Matched: Singles or Doubles

by Pastor John Lin


Big idea:
God desires us to fulfill our calling whether we're singles or married

1 Corinthians 7:1
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”


A. Divorce

1 Corinthians 7:10
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.


Matthew 19:4-6
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’[a] 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’[b]? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”


Matthew 19:9
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”


Marriage goes beyond just a certificate, it is a covenant with God between man and woman. Divorce case must be taken with much care and consideration. Healing and reconciliation must be considered first.

B. About Singleness

1 Corinthians 7:28-29
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;


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.


In light of eternity, all believers will be with the lord, whether singles or married

C. Mixed Marriages

1 Corinthians 7:13-16
And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?


Corinthians placed singleness above everything, thinking that's on right track to pursue spiritual maturity. However, Paul does not elevate singleness over marriage

1 Corinthians 7:7
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.


Gift = Gift of Grace or Gift that empowers you

Focus should be on how we're receiving this gift from God, with contentment and gratitude

What is gospel solution?
# Stay as one was when called.

1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.


Above passage denotes Paul repeated emphasis of being called, remaining or stay as one's called

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.


1 Corinthians 7:29
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;


What counts is not the status but a person must keep the commandments of God.

How well do I keep the commandments of God, not outside change

Our spirituality is seen through our submission and obedience to God's word

Accept our status as gift from God and serve God wholeheartedly.