Singleness and Marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-11)

Apostle Paul changes the subject to single life or celibacy. The Scripture never condemns sex because what God made is good. What’s wrong is the abuse of sex like sexual immorality including fornication, adultery, and pornography. Everything God made is good including sex and appetite. However, there are number of things which are eternally wrong. The Scripture says that sexual immorality and idol worship are not right, nor stealing, lying, coveting, murdering, and deceiving. What God made visible is the manifestation of what is unseen. Hunger and thirst are the most powerful drives in humanity. Mankind is still in unrest in findings how to quench hunger and thirst and thus they may fulfill life. Exquisitely sensual pleasure in sexual activities is permitted within the marriage for humanity. It’s given not only for our happiness but also for teaching us that mankind is fundamentally and essentially sexual. Until the mystery of sex is fully made known and understood by God’s teachings and revelations, we don’t understand what we are really.

“Now for the matters you wrote about: ‘It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’ But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:1-3)

The Corinthian Christians asked a few questions to Apostle Paul in a letter sent earlier. The first question they asked the Apostle was about singleness. They asked that it was not good for a man to marry a woman. Sexual relations are permitted only in marriage. It is perfectly right that a man may not have sexual relations with a woman. However, it is unlawful for a man to have sexual relations with a woman outside marriage. It is the Lord’s permission to remain in singleness without marriage. It’s all acceptable to Holy God and nothing wrong with celibacy. Both marriage and celibacy are the gifts of God.

But Paul was dogmatically uncompromising and straight in saying that sexual immorality is wrong. In Corinth, sexual promiscuity was widely acceptable just like in our days. The scriptures are always up-to-date. There were thousands of prophetesses in the Temple of Diana who publicly sold their bodies for prostitutions on the streets in Corinth just like it’s going now on the streets of our cities around the world. We’re living in the sex saturated society just like the first-century Christians. The pressure and temptation for sex is so enormously powerful that many a people succumb to sexual immorality.

So, Paul says that since sexual immorality is occurring each man should marry and sexual relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband. Sexual intercourse and ecstasy within the marriage bound is divinely provided by God. So, Apostle Paul adds that the husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The marital duty includes the sexual relations. That’s the obligation to the married couple.

“The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command.” (1 Corinthians 7:4-6)

Once married, both husband and wife must yield to the partner. No one is in authority over his/her own body in marriage. Marriage is a decision to give himself/herself to the other whether in bed or out. Paul uses a strong language to say that not having sex in marriage is deceitful. But the couple can mutually agree for a time to devote themselves to prayer, abstaining from sex. But only for a time and then come together again. The devil is cunning and crafty in tempting the flesh because of their lack of self-control. Sexual drive is too strong to handle. These periods of abstinence is not commanded and mandated but only advised if both agree.

“I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.” (1 Corinthians 7:7)

Not everyone is gifted in celibacy nor in marriage. Both life is from God. Singleness is perfectly permitted by the divine wisdom of God. There is no ground to think differently about them. It is an acceptable and holy life before God, so they shall be given knowledge and power from heaven to handle the sexual urges. But not everyone is for celibacy any more than for marriage.

“Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” (1 Corinthians 7:8-9)

Single life is simpler in many ways. We’ll see more in this chapter. Paul says that it is good for the unmarried and the widows to stay unmarried. But if they cannot handle the sexual desires they should marry. Marriage is designed to embrace sexual urges. So, it is better to marry than to burn with the passion of sexual desires.

“To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)

God hates divorce, Prophet Malachi says. “The man who hates and divorces his wife," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "does violence to the one he should protect," says the LORD Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.” (Malachi 2:16) So, husband and wife shall not separate. A wife must not separate from her husband and a husband must not divorce his wife. But if a wife separates from her husband, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. What God sees marriage is one inseparable body despite of differences physically and psychologically between the two. Thus, it cannot be separated.

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Matthew 19:6)

Paul did not mention here one condition that the marriage can be separated—infidelity. He omitted it here because our Lord Jesus had already told. “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." (Matthew 19:9) God allows divorce only in case of adultery. What about the law that Moses allowed a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce? Jesus answered, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” (Matthew 19:8) Divorce and separation manifest the hidden pride and stubbornness in man’s heart.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for teaching us truths that both celibacy and marriage come from you as gifts. May we not jump into conclusions by outward differences like celibacy. May we also give thanks to God who blesses our life in full regardless of what life we may choose. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

You’re Not Your Own; You Were Bought at a Price (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

What is man? God has given dominion over everything to man. Man must reign. History proves that mankind has been in unrest, endlessly probing what we really are. For instance, there is a gigantic machine called ‘linear accelerator’ built for colliding two atoms after traveling quite a distance, consuming a tremendous amount of electricity. What’s for? It’s for the scientists to find out the secret of life and of the universe. There will be no end of searching and probing what man is. Some in the church at Corinth say that they have the right to do anything. Paul might have said so when he was in Corinth and they just repeated the rhetoric in the letter written for him.

“‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

What they say is true. "We have the right to do anything." Legally it is perfectly alright to sue other brothers in Christ. They have the right whatever they want to do. God has made man that way in the beginning. God never forces anyone not to practice the right endowed by Him. It’s totally up to man to exercise the given right. God has even permitted to make vows to Him, bargaining with Him. Jacob made a vow to God at Bethel that if God gave him a protection in the journey then the Lord would be his God and the stone he set up would be God’s house (Genesis 28:20-22). Judge Jephthah made a vow that he would sacrifice anything as a burnt offering whatever met him out of the door of his house when he came back in triumph from the battle against enemies  (Judge 11:30-31). It was one of the most foolish and rash bows ever made because it was his only daughter whom he met first at the door. And he had to keep the vow because he made it to God.

Hebrews confirms that man has been made to reign over everything which has fulfilled in Jesus Christ who was crowned with glory and honor and sat at the right hand of God after the suffering and death. “But there is a place where someone has testified: ‘What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.’ In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:6-9)

However, Paul says that not everything is beneficial although God has permitted to do anything. It’s because we in Christ shall not be mastered by anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything is permitted to do for mankind. But to whatever one obeys he is slave of the one he obeys. That’s what Paul is saying that we shall not be enslaved by anything. It’s possible for anyone in Christ to obey the Lord in perfection since they have been delivered by the power of God through the blood of Christ. Paul says pertinently that whoever sins shall not escape of being enslaved by it like alcohol and drug and anger and hatred. “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)

One specific example for abusing the right Paul pinned out here is sexual immorality.

“You say, ‘Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.’ The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” (1 Corinthians 6:13)

It is true what they are saying that God will destroy both stomach and food. However, what they imply is not true. They are saying that since God will eventually destroy the body it doesn’t matter how to use it. It’s a rationalization for abusing the right. The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. The body shall be destroyed just our Lord’s body was destroyed on the cross because of our sins. But that’s not the end of story. All the existence in the physical realm is tied to tell something in the spiritual realm. There is an earthly body and there is also a spiritual body, the resurrection body. “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

 “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

So, God raised Christ crucified and buried by the power of resurrection. “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” (1 Corinthians 6:14)

Our earthly body is made suited for this earthly life in time and space. But the time is coming for us to be suited bodily for eternity. Either living in time or eternity, we ought to live worthy of the calling, offering every part of body to God as a righteous instrument. “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” (Romans 6:12-13) We shall give our eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, and sexual organs to God as the instrument of righteousness.

Although our body will be destroyed and returned to dust, there are things which will survive death and last forever. What are they? They’re the works done in this life. “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) Not everything will be lost even after this earthly life. Whatever part of the body offered as gold, silver, and costly stones will pass through the test of fire to eternity. Anything offered by faith in Christ will last. Anything done in the Spirit will stand forever. However, anything done in the flesh will not pass the test.

Even though our body will perish, why shall we offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, not to sexual immorality?

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:15-17)

We shall never forget that our bodies are members of Christ since we were born again in the Spirit and untied with Him. So then, how can we take members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? May it never be! Whoever unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body. It has been made so in the beginning, saying “The two will become one flesh.” It’s a profound mystery in marriage. Whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit. We cannot feel it nor touch it, but it is true. We died with Christ, were buried with Christ, and rose again from the dead with Christ (Galatians 2:20). This new relationship is found in the marriage between a man and a woman when God instituted it. “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Why is among other many sins sexual immorality singled out, saying “Flee from sexual immorality?” It’s because whoever sins sexually sins against his own body. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit whom we have received from God. We’re God’s inhabitations. We are not our own any longer because we were bought at the price of Christ Jesus. We belong to the Holy God and are His treasured possessions where the Holy Spirit indwells forever. Everything in the body is Lord’s including sexual organs. So, our body is for the Lord and the Lord for our body. Jesus Christ is our living bread and real drink. We’re living by means of Him. That’s the new way of life. Christ did not offer animals but His own body as the sacrifice and offering, burnt offering and sin offering in order to be everything for us. 

“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God.”’ First he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them’—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:5-10)

Once we were the captives to the unrighteousness and wickedness of the devil. But now we’ve been liberated and delivered from the bondage of sin and death through the blood of the Son Jesus Christ and clothed with the righteousness of Holy God. We’ve been made the captives to the righteousness of God in body, soul, and spirit. The door is open for us to obey God and His commandments in perfection both bodily and spiritually. That’s the good news. So, Paul beseeches and urges all saints to honor God with their bodies. Yes, we’ve already been made to reign with Christ in the heavenly realms.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Prayer: Father in heaven, Thank you for accepting our body as it is although you know that it is corrupt and sinful. All part of our body is yours purchased by the price of the Son’s blood. Thank you for making our bodies the members of Christ being united with Him bodily and spiritually. Lord, help us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice whenever and wherever God opens door. In Christ’s name. Amen.