Be pure! - conclusions from 1 Cor. 7:1-9

Thanks for the great discussion in class yesterday. Here is my conclusion to this section of chapter 7. Remember that when Paul says "gift" in verse 7, he uses "charis" which means "grace gift" (we will see this word many more times in 1 Cor, especially chapters 12-14). The term "charismatics" comes from this Greek word. Paul teaches us that whatever our current relationship status is, we can view it as our grace-gift from God!

In all this discussion on singleness and marriage, it is easy to lose the perspective of context. Let’s zoom out a bit to see just where we are in this letter to the Corinthians:

Chapters 1-4: Unity and servant hood are needed in a divided church

Chapters 5-7: Purity and contentment are needed in an immoral church

Looking at it this way, we can see the entire purpose of Chapter 7 is purity. Paul wanted his readers – both single and married – to learn to live in purity. He tells them that marriage & singleness are both gifts of God. Whatever your current state is – do not consider it a curse! Consider it a gift from God! Learn contentment with your current gift from God!

Learn to be content as a single person. Pursue God with all your time and energy. Use your mind and body for His causes. Learn to fight temptation and remain pure. Paul would be proud of you! He can relate to your struggles, but extols singleness as an awesome gift from God. If you are consumed by unfulfilled sexual passion, Paul commands you to seek marriage – the only healthy outlet for sexual passion (vs. 9, “marry” is an imperative). The Corinthian culture saturated these single Christians in sex, much like our culture does. Since some cannot handle singleness, Paul’s solution is not sleeping around, it is marriage!

“But if they can’t manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.”

1 Cor. 7:9 The Message

Learn to be content as a married person. Marriage is a gift from God for a time. Be content with your husband or wife. Be faithful to them in mind and body. Practice purity and keep the marriage bed pure. Your body is no longer yours to keep to yourself or give to anyone other than your spouse! (vs. 4) One day you may lose your spouse and have to accept again the gift of singleness. Learn to be grateful for the gift of marriage and serve your husband/wife. Marriage is a place where your sexual passion can be fulfilled. If it is not happening in your marriage, that needs to change. If you withhold yourself from your spouse, you are setting them up for failure (vs. 5).

This is dangerous ground to tread, but Paul boldly covers it. He was sick of the immorality in the Corinthian church. He screams at them: “Learn to live in contentment and purity!!!” Do we hear him loud and clear? I am not so sure…