1 Corinthians - Moving Toward Maturity21
Chapter 7, More Married FolkQuestions– Rule of Thumb
What is a “rule of thumb?”______
First, the question. - Question #4 – Now that I am a Christian, do I have to stay married to my unbelieving spouse? Ifmy unbelieving spouse leaves me, am I still married?
(The Voice)1 Corinthians 7:12-13 To everyone else, here’s my counsel (this is not a direct command from the Lord; it is my opinion): if a brother has a wife who does not believe Jesus’ teachings and the truth of His resurrection, he is to stay with her as long as she is willing to live with him. The same is true for any sister; you should not leave your husband even if he has no allegiance to Jesus. 14 Here’s the reason: An unbelieving husband is consecrated by that union—touched by the grace of God through his believing wife—and the same is true when the husband is a man of faith and he’s wed to an unbelieving wife. His wife is consecrated through their union. If this weren’t so, your children wouldn’t be pure; but as it is when faith enters in, God sets apart these children to be used uniquely for His purposes. 15 If the unbelieving spouse decides the marriage is over, then let him or her go; the believing partner is freed from the marital vows because God has called you to peace. 16 Remember that anything is possible, so the life you lead and the love you show under this strain may be what finally liberates your partner.
Answer to the Question ______
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Now to the head scratchers…
14 An unbelieving husband is consecrated by that union—touched by the grace of
Godthrough his believing wife …” At first glance, Paul seems to be saying______
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Paul goes on to say, If this weren’t so, your children wouldn’t be pure; but as it is when faith enters in, God sets apart these children to be used uniquely for His purposes.
At first glance, Paul seems to be saying______
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What are we to take from this passage? Remember our interpretational principal from last week –
Interpretational Principle – Once you determine what it cannot mean you have a better chance of discerning what it can or does mean.
It can not mean______
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Let’s let 1 Corinthians 7 rest for a moment and look at a familiar proverb from the Old Testament.
Train a child in the way he should go,and when he is oldhe will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
Is this proverb true or false?______
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Might it be a rule of thumb?______
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Paul has already referenced the teaching of Jesus. (vs. 10) Might he also have in mind other teachings of Christ? This question comes to mind because of a tiny little, HUGE phrase Paul uses in his “reason.” The phrase is, “when faith enters in?”
Jesus has some simple, yet powerful, things to say about, “when faith enters in.”
Mathew 5:13 You, beloved, are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes bland and loses its saltiness, can anything make it salty again? No. It is useless. It is tossed out, thrown away, or trampled.
14 And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. 15 Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. 16 You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.
What, as a rule of thumb, does salt do?______
Unless it loses its saltiness. Then what, as a rule of thumb, can it do?______
What, as a rule of thumb, does light do?______
Unless it is covered up. Then, as a rule of thumb, what can light do?______
Now, back to 1 Corinthians 7. What, as a rule of thumb, can happen when a Christian is married to an
unbeliever?______
The faith lesson for us is really a question. How much scripture have we misunderstood, how many false expectations have taken root, because we have taken one passage out of context, made it and “absolute,” when it should be understood as “a rule of thumb?”