Now concerning virgins...John Farley
Pastor-Teacher Sunday, July 14, 2019 Summer break: No Bible study that Thursday August 8th
Now concerning virgins…1Co 7:25-40 (1) Celibacy is to be preferred, but only for those who are so gifted. Marriage is also a noble calling. (2) each man ought to remain in the condition in which he was called. They were telling the married and the engaged and the virgins that they needed to be celibate in order to please God. He had first addressed it for the married people, as well as unmarried men and widows. But there was another group that needed instruction, and that was the virgins – young ladies of marriageable age. Paul goes out of his way to emphasize that what he is about to give them is not a command of the Lord. 1Co 7:12 In other words, it’s an opinion worth taking to heart. His opinion on the matter took account of their circumstances. In other words, he was being a pastor. Paul provides an opinion that is tailored to the circumstances that the Corinthian church faced. The spiritual principles apply to all Christians, regardless of circumstances. 1Co 7:25-28 The distress was severe, and it was pressing in on them, constraining them. So, under these circumstances, if you are married or engaged, stay that way. If you have no ties to a woman, my advice is not to seek a wife. If a virgin gets married under these conditions, she is not sinning either. Where will you live? The last thing you need right now is to heap a whole new set of difficulties on top of the ones you already have. Paul’s advice for them was fatherly, and given out of mercy – to spare them trouble. Marriage does bring on additional worries and concerns and problems. But this is a practical concern, not an ethical one. You are neither more spiritual if you don’t marry nor less spiritual if you do. 1Co 7:29-31 The time has been shortened for us too. In view of our destiny, we ought not get so focused on the temporary things of this world - - that we lose sight of the eternal things in heaven. However, this does NOT mean that you should NEGLECT these earthly things. Realize that all of these things, while good in their own right, will pass away when we die or at the rapture. 1 John 2:17 Rom 8:23 1Co 7:32-35 They have many concerns that could cause them to become unfruitful. We are all called to have undistracted devotion to the Lord. Again, Paul is asking us to face facts. And married people face a lot of pressures that could cause us to be unfruitful if we let them. Mar 4:18-19 Married people must make an extra effort to set their mind on the things above in spite of the extra pressure and concerns they face. 1Co 7:36-38 Paul gave this advice at a time when fathers (or guardians) gave their daughter’s hand in marriage. So even though this is about virgins – unmarried young ladies of marriageable age -, Paul addresses the men in their lives rather than the virgins themselves. If the father gives her daughter’s hand in marriage, no one has sinned – he has done well. But if the father keeps her as a virgin and no young man marries her, this is better. He has to be sure he is making this decision freely, not under compulsion, and he has considered the interests of the young lady. 1Co 7:39-40 And he doesn’t say that she will be more spiritual if she remains as she is. He says that she will be HAPPIER.
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