Is the grass always greener on the other side?

God will help us change our situation and status?

We must change our situation and status to please God?

Corinth: Not so different from Singapore

Paul’s response to the challenges in the Corinthian church

• Supremacy of Christ.
  

Church Divisions

Negative: “No More Boasting about Human Leaders” (1:18-2:5)

                 “Reject human wisdom

Positive: “Let Those Who Boast Boast in the Lord” (2:6-3:4)

                                       “Seek true wisdom of the Cross”

Social and family life

       Negative: “Flee Sexual Immorality” (and Greed) (4:18-6:20)

       Positive: “Glorify God with Your Bodies” (7:1-40)

• Yes or no…  But

1 Co 7:1

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” ² But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 

1 Co 7:7

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.

1 Co 7:8-9

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. ⁹ But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1 Co 7:10

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. ¹¹ But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. 

1 Co 7:13…15

¹³ 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. ^….

¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. 

Living and remaining  in the situation as the Lord called

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. 

(v18-19)

²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

(v21-23)

²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

1 Co 1:9

⁹ God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Co 7:15

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.

Galatians 3:28
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.

Keeping God’s commands is what counts

1 Co 7:18-19

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. 

Galatians 5:6

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love

Galatians 6:15

¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Like circumcision, these are nothing…	What counts is …
Young or old Rich or poor Fat or skinny Tall or short Chinese or other race Singaporean or non-Singapore English speaking or Chinese speaking Primary school education or PhD Man or woman Married or single Has children or no children Stay-at-home mum, working mum 1st gen Christian or 4th gen Christian Church leaders, servers or members	faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6) – love God and neighbours    new creation (Galatians 6:15) – Children of God, not slaves – Union with Christ – Live by the Spirit   keeping God’s commands is what counts. (1 Co 7:19) – Flee sexual immorality – Honour God with your body

Making the most of your freedom and situation for the Lord

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. 

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Summary

Remain in your situation

Keep God’s commands

Be untroubled to stay or move as Christ’s slave