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Reflection on 1 Corinthians 7:32-40

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Scripture

I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

Observation

Paul advises the Corinthians with the aim of helping them to be free of the concerns of this life. Unmarried people are free to serve the Lord, but those who are married have to think about earthly concerns and how to please their partner.

If a man thinks that he is unable to control his passions, or that calling off a marriage would be unfair to his fiancee, then he should marry. This is not a sin.

Overall, though, it is better to remain single.

Application

The lordship of Christ affects every part of our life on earth. If Jesus really is Lord, then my life must be completely surrendered to the goal of serving Him.

Even the most intimate, most basic, of human desires has to be surrendered to Christ.

Paul does not lay down binding rules in this passage. He is realistic about the way we are created.

For some people, it will make sense to remain single so that we can devote ourselves entirely to serving the Lord. A single person can be flexible to go anywhere and do anything the Lord requires, without having to worry about their children or their spouse.

Others of us are called to marriage and the sacred vocation of parenting. This has its burdens as well as its joys. There are opportunities for ministry in being a parent that single people may not easily access.

In all things, we must seek God’s kingdom first and trust Him to supply what is needed.

Prayer

Father, I thank you for calling me to be a husband and father. Help me to walk through each day with the awareness that this is your mission for me. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 7:20-31

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Scripture

Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. for this world as we know it will soon pass away.

Observation

We should remain as we were when God called us. If a slave gets a chance to be free they should take it, but they should focus on the fact that they are already free in Christ.

Young women who are not married should not marry because of the present crisis. He does not say this as a command but as wisdom.

The time is short, and we should not focus on the things of this world. if we use the things of the world, we should not be too attached to them as they will soon pass away.

Application

Our age has many exciting goods and distractions to consume us and divert us from God’s purposes.

Phones, computers, cars, and so on are nice and make our lives comfortable, but they will not draw us closer to God.

We become used to our possessions and cannot imagine life without them. When we do that, they become like idols that stand between us and God.

We can likewise turn our career into an idol. The sense of worth and importance that we gain from our work can become more important to us than God’s assessment of our importance.

It is possible that the Lord may call us to give up some of these things that we value in order that we can serve Him better. It may be difficult to let go, but I have discovered Jesus always gives us more than we surrender to Him.

Prayer

Lord, my flesh nature wants to hold onto everything the world offers. Please help me to surrender all things to you. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 7:12-19

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Scripture

Don’t you wives realise that your husbands might be saved because of you? Don’t you husbands realise that your wives might be saved because of you?

Observation

A christian must not leave their unbelieving spouse. A christian husband or wife brings a holiness to their marriage and to their children.

If the unbelieving partner leaves, then let them go.

The christian’s witness in their marriage has the potential to bring their husband or wife to faith in Christ.

Whatever situation we were in when we were saved, we should stay in that condition.

Application

Coming to faith in the Lord is such a radical change in our lifestyle, and our expectations and ambitions in life change so much, that marriage has to be affected.

Often, the change brings conflict and stress as partners have to work out what their marriage looks like.

A new christian might think that they should no longer remain “unequally yoked” to their unbelieving partner. Paul clearly states that if their husband or wife is willing to stay, then christians should not leave their marriage.

It is quite possible that over a period of time, the changes in their partner and their faithfulness to the Lord will win them to Christ.

We sometimes underestimate the power of God to change a person. We also underestimate the power of a life change to convince sceptical partners.

Prayer

Lord I pray for christians who are married to unbelievers. May there steady witness work a miracle of salvation in the heart of their partner. Amen.

Ephesians 5:22

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Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:22 I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:22

“Wives be subject to your husbands as to the Lord.”

A note about Christian marriage

There is nothing in scripture anywhere that justifies domestic violence, coercive control, emotional, physical, or spiritual abuse of a wife by a husband, or vice versa. Any marriage marked by these things is outside of God’s definition of marriage. Anyone subject to abuse should consider leaving the relationship until their safety is assured.

When we consider the relationship between a husband and wife, we must remember set the instructions given in Ephesians 5:22-33 are an expansion of the general command to “ be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ..”

