The Believer & Divorce Part 1 | 1 Corinthian 7:10-16

About this sermon

Introduction: In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, Paul is answering questions. The questions had come to him by letter (7:1). ESV 1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: Those questions not only revealed a need for instruction they revealed a need for correction in behavior. And the types of problems Paul was addressing have never changed. This is one of the great myths men choose to believe about themselves. They confuse advancements in technology, and (in some cases) science, with advancements in humanity. If you could transport yourself back 6,000 years, you would find differences in culture and language and living conditions, but you would find the very same kinds of people sitting with you this morning. PASTORAL MINISTRY HASN’T CHANGED. That is what Paul is doing in this chapter, he is shepherding God’s people. What becomes apparent in this section is that in the congregation at Corinth there were people whose personal and family lives were very much like the personal and family lives of unbelievers. In fact, in some ways they were worse. One thing that made it worse was that they had their own brand of false spirituality mixed in. Some were trying to practice celibacy in marriage in the name of commitment to God. Some, it seems, were trying to get OUT OF THEIR MARRIAGE in the name of commitment to God. Some were being impacted by others making those choices. Something acknowledged through all of this is that divorce is one of the tragedies of sin in this fallen world — and believers can’t always escape it. No genuine believer, when submitted to Christ, when filled with the Spirit, DESIRES divorce. But, sadly, almost all Christians have been affected by divorce in one way or another. Either we have known the pain of divorce in our own lives, or someone we love has been affected by the heartache of divorce. These people were no different. And so, it is that when they submitted questions to Paul, wanting guidance for knowing God’s will about their difficult situations, those questions included questions about divorce. What we have in verses 10-16 are answers that Paul gave to their divorce questions. NOW, HERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE MUST ALL AGREE ABOUT. WE MUST AGREE THAT THE BIBLE IS CLEAR THAT GOD HATES DIVORCE. Malachi 2:16 16 "For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the LORD of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously." God hates divorce, but the church, it seems, has gone mostly silent on that subject. Not only is divorce looked at as a sad, unavoidable, reality (ALMOST WITHOUT COMMENT) — remarriage is just assumed. We need to listen, afresh and anew, to what our God has to say to us on this subject in His Word. The instruction here is clear, it is straightforward, and it runs counter to the attitude of our world about the subject. The question is whether or not we are willing to hear it, receive it, and obey it. His instruction addresses two questions. What about divorce between believers? What about divorce in a spiritually mixed marriage? • DIVORCE BETWEEN BELIEVERS (VS.10-11) He addresses this to the married, but it becomes clear in verse 12, that what he means are those who are married to fellow believers, those who are married to someone who is also in the church. In verse 12, he speaks to “the rest” and it becomes clear that “the rest” are those who are also married, but they are not married to a fellow believer, they are married to an unbeliever. Now, as we begin to examine what Paul says about divorce to people who are married to professing believers, there are a few things I want to say about what Paul writes here. • IT IS BINDING TRUTH What he gives here is authoritative. This does not simply represent counsel. This does not represent a suggestion. What we find here is the authoritative, and therefore binding, truth of almighty God. As believers we need to acknowledge that the Word of God is authoritative. It RULES over us. We live in a world where nothing is binding. Even in the church, the Bible is often treated as though it has real authority over us. All things are open to further consideration, and debate, and the influence of circumstances. We must realize that God has issued commands, and what God has commanded is not up for debate.

Topics

• Faith
• Marriage