1 Corinthians 7:6-9

1 CORINTHIANS Correction With Confidence Because The Faithfulness Of God Toward  His Saints!        1 Corinthians 7:6–9 (ESV)6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.   CONTEXT:  Corinth’s Question: 1 Cor 7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote…   Paul’s Concession v6   - Commands to the married are not commands to be married. Colossians 3:1–25                                                                                           (See also Ephesians 5:1-22, 1 Peter 2:1-18) V3-4 Eternal realities that command present response! V5-11 Repentance in faith for all in Christ, because Christ is all in all!  All other identities have become secondary. V12-17 Attitudes and actions in faith for all in Christ! V18-25 Concession or agreement with God’s commands applied in particular circumstances of life in Christ!         Paul’s Consideration v7-8 –  Convictions in Consideration of God’s glory and good gifts Consideration for  continuing unmarried   V25-28 Present circumstances? V29-31 Present state is perishing! V32-35 Present relationships have demands!   Consideration for contentment and conviction where you are called    V16 Live as You Are Called  (married to an unbeliever…) V20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called - (circumcised or not) V24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.  Slave or free…         Paul’s Conclusion v9  - Conclusions with genuine convictions and concession to God.    1 Corinthians 7:28 …But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned… 1 Corinthians 7:36  … let them marry—it is no sin.   Marriage for Protection     (1 Corinthians 7:1-9) -        Focus and fruitfulness with the gifts that God has given you… in the perishing world.   Marriage For Procreation  (Genesis 1:28  Psalm 127:4) Marriage For Pleasure       (Song of Solomon Proverbs 5:15-20) Marriage For Provision     (Proverbs 12:4, 19:14, 18:22, Ephesians 5:28-30) Marriage For Partnership  (Genesis 2:18, 24-25) Marriage as a  Picture        (Ephesians 5:31-32)     Application 1.     Where in life do you need to seek contentment and submission to God’s will where he has called you? 2.     Consider how can you live for God’s glory where he has called you? 3.     Consider God’s faithfulness in gifts to others, how can you encourage them for God’s glory where he has called them?