Wives and husbands, therefore, are to be a microcosm of the church more generally. Not only are wives to be subject to their husbands, but husbands are to be subject to their wives. That mutual submission one to the other is exactly what love looks like.

This is not a question of who gets the final say, or who looks after the money, or who does the cooking. They are such trivial issues that are not worth worrying about in this context. Each couple will likely make their own decisions on these kinds of f\matters.

To be subject to one another means that a couple will make decisions together, under the Lord. Listening prayer, reading the Word together, honest and open discussion together, these are the tools that build a relationship.

Before wives submit to their husbands, they must first submit to the Lord. This verse should not be taken to mean “ be subject to your husband as if he is the Lord.” Rather it means, “submit to your husband in the same way that you submit to the Lord.”

Wives submit to the Lord because they know that He loves us and wants the best for us. The Christian life is a journey of faith, growing in understanding of the fact that He can be trusted to care for us in every way .

When wives submit to their husband as to Christ, they do so in the expectation that he loves them and cares for them, that he can be trusted to be faithful .

The more that the couple love each other and surrender to each other, the more it is possible for the wife to submit to the husband.

For a wife to be submissive means that she refuses to be in control of the husband. Many women are influenced by the Jezebel spirit, a demon which seeks to undermine and control. Submission is the opposite attitude of control, and it is the key to overcoming the Jezebel spirit.

Whenever a wife finds herself being controlling or manipulative, she should repent and seek the Lord. When we are subjecting ourselves to one another all forms of manipulation, coercion, and control must be avoided.

Key points in this verse:

  • The biblical pattern of marriage requires couples to love one another and surrender their desire for control
  • Wives need to submit to their husbands as they do to the Lord
  • The Jezebel spirit seeks to undermine and control

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 7:1- 11

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Scripture

But, because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

Observation

It is good to abstain from sexual relations, but because of the immorality of the world in which we live, it is better to be married.

In marriage, husband and wife each give other authority over their own body, and so should be ready to meet the needs of their partner.

Spouses should not deprive their partners of sexual relations, unless it is by mutual agreement for the sake of prayer.

Paul wishes everyone was single as he is, but he recognises that people have different gifts. It is better to remain unmarried if you have the self-control necessary. It is better to marry than burn with lust.

Those who are already married should remain so. If they are separated, they should seek to be reconciled.

Application

Paul says here that the ideal for every Christian would be to remain single. However, not everyone has the spiritual gifting to do this, so for these people it is best to marry.

We live in a world where every kind of sexual perversion is tolerated and encouraged. For the world, sex is always good, and no limitation should be placed on it.

For christians, though, our bodies are holy to the Lord. Our sexual desires, like every physical drive, need to be contained and expressed in a way that is holy and pleasing to the Lord

Marriage of the biblical kind – one man and one woman joined together for life – is the holy expression of sexuality. Marriage is given for the protection and growth of the partners, and for the provision of a loving environment for children.

Sex in the strictly biological sense is about the production of babies. It is a perverse feature of human nature that we have made it an end in itself. In this way, we deny our own humanity.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the gifts of sex and marriage. You have designed us for both of these. Please help me to think rightly about them. Amen

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

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Scripture

You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body.

Observation

We can do anything we like, but not everything is good for us. Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food, but we must not apply that argument to justify sexual immorality. Our bodies were made to honour the Lord.

Our bodies are a part of Christ. To join my body to a prostitute is to join Christ to them.

We are to flee from sexual sin. Sexual sin is a sin against our own body. My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. I do not belong to myself, for I have been bought by God at the price of Christ.

Application

When Jesus died on the cross, He was the price for my sin, and the sin of the whole world. We look at that side of the transaction and gladly accept it.

The other side of the transaction is this: having purchased me from sin, God now owns me. I stopped being a slave to sin, and instead became a slave to God.

My body is no longer my own to do as I wish with it. It is now a temple of the Holy Spirit.

My life belongs to Christ. I am being made holy, that is, set apart for God’s purposes.

Although Paul here is talking about sexual sin, the principle applies to all sin. Everything in my life belongs to God, and I am responsible to give everything to him, to glorify the name of the Lord.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord that you have paid the price for my sin. I yield myself to you, giving my body and my mind to you. Amen

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

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Scripture

Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed, you were made holy, you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.

