us His Son and the protections which come through Him. Therefore, what we perceive as uncaring is actually a demonstration of the greatest grace and mercy imaginable!

Life application: Our earthly choices can have spiritual consequences that we don’t even realize unless we study and then adhere to the Bible’s precepts. Let us also never impute “wrongdoing” or a state of “uncaring” to God. Rather, let us exalt Him for His unmerited grace and mercy.

Lord God, Your word shows the most wonderful, caring, and glorious love for Your people. Despite our choices which have separated us from You, You have come and intervened in the affairs of man to make all things right once again. You have sent Jesus to quicken our spirits and to restore us to fellowship with You. Thank You for this great and marvelous Gift of life! Thank You for our Lord Jesus! Amen.