‘Trusting God in Your Current Situation’ 7:12-24
Focus in on the principals here and apply them to relationships you have that are committed and longstanding where the other is not a Biblically Converted Christ Follower (parents, siblings, uncles, nieces, grandparents, coworkers, neighbors)
None of these people can have been Christians for more than 5-7 yrs max, 2-3 avg.
Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.
- Unstable situation of Corinth at the time of the writing of this letter
- Previous teaching from Paul about ‘Being Equally Yoked in Marriage’
- This concerns people who were married before Christ known of (last 8yrs max)
- If your spouse has not come to Christ yet, and you have: hang in there!
- Emulating Christ: Go the extra mile, do your best, let God work
- This is where you are, Trust God; live for Him & with Him right here, right now!
For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy. (But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.)
- God wants you to bring the holiness to your marriage that He brought to you!
- You sanctify your children, dedicate them to Christ (Trust God with them)
- It is up to you to pass on to your children what God has put in you: His Spirit!
- Live for Christ if the unbelieving spouse stays or goes; let God lead the other
- There is no peace in a marriage without shared values & willingness to try
- God is in charge: if they leave God has that for you (freedom in God’s choice)
Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you? Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.
- Here is why you hang in there: Salvation of a Soul (value that by persevering)
- Grow yourself and others where you are planted, God has placed you there
- Let God change your situation, let Him finish what He is doing in this season
- Paul’s rule because it promotes unity, stability & strength of new churches
- God changes some people’s situation, but we should let Him do it (wait on Him)
- Do you have an other’s basis for wanting new circumstances or a self basis?
For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.
- He is saying: “It is what it is now”
- What we are called to do, with the current circumstances, is fully live for God!
- He didn’t make a mistake putting you where you are, He has his reasons
- Let the main thing be the main thing!
Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you. Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it. And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord.
- We are called to be less concerned with our status than we are about Jesus
- Whatever your situation here and now can you live from what your eternity is?
And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.
- Do you identify as a slave of Christ? Has the Gospel penetrated your soul?
- Do you value more than anything the fact that Christ actually bought you?
- Always wanting different circumstances is a symptom ‘Un-Surrenderedness’
- Christ died to free us from this world’s needs and desires…
- This Christmas season make Him your focus not your circumstances
- Keep it simple, live fully surrendered to God right here, right now
Application Questions:
Why does Paul suggest if a marriage is ‘Unequally Yoked’ they should stay together?
How do you bring ‘holiness’ to marriage whether your spouse is a believer or not?
What is the critical principal for disciples of Christ when making key life choices?
What things are most important as we exercise our freedom in Christ?