A BELIEVER CAN SANCTIFY THEIR UNBELIEVING SPOUSE

PROCLAMATION

“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.”  1 Corinthians 7:14 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  In this chapter Paul tells them about marriage.  He is responding to a matter which was presented to him in a letter.  They wrote, “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” (1 Corinthians 7:1)  Paul told them that each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and that each woman should do so with her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:2-5)  He said that those individuals who were unmarried should stay unmarried.  However, if they cannot control themselves, then they should marry, because it is better for them to marry than to be consumed with passion and lust. (1 Corinthians 7:8-9)  He also told them that the married believer provides some covering for their unbelieving spouse.  Then he told them that whatever status they were in when they came to Christ, that they should remain in that status. (1 Corinthians 7:17-24)  Paul spends the remainder of the chapter addressing his concerns with marriage versus remaining single. (1 Corinthians 7:25-40)

 

APPLICATION

With respect to marriage, it is much better for a believer not to be “unequally yoked” and married to a non-believer. (2 Corinthians 6:14)  However, if a believer is married to a non-believer, it is better for them to stay married and not to divorce their spouse just because he or she is a non-believer.  The non-believing spouse, and any children born to their union, are blessed because of the believing spouse. (1 Corinthians 7:12-14)  Marriage is a Divine institution. (Matthew 19:5-6 and Mark 10:6-9)  Hopefully, the believer will live such a life that they can lead their non-believing spouse to Christ.  However, if the non-believing spouse chooses to leave the marriage, the believer should let them go.  It is better to live alone in peace than to stay with a spouse who wants to leave. (1 Corinthians 7:15)

WE BELONG TO GOD AND NOT TO OURSELVES

PROCLAMATION

 “What?  Know ye not that your body is the temple of The Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price;  Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  Paul began this chapter by telling them that they were wrong to take one another to court in lawsuits.  Ungodly people should not judge The Lord’s people. (1 Corinthians 6:1-6)  He also said that they were cheating each other and doing wrong and that there is no place in the kingdom of God for wrongdoers. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)  He told them that they had been set aside, washed, sanctified, and justified by The Holy Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)  He told them that they should flee from fornication. (1 Corinthians 6:13, 6:15-16, and 6:18)  He also told them that they had been united with The Lord God and they were one with Him in spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:16-17)  Then he told them that their bodies were temples of The Holy Spirit of God and that they should honor God with their bodies. 

 

APPLICATION

What Christ endured on the cross at Calvary paid the price for our sins.  In effect, He bought us and redeemed us, and now we belong to Him.  We do not belong to ourselves; we belong to The Lord God.  Our bodies are the temples of His Holy Spirit, who resides within us.  We need to behave in such a way as to honor Him.  That includes not only what we do and say to others but also how we treat our bodies and what we put in them.  We cannot live in immorality and effectively serve The Lord God.  We should live our lives in such a way as to give God glory.

 

 

 

BE CAREFUL WITH WHOM YOU ASSOCIATE

PROCLAMATION

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extorter; with such an one not to eat.”  1 Corinthians 5:11 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  Paul began this chapter by telling them that it had been reported that there was sexual immorality among them.  Not only was there fornication among them but some of the men were sleeping with their father’s wife. (1 Corinthians 5:1-2)  Also members of the church knew about this but did not do anything about it.  Here Paul urged them to take action. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5)  He had written to them previously warning them not to associate with sexually immoral people (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) and now he was being more specific in this letter. (1 Corinthians 5:11)  The epistle entitled First Corinthians is actually the second of four letters written by Paul to the believers at Corinth.  Expel the wicked people from among the church, God will judge them. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)

 

APPLICATION

We may not have control over who is in our family, or the people that we work with, but we choose our friends.  We need to give some thought to the people that we choose to spend time with.  “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)  None of us is perfect, we have all sinned. (Romans 3:23)  This is not to say that we should not speak to non-believers or back-sliders.  However, if we continually spend time with unapologetically, incorrigible sinful people, what does that say about us?  We should fellowship with people who share our beliefs, values, and principals. (1 John 1:7)  We should not fellowship with those who continually walk in darkness. (Ephesians 5:11)  We really should not call ourselves “Christian” if we continue to walk in darkness with our sinful friends. (1 John 1:6)  Once we accepted Christ we were changed into new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) and we should put away our old sinful ways, and our old sinful friends.  There should be a difference between the life that we lived before we accepted Christ and our life afterwards, including what we say and do, and who we do it with.

 

THAT WHICH IS DONE IN THE DARK WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE LIGHT

PROCLAMATION

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until The Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart;  And then shall every man have praise of God.”  1 Corinthians 4:5 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  Paul began this chapter by telling the people that they should regard all of the apostles and leaders as servants of Christ. (1 Corinthians 4:1)  He said that those entrusted with leadership positions must be proven faithful and that it is The Lord God who will judge them. (1 Corinthians 4:2-4)  The Lord will judge the leaders, and everyone else.  He will bring to light all of the things which were done in darkness.  He will also expose the motives for every action and spoken word.  Those who are worthy of praise will receive it from God. (1 Corinthian 4:5)  Do not think of yourselves beyond what is written, then you will not think that you are better than one another. (1 Corinthians 4:6-13)  Paul states that he was writing this letter not to shame them but to warn them.  He said that he became their father in Christ and urged them to imitate him. (1 Corinthians 4:14-16)  He sent Timothy to minister to them and to remind them of the things that he had taught them, for some of them had become arrogant. (1 Corinthians 4:17-18)  When he comes to them, he will see what kind of power they have.  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power. (1 Corinthians 4:19-21)

