IT IS BETTER NOT TO BE MARRIED
1Corinthinas 7.1-11
It seems like that Paul received from Corinthian church a certain letter concerning marital relationship between man and a woman.
Paul answered, "It is good for a man not to touch a woman." Paul explained this by following statements and let Corinthians know that it is better to get married and have one wife, instead of to be single and have lust for many women.
Paul, as being a holy man of GOD, prophet, and legitimate Apostles of Christ, a man with strong Christian principals does not hide himself from difficult questions, does not trying to please crowd, does not looking for a middle ground, and does not deceit. Paul answered such question with the straightness, strictness, boldness, and with honesty of Christ.
The same principal applies and for women in order to restrict themselves only to one man (2).
Paul also remanded all married couples that they have marital intimate obligation to one another and must treat each with love, respect, and not deny their partner of sexual relation as well.
Paul actually considered such intimate relation of sexual intercourse as duty for both parties and as one of the essential parts of their marital relationship (3).
Of course, even married couples, and even with children, often go astray and betray their partner by involving romantically, sexually, or both, with another person. But there is a huge difference between secular married couple and the Christian married couple.
We live by Principal and Laws of Christ, but the world live according to its godless principals and laws. We have responsibility before GOD, but the world answers to no one.
Concerning infidelity, Jesus made this issue even much stronger and much more difficult saying,
"28. but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5.28).
~ Marriage to Divorcee: (Deuteronomy 24.4) (Jeremiah 3.1) (Malachi 2.13-16) (Matthew 5.31-32, 19.3-9-12) (Mark 10.2-12) (Luke 16.18) (1Corinthians 7.1-10-17.25-39-40) (Romans 7.3).
In verse 4 Paul presented interesting statement declaring that our physical bodies in marriage belong to our partner and not to ourselves, but together we became one body. This echoes the word of GOD when He said that a man will attach himself to a woman and together, they will be one flesh, one body.
But here is a serious difference between secular and Christian marriage. Christians married in GOD according to His Rule and His Regulations concerning marriage. The world on the other hand has reject Authority of GOD and does whatever pleases it.
Paul made this issue firm and obvious to all, without any compromises, and give it much broader meaning telling us that none of us have any authority over our bodies, but only our GOD has Authority over our bodies, He created it and it remains His possession.
If we defile our body by our behavior, we also defile the Lord Who Has created it. GOD created humans in Righteousness, but humans sought out many devices. (Ecclesiastes 7.29) (Ephesians 4.24).
Despite the fact that Paul urged Corinthians to get married in order to avoid sexual lust, he here directly announced, "I wish that all men were even as myself am," means, remain single. (7).
In verse 6 Paul reassured members of the church that his advice on the issue of marriage is not a command, but he only "I wish that all men were even as myself am," (single, unmarried). Paul understood very well that he is asking impossible from the Corinthian church and does not made it as his command, because it is in the human nature to have attraction to opposite sex in order to reproduce and populate the Earth. (Genesis 3.16).
MARRIAGE BETWEEN BELIEVER AND UNBELIEVER
1Corinthians 7.12-17
Paul started this issue from the words "I say, not the Lord." (The same Paul said in verse 25). Why Paul saying this? Because he look at this issue not from the point of GOD, but from the point of ordinary, mortal, weak, sinful human being. Members of the church already have been shock and alarm enough by Paul's statement concerning marriage, and Paul does not want apply more pressure on already shocked audience, in order that they will not give up listening him, but approached them gently, softly, and carefully as an equal with them man.
Knowing that in the Corinthian church many Christians have unbelieving wives, husbands, and children, Paul resolved this with simple accuracy and clear explanation. Paul even declared that the believer in Christ sanctifies by his or her holiness his unbeliever spouse, and even children. (14).
In any case, if a man or a woman got married, it is not a sin, and if a man or a woman not married, it is also not a sin. A Christian has to remember that he or she is a temporary resident on Earth, and everything what we possess is temporary, and even our marriage is temporary. (Matthew 22.23-30) (Mark 12.18-27) (Luke 20.27-40).
Paul said these things because he wanted to prepare the church for transition from the physical material world into a Spiritual World of GOD, and a true Christian shall not attach himself/herself to anything in this world, but shall always remember that everything he or she cherish and possess here on Earth will have no any use, significance, or importance in the Heavenly Kingdom of GOD. (29-31).
For those who are not married yet, but as Christians lives under the Spiritual Laws of Christ, and intended to be married, such person must be married only to another Christian, the same rule applies and for widows and widowers (39). Marriage to any divorcee is strictly prohibited.
~ Marriage to Divorcee: (Deuteronomy 24.4) (Jeremiah 3.1) (Malachi 2.13-16) (Matthew 5.31-32, 19.3-9-12) (Mark 10.2-12) (Luke 16.18) (1Corinthians 7.1-10-17.25-39-40) (Romans 7.3).