Lesson 8. The Gospel: The Basis for Relationships
Day 2
Just like us, the Corinthians wanted to understand how the gospel of Jesus applied to their varied life circumstances, desiring to live and grow in the gospel, so they asked Paul for his guidance. Previously, we saw how the gospel informs sexual intimacy in a believing marriage; today, we will study gospel instruction for the single, widowed, divorced, married, or those married to an unbeliever.
“Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”
1 Corinthians 7:8-16 NIV
Question 1. 1 Corinthians 7:8-16 speaks to every possible relational situation. Consider your own circumstances; what does this passage say to you today?
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We might title this section "living the cross-centered life" because it calls each group of people to die to something or give something up because they have seen the cross and have a burning desire to follow Jesus.
Unmarried and widows are encouraged to remain single, giving up married life to be entirely devoted to serving Christ, choosing to die to the comforts of marriage to minister in Jesus' name without any hindrance.
Married people must not divorce. They must be so focused on the cross that they happily die to the prospects of a "better life" with a new spouse or moving to a single life free from the obligations of marriage.
Believing husbands/wives must not divorce their unbelieving spouses but view the glorious suffering of Jesus for them to such an extent that they die to their desire to be free from the hardship of living with an unbeliever.
Married people abandoned by their unbelieving spouse must die to their desire to keep their marriage. If an unbeliever leaves a believer, the believer is to let them go; they are "not bound" in the marital union.
When we believe the gospel, we have hope that no matter our circumstances, the death of Jesus for our sins and His resurrection power can transform life for us. The single and widowed are comforted and given purpose; the married receive hope and courage, and the abandoned gain dignity and freedom. God knows us and our circumstances and has provided us with what we need through the power of the cross, His Holy Spirit, and the body of Christ.
Ideally, each person would remain as they were when God called them (1 Corinthians 7:20). Being single is ideal for ministry, but there are exceptions:
If a single person burns with sexual desire, they should marry. Scripture does not say that it is better to masturbate than burn but "better to marry than burn."
If a married person is abandoned by their spouse, they are not bound and can remarry.
This chapter expresses the heart of God for the ever-present issues in any church. What is not explicitly stated in this chapter, but conveyed in the broader context of Scripture, is that any person in any of the situations mentioned who “got it wrong,” who went against the revealed will of God, is totally and wholly forgiven through faith in the cross of Christ.
“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses”
Acts 13:38-39 NIV
Question 2. Considering Acts 13:38-39 NIV, are you able to forgive others who got it wrong, just as God does? What does that mean to you?
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