Latest / Journey Elgin / Journey Through Scripture- 1 Cor 7-10
Transcript
- Phillip Thomas: It's good to see you today. My name is Phil Thomas, Pastor of Journey here in Elgin, Texas. This is our journey through scripture. We are in First Corinthians. ⁓ today we're going to look at Corinthians, ⁓ First Corinthians 7 through 10. So 7 through 10. ⁓ and if you remember, we're going in a chronological order. ⁓ we are ⁓ in the the time of the early church. ⁓ Paul has gone on a couple of different missionary journeys. and ⁓ and now he continues to communicate with those churches that he started and ⁓ Corinth was one of them. And as we get into this part of ⁓ chapter seven, you can tell that ⁓ Paul has received visitors from Corinth and and they have given him an update on what's going on and so he's addressing some problems, he's addressing some concerns. ⁓ and there there's likely kind of a list of items and so ⁓ Chapter 7 through 15 of 1 Corinthians kind of hit different items. And so we're going to hit two of those items today. ⁓ starting in ⁓ chapter 7 says, now concerning the things of which you wrote to me. All right. So obviously there's a letter that he's been presented. ⁓ the first one deals, ⁓ it's in chapters chapter seven mainly. ⁓ it deals ⁓ with Christian marriage and sexual practice. If you just start reading there in chapter seven, you'll see ⁓ what ⁓ what Paul talks about and ⁓ he says it is good for a man not to touch a woman, nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and lead each w woman have her own husband. Okay. So he's dealing with a culture that is hypersexualized, ⁓ has lots of there's lots of problems from it, so he's pushing back against that, but he's affirming ⁓ sexuality between a mar a married ⁓ couple. ⁓ but he's kind of acknowledging, man, th look at what what is happening throughout society, this is a big big problem. This needs to be limited to a man and a woman ⁓ who are married together. ⁓ he said, let the husband render to his wife affection do her, likewise the wife to her husband. ⁓ it says continue on. Chapter ⁓ verse five, do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer and come together again so ⁓ so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁓ so basically saying, ⁓ listen, you you need to maintain this relationship and and ⁓ sex is a b important part of it. So don't deny each other that. ⁓ lest Satan is able to use that ⁓ to break up that marriage. I mean, how often have we seen that? If if that spark goes out of a marriage, ⁓ many times people will seek that elsewhere and will commit adultery. And then what does that do? It destroys the marriage. Right? So he's ⁓ he's talking about how important it is that that be part of ⁓ your marriage. he says, Verse eight. And this is kinda interesting. Paul has a di different perspective. He says, But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am. But if they cannot exercise self control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. so it's interesting how Paul, of course, Paul being single, ⁓ he's like, Well be like I am, where you can just focus on serving God. but he's not criticizing a marriage and sex within marriage. ⁓ but it again, know what he's responding to. He's responding to a hypersexualized culture and seeing all the problems that that brings. ⁓ and so he's saying you have to be careful. And if you cannot control yourself, you need to be married. It needs to be within marriage. and ⁓ because we can we see so many other problems flow from that. ⁓ and it goes into keeping your marriage vows. ⁓ verse eleven says, But even if she does not depart, or verse ten, now to the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, a wife is not to depart from her husband, but even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and a husband is not to divorce his wife. Again, it's just saying listen, divorce should be the a avoided at all cost, right? The That it is something that destroys families. It does it's it it brings so much negativity ⁓ into the ⁓ fabric of a society. ⁓ it is something that we should strive to avoid. ⁓ and this is of course ⁓ very interesting. It says a husband is not to divorce his wife. I mean it you know, many times husbands were given a lot of leeway if they just wanted to divorce for any reason, they could. ⁓ and Paul is pushing back on that. Says, continue, continues on, ⁓ talks about being married to someone who is not a believer. So what would have been happening is you'd have a couple. ⁓ there in Corinth. ⁓ one would come to know Christ, the other wouldn't. So they're asking, can do we have to stay with that person? And Paul encourages them to stay, right? He says, Go and be an influence on your wife or on your husband. Maybe God will use them use you to bring them to Christ. So he says, No, that's not an excuse just to get married. ⁓ but then he does say in verse fifteen, but if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. Or how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? So what is it? It says if the unbeliever, the one who hadn't converted, says, You know what? I'm leaving you and unless you renounce your newfound faith. ⁓ Paul says you let them go and you're no longer under that, and you are free to marry again. ⁓ talks about living as you are called, ⁓ understanding that where when God calls you, you start living for him right then and there. Your life has changed, ⁓ but it doesn't necessarily mean your circumstances have changed. Continue living ⁓ for him. ⁓ verse 19, circumcision is nothing. ⁓ uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Right? So he's saying don't don't worry about all the the other ⁓ cosmetic things, the the superficial things. ⁓ things. He says, Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. You were brought bought at a price. Do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. So again, in that day and time you had lots of people who were enslaved, ba it was basically indentured servant servitude. and it says ⁓ even if you have received me, you you may have to stay in that earthly condition, but know that you are free in me, that you are free in Christ. and ⁓ I think that's a a good perspective ⁓ to have to make sure we know that we are free in Christ no matter what is is our circumstances may be ⁓ here on earth. ⁓ he talks about the unmarried ⁓ the unmarried and widows. He he again kind of says, you know, may it may be better for you to stay that way, but if you can't, then you know, go and and be married. ⁓ then we get to ⁓ let's see, chapter eight. ⁓ chapter