Observation

Paul is shocked by the Corinthian christians who take their disputes with one another to the secular courts. They should take them to other believers to adjudicate.

We believers will judge the world, and even judge angels. Surely there must be someone in the church who can settle mundane arguments.

Those who do wrong will not enter the Kingdom of God. Adulterers, homosexuals, idolaters and thieves will not inherit God’s kingdom. Some of us were once like that, but we have been cleansed, sanctified and made right with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Application

We were once the outsiders, living lives that were displeasing to the Lord. But we called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He set us free from the bondage of sin.

We were cleansed. The blood of Jesus washed away our sin. The mark of iniquity was washed away.

We were made holy. That means that we were given the ability to live a life of righteousness. It also means that we have been set apart for God’s use. I am no longer my own master; I belong to the Lord.

We have been made right with God. The enmity that existed between us and God has been destroyed. We were once far away from God, but by His free gift, we are now His friends.

Prayer

Hallelujah! What a great salvation you have given to me. Thank you Lord. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

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Scripture

I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worship idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

Observation

Paul had previously warned the Corinthians not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. He clarifies now that this was not about avoiding unbelievers who sin, but about those who claim to be believers but who continue to sin sexually, or are greedy, worship idols, are abusive, drink too much or cheat people.

It isn’t our responsibility to judge outsiders. God will do that. However, it is our responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. We must remove them from fellowship.

Application

We expect sinners to sin. It is the nature of sinners that they will sin. We would have to leave the world altogether to remain separate from such people. But, on the contrary, we should go out of our way to befriend people in order to lead them to Christ.

However, there is a special hardness of heart required to claim to be a follower of Christ, but still live in the old fleshly lifestyle of self- centred sin.

If a person is sinning regularly and consistently, then they are not following the way of Jesus and should not be a part of the fellowship.

There needs to be a process of discipline in the church whereby those who are living in a way that dishonours Christ are firstly shown the right way to live, but if this fails, they are excluded from the church.

This is hard, and needs to be done gently and with sensitivity. The aim must always be to restore to faith a person who has fallen.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you that your love never fails. Even when we sin, you still love us. Please help me to live a life of holy dedication to you. Amen.

Ephesians 5:21

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Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:21 I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:21

“Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

A note about topic headings in the Bible

Many Bible editions divide the text into paragraphs, and often have section headings. These items can be helpful, but we must always remember that they ( with the exception of the titles in the Psalms) are not a part of the divinely Inspired text.

In particular, the section heading at this point in some Bibles, especially the NIV, is very misleading. if there is a division to be made, this verse, verse 21, belongs with verse 22 and not with verse 20

The insertion of a section heading after verse 21 can cause readers to separate the general injunction to be subject to one another from the particular issues of submission in marriage. it is clear that Paul is not intending to give husbands freedom to reign over their wives, yet we make it that impression if we separate v. 21 from vs 22 to 33 .

To be subject (or to submit) to another person is to acknowledge that they have desires, needs, priorities that are different to our own. We recognise this in the workplace where many of us are required to subject ourselves to rules, policies, procedures, and directions. We may not always see why we have to do certain things or to do them in a particular way, but for the sake of a paycheck we submit.

Paul is telling us that in the church we must all submit to one another. This does not mean that the church should not have leaders who can direct the people. As an apostle, Paul was constantly giving advice and direction.

To build up community, a family in which every person is accepted and loved, every member of the family has to be aware of the needs of each other. We all have to be prepared to make compromises, and to pay attention to others.

This is the practical outworking of the command to “love one another.” In loving another person, I prioritise the other in the belief that this will bring them joy. There is no “ quid pro quo” or demand for some form of payment.

To be subject to others means that we place others’ needs above our own, seeking to express love for one another in the practicalities of live together.

For leaders- apostles, elders, pastors, etc- there is a particular responsibility to lead expressly for the sake of those who are the least or the weakest in the kingdom. Jesus told us that leaders must serve and not lord it over their followers (see Luke 22:25-27).

