| Introduction In this passage, Paul begins to answer a series of questions that the church at Corinth had sent to him. We don't have the questions themselves, but Paul's answers help us to figure out what they were. They were usually introduced by the formula, "Now concerning…" It seems like these questions were designed, not simply to seek information, but to establish their point of view. In summary, they just wanted Paul to side with their position. Apparently, women in the church who were having struggles with the physical nature of marriage brought the particular questions answered in chapter 7. But the chapter has something for every segment of the church. It provides guidelines for those who are married, were married, wish to be married, and want to be single. I. The First Question Itself, 1. A. What the Corinthians were saying was that a man should not touch a woman sexually – This is something that is true, if we add some qualifiers to it. B. But what they meant by it was that a man and a woman should never have a sexual relationship under any circumstances. II. Paul's Answer, 2. A. Yes, men should not touch women sexually… unless they are married. B. But not everybody is able to live a single life that is not plagued with sexual lust. C. Thus, marriage is there for those who do not have the gift of singleness, which are all who desire to be married and/or who struggle with sexual desire, 2. D. Though marriage is a way to deal with sexual desires, this is not all that it is, 3-4. III. Oneness in Marriage Is Displayed in Selfless Service and Mutual Submission, 3-5. A. Among other things, marriage is a sexual relationship. B. The husband and the wife are to serve each other in this area, 3. C. Both husband and wife are to submit to one another with the purpose of blessing the other person in this aspect of marriage, 4. D. Do you see how the Holy Spirit puts the husband and the wife at the same level in marriage? E. We can also extrapolate from the physical relationship that husbands and wives should be looking for ways to selflessly bless and serve each other in general. IV. The Sexual Relationship between a Husband Must Be Cultivated and Must Be Generally Present, 5-6. A. Paul implies here that it is not ok to just go through long periods of time neglecting this aspect of marriage. B. As a matter of fact, he says that being together physically must be the norm of your marriage. V. It Would Be Better None of Us Struggled, But We Do, 7. A. Here Paul brings things to a biblical balance. B. Being single is a good thing if you have that gift (more later on 32-35). C. Desiring a spouse is also a good thing. D. Being single when you are at a marriageable age and do not have the gift of singleness should be something to work on in God's providence. Conclusion God gives us what is good. He gave us marriage for our good. He meant it to be a union in which two people become one in virtually all aspects of life including the physical. He calls us to have joyful and fulfilled marriages in this area. It is now up to us to take what he has given us and by faith transform our marriages. | |||
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Thursday, February 14, 2013
Marriage - 1 Cor. 7:1-7