eight ⁓ is talking about ⁓ idols and and elevating things ⁓ above God and especially in that culture there were lots of pagan practices that worshipped idols and specifically would ⁓ sacrifice meat and ⁓ to idols ⁓ and offer it to the idols and then they would eat that meat. And ⁓ so Paul is a is addressing that. So he's trying to help them break these habits of these these idols. ⁓ he says in ⁓ chapter eight Now concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing, yet he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him. So he's also warning against making yourself an idol, seeing yourself higher than you should, ⁓ elevating yourself because now you have found the truth, right? And because the knowledge that you have found in Christ, ⁓ don't use that against those who do not know God yet. ⁓ it it talks about You know, the eating of things offered to idols. ⁓ verse four, we know that an idol is nothing and that there is no other God but one. so so that it d it doesn't matter if they're sacrificing this because to ⁓ to an idol, because that idol ⁓ is not real. ⁓ it says verse seven, ⁓ however there is not in everyone that knowledge, for some with consciousness of the idol until now, eat it as a thing offered to an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food does not commend us to God, for neither if we eat are we better, nor if we do not eat are we worse. So he's saying, listen, it really doesn't matter. However, you don't want to give the impression that you are supporting the ⁓ the worship of that idol ⁓ by eating that meat and and ⁓ confusing people who do not know the truth. That's where in verse nine, but beware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are ⁓ weak, for if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's ⁓ if anyone who sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because your knowledge shall knowledge shall the weak brother perish? For whom Christ died. ⁓ so he's saying don't eat it because it may influence others that ⁓ do not know ⁓ the truth. ⁓ so he he's saying, you know, take this seriously, even though these idols don't have power, don't participate in those pagan things because people may see you doing it and think that you are in support of it. ⁓ chapter n nine starts off, Paul is kind of ⁓ Talking about being an apostle and not allowing himself to to be elevated that and that we should not allow ourselves to be elevated just because of what God has called us to, we should not see ourselves higher than others. ⁓ verse fifteen, but I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me. For it would be better for me to die than anyone should make my boasting void. For if I preach the gospel I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me. Yes, woe is me if I do not preach ⁓ the gospel. ⁓ it says, What is my reward that when I preach the gospel I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel? So again it's it's ⁓ this this whole thing is obviously addressing Those who ⁓ are making idols of themselves or that they are considering themselves better than others, ⁓ because now they know the truth and the culture around them does not. ⁓ talks about serving ⁓ all men, verse nineteen, for though I am free from all men, I might made myself a servant to all, that I might win all the more. And to the Jews I became a Jew, that I might win Jews, to those who are under the law as as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law. To those who are without the law, is without the law, that I might win those without the law. To the weak I become weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might ⁓ by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you. So he's saying he's he he's willing to ⁓ meet people where they are. ⁓ right that that he is not going to go around with a holier than thou attitude. Doesn't mean he's going to affirm or participate in the behavior of those who do not know Christ, but he is willing to engage them and try to meet them where they are at, ⁓ if at all possible. And it talks about the very famous passage ⁓ running the race, verse twenty four. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it. And everyone who competes for this prize is temperate in all things. ⁓ now now they do it to obtain a perishable crown. He's talking about the the what we would call the Olympics, right? ⁓ a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus, not with uncertainty. I fight not as one who beats the air, but I discipline my body and bring it to subjection, ⁓ lest when I have preached to others I might I myself should become dis disqualified. ⁓ so he he's going to run that race perpetually. Himself, and he does it with certainty that he's running after something that is not perishable. ⁓ he is certain ⁓ of what we have in Christ. ⁓ chapter 10 starts off with some Old Testament examples of the people and how they failed in the ⁓ wilderness. And Paul is saying, learn from that. So don't don't fall into temptation as they fell into temptation, as they worshiped ⁓ other idols, as they Turn their back on God. Says verse twelve, therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Right? Do not do not become arrogant. And it says, No temptation has overtaken you except that is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. What is he saying? He's saying you will be tempted. ⁓ just like everyone is tempted, all of us are gonna be tempted ⁓ to to go our own way, to follow ⁓ our own desires rather than God's desires. ⁓ but we can choose to follow God. We do not have to give in to that temptation. ⁓ no matter how strong it is, you have the ability to stand up and say, No, I choose to go about things God's way. ⁓ Then it talks about fleeing from ⁓ idols. ⁓ it talks about giving all things to the glory of God. It's verse twenty three. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one ⁓ to others well-being. Recognize that what what you do and how you're impacting the community around you and the people around you. ⁓ verse twenty eight, but if someone says to you, This was offered to idols, do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you. ⁓ again, kind of going back, it says it, We know that those are given to demons. ⁓ right? Why would we want to eat that, even though we know that it has no power over us? Right. So verse thirty one, therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God, give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks, to the church of God. Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ's. ⁓ We'll see you then.