“Unfaithfulness in the key relationships of life is a common failure for many people in contemporary society. This lack leads to so much misery. We who trust Christ must not allow the world to squeeze us into its mold. What wonderful blessings flow from faithfulness in keeping our vows. Examine your life. Is it characterized by faithfulness? God is faithful. He keeps his promises to us. Keep your promises to God and to those with whom you have entered into covenant” (Harry Buis).
No matter your marital status, God demands holiness and complete devotion to Jesus Christ to show the world that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Cor. 5-7, Paul lists principles in staying devoted to Jesus Christ whether you are married or not. Loving church discipline serves a vital role.
Confront Sin in Believers’ Lives with Sincerity and Truth
Paul reported sexual immorality that did not occur among unbelievers when a man had his father’s wife. Rather than being proud, grief should have motivated them to put out the man from their fellowship. Paul told them to hand the man over to Satan so his flesh would be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. A little yeast worked through the whole batch of dough. Remove the old yeast of malice and wickedness and replace it with the bread of sincerity and truth because Christ was sacrificed as the Passover lamb (1 Cor. 5:1-8). Confront sin in believers’ lives with sincerity and truth.
Disassociate with Sinning Believers But Let God Judge Unbelievers
Continue associating with the evil people of the world, but do not even eat with those who call themselves brothers who were sexually immoral, greedy, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards or swindlers. Judge those inside the church and God would judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you (1 Cor. 5:9-13). Disassociate with sinning believers, but let God judge unbelievers.
Suffer Unjustly to Show World Your Transformed Life Instead of Court Date with Believers
Do not let courts settle disputes between believers. If saints judged the world and angels, wise believers have competency to judge trivial cases. Having lawsuits proved they had been defeated already. It would be better to be wronged or cheated by a brother. The wicked would not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of those in the church had been sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexual offenders, thieves, greedy, drunkards, slanders and swindlers but now they were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:1-11). Suffer unjustly to show the world your transformed life instead of court date with believers.
Flee Sexual Immorality Because Your Body is Temple of the Holy Spirit
Everything was permissible but not everything was beneficial since it could master them. The body was designed for the Lord, not sexual immorality. God would raise them up like He raised Jesus from the dead. Because their bodies were members of Christ Himself, they could not unite themselves with a prostitute and become one flesh with her. He who united himself with the Lord became one with Him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin people committed were outside their body but sexual sins were against their own body. One’s body was a temple of the Holy Spirit who was in them and received from God. Since they were not their own and bought with a price, it was appropriate to honor God with their body (1 Cor. 6:12-20). Flee sexual immorality because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Experience Marital Unity and Reject Passion Toward Someone Else Causing Divorce
Paul said it was good not to marry but because of immorality each man should have his own wife. A couple should fulfill their marital duty to one another since their bodies do not belong to them. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent for the purpose of prayer. Come together to prevent temptation from Satan because of lacking self-control. Not everyone had the gift of celibacy like Paul. The unmarried and widows should stay unmarried, but being married was better than burning with passion. A spouse should not separate or divorce their partner. If they did, remain unmarried or be reconciled to their partner (1 Cor. 7:1-11). Experience marital unity and reject passion toward someone else causing divorce.
Pursue Marital Peace Knowing You Were Bought with Christ’s Blood
If a believer had an unbelieving spouse willing to stay married, do not divorce him or her. The unbelieving spouse was sanctified through the believing partner. The believing spouse was not bound if the unbelieving partner left because God called them to live in peace not knowing if the unbeliever would be saved. Remain in the situation of God’s calling. A slave could gain freedom even though he or she would remain Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price so do not become slaves of men (1 Cor. 7:12-24). Pursue marital peace knowing you were bought with Christ’s blood.
Show Undivided Devotion to the Lord Regardless of Marital Status
Remain single or married because of the present crisis in the world. Those who get married face many troubles in this life. Live like being unmarried since the time is short. Be concerned only about pleasing the Lord. The married have divided interests in pleasing their spouse while the unmarried can have undivided devotion to the Lord. People have freedom to marry but those who had control over their own will did even better by not marrying. A person can marry another person in the Lord after their spouse died (1 Cor. 7:25-40). Show undivided devotion to the Lord regardless of your marital status.
Here is a checklist of principles on how to stay devoted to Jesus whether you are married or unmarried:
1. Confront sin in believers’ lives with sincerity and truth
2. Disassociate with believers if they continue in sin, but let God judge unbelievers
3. Suffer unjustly to show the world your transformed life instead of going to court with unbelievers
4. Flee sexual immorality realizing your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
5. Experience oneness in your marriage and reject passion toward someone else causing divorce
6. Pursue peace in your marriage realizing you were bought with Christ’s shed blood
7. Show undivided devotion to the Lord regardless of your marital status
