1 CORINTHIANS LESSON 11


     We will begin this lesson in I Corinthians 7:18 "Is any man
called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any
called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised." I Corinthians
7:19 "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the
keeping of the commandments of God."

     This is just explaining that it is not the doctrine of the church
of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep the law of Moses. If a person is not
circumcised, then let him stay that way. If he was acceptable to God
why should the people put extra restrictions on him?  Of course, if a
person is already circumcised before he receives the Lord, that is
alright, too. Accept them the way the Lord accepted them. Circumcision
was part of the law which Jesus fulfilled on the cross. Sacrificing of
any kind after the crucifixion of Jesus would have been saying that
Jesus' sacrifice was not enough. You can see why all of this
sacrificing was stopped.

     I Corinthians 7:20 "Let every man abide in the same calling
wherein he was called."

     Paul is stressing the fact that if the Lord approved you, who was
man to question.

     I Corinthians 7:21 "Art thou called [being] a servant? care not
for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use [it] rather."
I Corinthians 7:22 "For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a
servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called,
[being] free, is Christ's servant."

     This just means that if you were a slave when you received the
Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you should not use your salvation to try
to get your freedom. In a case like that God would have you to serve
him while you were a servant. You should endeavor to serve as if you
were serving the Lord. If your freedom comes, accept it and work where
God sends you. We are all servants to the Lord, even if we were a
freeman when Christ called us. Whatever position we find ourselves in
we must serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the best of our
ability under the circumstances we are in at the time.

     I Corinthians 7:23 "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the
servants of men."

     The price that we are bought with here, is the precious blood of
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Our Master is the Lord.

     I Corinthians 7:24 "Brethren, let every man, wherein he is
called, therein abide with God."

     Your position in society is of little importance to the Lord.
Every job that we are called to do should be done unto the Lord.
"Abide" means continually dwell. We must not seek to be changed, or
moved, until the Lord moves us.

     I Corinthians 7:25 "Now concerning virgins I have no commandment
of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy
of the Lord to be faithful."

     The Lord Jesus did not deal directly with this particular
subject, and Paul is just giving his judgement {opinion} here. We know
that all, whether virgins or not, should be faithful to the Lord. This
is probably speaking of male virgins, as well as female.

     I Corinthians 7:26 "I suppose therefore that this is good for the
present distress, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be."

     Paul is saying, because of all the distress and problems
surrounding being a servant of the Lord Jesus at this time, it would
probably be better to remain a virgin. Notice, that Paul says for a
man to be so. This actually means man or woman.

     I Corinthians 7:27 "Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be
loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife."

     This is very similar to the verses in the previous lesson. Paul
is saying, if you were single when the Lord called you, stay single.
If you were married when the Lord called you, stay married. Whatever
condition you were in when the Lord called you was pleasing unto Him,
or He would not have called you.

     I Corinthians 7:28 "But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned;
and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall
have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you."

     Paul is explaining that there is no sin in marriage. Marriage
brings trouble in the flesh sometimes. Paul is saying, that all of the
advice that he has been giving them was to save them as much pain in
this life as he could.

     I Corinthians 7:29 "But this I say, brethren, the time [is]
short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they
had none;"

     Paul is encouraging them to use all of their time for the Lord.
He believes that the coming of the Lord is very near and that all
should spend their time in winning people to the Lord instead of
enjoying worldly pleasures.

     I Corinthians 7:30 "And they that weep, as though they wept not;
and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy,
as though they possessed not;"

     Paul is saying, all of these things are a temporary situation.
They will pass so quickly away. Do not be caught up in the things of
the world which pass away so quickly.

     I Corinthians 7:31 "And they that use this world, as not abusing
[it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away."

     Paul is trying to impress them that the world, and the things
connected with it, are but for a moment in time. They will not always
be. Christians are living in this world, but their home is in heaven.
Someday we will not be in this world, in fact, someday there will not
be a world as we know now. He is saying, you must live here, but don't
get too attached.

     I Corinthians 7:32 "But I would have you without carefulness. He
that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how
he may please the Lord:"  I Corinthians 7:33 "But he that is married
careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please [his]
wife."

