Introduction:
The Bible is the source of all truth.
The truth that comes from God and His word is infallible, irrefutable, and indisputable. When we believe that the Bible is the very word of God, we need to take heed and do our best to live our lives according to the Bible.
(This could be the introduction to all of our lessons.)
1 Corinthians 7:10-16 (NLT)
10 But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. 11 But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.
12 Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. 13 And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. 14 For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy. 15 (But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.) 16 Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?
Examine the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 7:10-16 (NLT)
10 But for those who are married,
A message to the married.
I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord.
Some Corinthians may have thought:
Divorce their unsaved spouse
Live celibately
Marry a believer
A wife must not leave her husband. 11 But if she does leave him,
let her remain single
or else be reconciled to him.
And the husband must not leave his wife.
Don’t leave your spouse.
Jesus speaking
Matthew 19:5-8 (NLT)
5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.
Malachi 2:16 (NLT)
“For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”
Jesus speaking
Matthew 5:31-32 (NLT)
Teaching about Divorce
31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.
- God’s original intent was for marriage to be a permanent relationship between a man and his wife.
12 Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord.
Don’t misinterpret this statement.
All Scripture is inspired by God
Jesus had not spoken on this situation.
No previous revelations from God on this matter.
If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.
13 And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.
- Believers married to unbelievers who are willing to continue in the relationship must remain married.
Some believers may have felt that being marries to an unbeliever was somehow defiling.
*However, just the opposite was true.
14 For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage.
The two have become one flesh.
Within the “one flesh” relationship, the blessing of God which came to the Christian affected the family as a whole.
The Christian was a channel of God’s grace in the marriage.
Brings holiness – not salvation to a person who is “not a believer.
The partner is set apart for temporal blessings because the other partner belongs to God.
One Christian in a marriage brings grace that spills over on the spouse – even possibly leading him or her to salvation.
Romans 11:16 (NLT)
And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.
- If a marriage has one believing spouse, the believing spouse brings holiness to the marriage.
Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.
Set apart – separate – holy people – called to a holy lifestyle
Colossians 3:12 (NLT)
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
The children are holy, not saved.
The presence of one believing parent exposes the children to blessing and brings them protection. The presence of even one Christian parent will protect children from undue spiritual harm and they will receive many blessings, and often that includes salvation.
Verse 16 before verse 15
16 Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?
15 (But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.)
- If a husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving the marriage, the believing partner should let them go.
Romans 12:18 (NLT)
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
(Remarriage is not addressed here.)