 

APPLICATION

We really should not judge people because we are not qualified.  We do not have all of the relevant information available to us upon which to base a just decision.  We can only hear what is said and see what is done in our presence.  (Recordings can be so easily manipulated.)  We have no idea of the thought processes or motives which were behind them.  Only The Lord God can see the heart and the mind, (Jeremiah 20:12) and only He has all of the information about a person which is necessary in order to judge him justly. (Hebrews 10:30)  All of the things which were done in the dark will be brought to light.  One day we will have to give an account of our stewardship (Luke 16:2) including every thought, deed, and spoken word. (Matthew 12:36)  We will all stand before Christ. (Romans 14:10-12)  Don’t believe the people who say, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

A BELIEVER'S FOUNDATION IS JESUS CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder,  I have laid the foundation … For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation … every man’s work shall be made manifest … and fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.  If any man’s work aide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved …”  1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul began this chapter by telling the believers in Corinth that they were still “worldly, mere infants in Christ” quarreling and jealous, and he had to feed them The Word of God as milk for they were not ready for it as solid food. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)  It was not important which leader they followed for all of them were servants, vehicles which brought them The Word of God. (1 Corinthians 3:4-5)  One of them planted the seed and one watered it but only God made it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)  Then he told them that he given them the foundation, Jesus Christ, and they should be careful what they build upon that foundation.  All that they built, their work in this life, would be judged and tested with fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)  Only those things which gave God glory would pass through the fire.  He ended the chapter by telling them that their body is God’s temple.  The Spirit of God dwells within them and they should be careful how they treat that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

 

APPLICATION

Only what we do for Christ will be counted in the end.  As believers we will pass through the fire on Judgment Day but our work and efforts here on earth which did not glorify God will be burned up.  Only those things which gave God glory will survive the fire and we will receive a reward for them.  Everything that we have done in our lives from the moment we accepted Christ will constitute our works, and only that which glorified God will be counted in the final tally.  As believers, it is on Christ the solid Rock we stand and build our house. (Luke 6:48 and 1 Corinthians 10:4)

 

 

UNIMAGINABLE GREAT THINGS AWAIT US

PROCLAMATION

“But as it is written, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.’  But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit, for The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, in a letter to the believers in the church at Corinth.  Paul began this chapter by telling them that he only spoke to them about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ.  He said that his message and his preaching were not full of enticing words or reflective of human wisdom, but they were a demonstration of the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)  He declared God’s wisdom and power and said that no man has seen, or heard, or imagined what The Lord God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:6-9)  Here Paul quotes from the Old Testament scriptures. (Isaiah 64:4)  Then he said that it is by The Spirit of God that he preaches and not by anything that he learned from man. (1 Corinthians 2:10-14)

 

APPLICATION

It is possible to learn some things by what we see or by what we hear.  However, there are certain things which can only be learned and understood through the aid of The Holy Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)  This is why we as believers should prayerfully read and study The Word of God.  There are things in The Bible and in life that we will need help in order to understand.  However, there are some things which will never be understood by non-believers. (1 Corinthians 2:14)  Certain things are only for those who love The Lord and who wait on Him.  “Wait, I say, on The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)  “Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)  For The Lord gives wisdom; out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 22:6)  We will all be enlightened, as the song says, “by and by.”  Only God can reveal to us what He has in store for us.

THE MESSAGE FROM THE CROSS IS LOVE

PROCLAMATION

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:17-18 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, in a letter to the believers in the church at Corinth.  Paul begins by introducing himself and Sosthenes, a believer who is with him.  He Greets them with a formal salutation and then tells them that he thanks God for them. (1 Corinthians 1:1-4)  He says that they have been enriched in every way.  They do not lack for any spiritual gift, and they eagerly await the coming of The Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:5-9)  Then Paul says that he had heard that there was disagreement and division between the believers in the church at Corinth based upon which leader they were following. (1 Corinthian 1:10-12)  His message to them was that they should on one accord.  Christ was not divided, and His message was clear.  He told them that they should focus on the message of the cross.  He said that the world may think that the message of the cross is foolishness, but those who are saved know that it is the love of Christ and the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:13-18)  Then he told them that God made foolishness of the wisdom of the world.  The Jews wanted signs and the Greeks wanted wisdom, but he preached Christ crucified; for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:19-31)

 

APPLICATION

The cross symbolizes the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  It divides mankind into two groups, believers who are saved and non-believers who are not saved.  The message of the cross should not divide saved people, it should unite them.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)  It was out of His love for us and His obedience to God, The Father, that Christ stayed on the cross. (Matthew 26:42 and Luke 22:42)  While suffering on the cross He showed His love by forgiving those who crucified Him and those of us who made His crucifixion necessary. (Luke 23:34)  The fear and reverence of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psalms 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10)  Those of us, whom God has called to believe, know that all power and wisdom come from God. (1 Corinthians 1:24-25