1 Corinthians 7:1-16

 1 Corinthians 7:1-16

The lax moral culture of Corinth and the Corinthian Church crept into the church's understanding of marriage and the Christian’s life. Sexual promiscuity and divorce were common in Corinth. Strange religions taught strange doctrines about sexual conduct and produced a lack of self-control. The Corinthians were so confused that they actually wrote to Paul to ask for advice.

Since marriage is a picture of the Trinity, this is no small matter but needs to be given serious and continuous thought and meditation. It is not possible to address all the issues of marriage Paul teaches in this passage, but we can address some key and foundational principles. In the same way that the persons of the Trinity live to bring joy and glory to the others, so a husband and a wife need to make their focus and marriage to bring joy and honor to their spouse. The provision for love and mutual support is not an actuarial expression of marriage but the core of what marriage is about. A couple in which one partner has become a believer and the other is not, the believer is still bound to that union. The unbelief of one does not corrupt the faith of the believer. In fact, the faith of the disciple sanctifies the marriage. Believers ought not to initiate separation; in fact, they ought to stay married in the hope of the salvation of their unbelieving spouse.

As we might expect in Corinth, there were sexual hang-ups, which apparently led in some cases to the denial of conjugal contact. Both partners ought to, in mutual submission, gratify the wishes of their spouse. Aside from the positive benefits, this shared love will help prevent sexual sin. It is not a cure for all sexual issues, but it provides a legitimate expression of sexual passions. There are some, we might say a rare few, who have been given the gift of celibacy. Like all gifts, it is not to be presumed but accepted and used for God's glory.

Within the context of marriage is an openness and intensity that ought to remain beyond the observation or review of an outsider. There is both radical restrictiveness, one man plus one woman for one lifetime only, and free openness. Inside this restriction, a husband and wife are free. There is no place for coercion or demanding, but there is limitless space to freely serve and give. It is a picture of our discipleship to Christ, and that as we die to self and live for the other, we find the richest, fullest, and greatest life.

“Lord, thank You for the joy and gift of our sexuality and marriage. AMEN”