Our submission to one another must be in the right context. People can be subject to leaders or to other people for all kinds of reasons. Paul tells us our submission must be from “ reverence for Christ”.

The Greek word here is phobos which means fear. The concept of fear of Christ or fear of God is often misunderstood. We think of fear as a kind of terror or dread. We fear things or people that have the capacity to destroy us or harm us.

God certainly has the power. He chooses not to destroy us because he loves us. We know that if we choose to rebel against him, He will punish us. We submit to God because His love rules us, and His wrath repels us from sim.

Our holy fear of Christ (or reverence) should direct us to be subject to others in the church. We love others because Christ has commanded it. We submit to others for the same reason. How could we do other than to obey our King?

The church is meant to be a holy community in which all members are connected by love for Christ and for one another. It must never be allowed to become a consumer-driven institution where people come and pay a fee to be entertained or spiritually enlightened.

Because we have all died in Christ, we are in no position to demand anything from others. Our only consistent relationship with others is to submit to one another.

Key points in this verse:

  • Be careful of chapter and section headings in the Bible
  • We are all to look to meet the needs of each other
  • Community grows as we surrender our own desires for the sake of others
  • The church is not a consumer driven institution

Ephesians 5:20

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Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:20 I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:20

“… always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”

We are at all times to give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word for “ give thanks” is eucharisteo, from which we get the word Eucharist, which is used by many churches for Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. Christian worship, in all of its diversity, is thankful. Our songs thank God for what he has done for us in Jesus. Preaching is to always proclaim what is ours in Christ through faith. Holy Communion is an enactment and a remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross.

Our whole lives, every situation, every minute, is meant to be a Eucharist, or Thanksgiving to God. Our lives are a thank offering back to our Creator for His work in redeeming us in Christ.

How can we give thanks “always and for everything”?

The phrase suggests a habit of thanksgiving that permeates all of our life. We wake up thanking God for His presence during the night and the promise of a new day. We eat thanking Him for His provision. We work thanking him for a life of purpose and meaning.

Thanking God at all times means that as we go about our daily lives, we focus on the Lord as well as on what we need to do.

Psychologists tell us that learning to direct our thoughts outwards rather than inwards is an effective antidote for depression. We were created to praise God, and we are prone to mental dis-ease if we try to live contrary to that design.

It is hard to program ourselves towards the habit of thanksgiving. Our busy lives makes that nearly impossible. One way is to set our watch or phone to alert us every hour, and use that as a reminder. Regular scheduled times in our day can be programmed in our thinking to remind us to take a minute to praise the Lord.

Praising God for everything can be a challenge. I can be thankful for my home, my family, my car, my job. Can I be thankful in a pandemic? Can I thank God when my spouse is diagnosed with cancer? Or when my child dies?

We are not expected to thank God for tragedy. These things are a sign of the disorder in creation caused by sin. I have made a practice, in the midst of personal tragedy, to ask the Holy Spirit to show me glimpses of his glory and glimmers of hope. When you do that, even in the dark valley of the shadow of death, there is always light and something to thank God for.

Christians facing persecution, and even death, for their obedience to the Lord, have commented that, in the midst of their suffering they were aware of Christ’s sustaining presence. Nobody willingly encourages opposition, but when it comes, even there there is something to be thankful for.

We are to give thanks in every situation to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not intended as a formula to finish a prayer. It is a recognition that all of this is possible through Christ.

It is Jesus who gives us a different vision of the future. We can give thanks because our hope is rooted in eternity so that all of our affections are not limited to this life and this physical world alone.

We give thanks to God the Father because Jesus paid the price for our sin and reconciled us to the Father. We give thanks through Jesus Christ because He is the gateway to salvation and to the Father. Without Christ our future was bleak and the Lake of Fire was our ultimate destination, but now we thank God for the hope of Heaven.

So our life’s vocation is to learn to always and in all things give thanks to God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key points in this verse:

  • The word for give thanks is Eucharist. All of our corporate worship is about Thanksgiving
  • We need to develop a habit of constant thanksgiving
  • Even in dark times, Christ is our hope and enables us to give thanks
  • Jesus has reconciled us to the Father