Messy People, Mighty God

To Marry, or Not to Marry
1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Eric Ward
May 18, 2025

We are all called to live on mission, whether single or married.
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To Marry, or Not to Marry

Eric Ward

5/18/2025

·       A spouse is our only legitimate source of sexual intimacy.

1 John 1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

·       1. Confess the sin.

·       2. Repent (change).

·       3. Get into a community of accountability.

1 Corinthians 7:25-31 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NLT) But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. 30 Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. 31 Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.

Ephesians 5:31-32 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

·       God designed marriage to give the world a glimpse of what the relationship between Christ and the Church looks like.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

·       Single Christians have certain advantages of time and availability that are a blessing to the church.

1 Corinthians 7:36-38 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.

·       The one who gets married does good, and the one who stays single does gooder. (The Word of the Ward Translation)

1 Corinthians 7:39-40 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

·       Call 321.574.6970 if you have chosen to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted. NLT = New Living Translation.

Todas las referencias bíblicas son de la Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI) a menos que se indique lo contrario. NTV = Nueva Traduccion Viviente.

Todas as referências bíblicas são da Nova Versão Internacional (NVI-PT). Nova Versão Transformadora (NVT)
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