     Paul, again, is showing the difference in working for the Lord as
a single person, and working for the Lord as a married person. The
single person can devote all of his time to the Lord without
distractions, but the married person has to divide that time between
the work of the Lord and the duties of family. A married person can be
just as dedicated, but may not have quite as much time.

     I Corinthians 7:34 "There is difference [also] between a wife and
a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that
she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married
careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband."

     This is the very same statement as above, except the other was
speaking of the man, and this is speaking of the woman. Women do like
to please their husbands, and that is not a sin. In fact, if they are
married, that is what God expects them to do. The married woman can be
dedicated to God, but, again, may have less time to fulfill the things
of God in.

     I Corinthians 7:35 "And this I speak for your own profit; not
that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and
that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction."

     Again, we must remember that these are Paul's thoughts on the
subject. We do know that it would be somewhat of a distraction to be
married and in the service of God. All things are possible with God.
We must fulfill the job that God has for us to do in whatever
circumstances we are in at the time He called us. He knows the
problems we face, and will help us with the problems. Our part is to
be totally obedient to His call.

     I Corinthians 7:36 "But if any man think that he behaveth himself
uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of [her] age, and
need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them
marry."

     "Uncomely", means in an unbecoming way. It seems to me, that this
is speaking of a man who has become too personal with a girl who is
old enough to be married. He should not behave in this manner, unless
he intends to marry her. If they marry, there is no sin. If they do
not marry, this is the sin of adultery, whether they actually went
through with the act or not. Jesus said to look upon a woman to lust
in your heart is to commit adultery with her in your heart.

     I Corinthians 7:37 "Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his
heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath
so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well."

     Paul is saying that to remain a virgin in the service of the Lord
with no lust in your heart would be very good. This person {male or
female} is to be highly commended. They have put their work for God
ahead of all else.

     I Corinthians 7:38 "So then he that giveth [her] in marriage
doeth well; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth better."

     Paul is saying that either thing you decide is perfectly alright.
You have not sinned either way. Some serve the Lord while they are
single others serve the Lord married. Either way, they are pleasing
unto the Lord.

     I Corinthians 7:39 "The wife is bound by the law as long as her
husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be
married to whom she will; only in the Lord."

     As we said in a previous lesson, marriage is not to be taken
lightly. As long as your partner is alive, you are to be one. If your
husband dies, you are released from the bond between you. She is at
liberty to marry someone of like faith. Many times the marriage bond
is so great that not even death can take it away.

     I Corinthians 7:40 "But she is happier if she so abide, after my
judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God."

     Paul is saying {in his judgement} that she is usually happier
with the memory of her first love, than trying to start over again and
find a new mate. She will have more time to serve the Lord, if she
does not remarry.














                      1 Corinthians 11 Questions


1.  What is verse 18 explaining?
2.  Let every man _________ in the same calling wherein he was called.
3.  If you were a slave when you received the Lord, did that stop you
    from being a servant?
4.  He that is the called in the Lord, is the Lord's ___________.
5.  Regardless of the circumstance we find our self in, what are we to
    do?
6.  What was the price we were bought with?
7.  Every job we do, regardless of what it is, must be done ______
    ____ ______.
8.  What does "abide" mean?
9.  In verse 25, Paul said he had no command of God, but gave his
    _________.
10. Who are the virgins in verse 25?
11. Why did Paul say that it was good to stay single, if you already
    were?
12. Art thou bound unto a wife, seek ____ to be ________.
13. If a virgin marries, has she sinned?
14. What was Paul trying to spare them?
15. What is meant by verse 29?
16. Verse 30 is explaining that all these things are ___________.
17. And they that use this world, as not __________ it.
18. The fashion of this world ________ _____.
19. We must live in the earth, but we should not ____ __________.
20. He that is married careth for the things of the _______.
21. What is the difference in working for the Lord as a single person,
    and working for Him as a married person?
22. What is the difference in a married woman and a virgin working for
    God?
23. Verse 35 reminds us that these are whose thoughts?
24. What does "uncomely" mean?
25. Jesus said to look upon a woman to lust is to commit what sin?
26. How long is the wife bound by the law?
27. A widow is usually happier, if they remain _________.