Temple Baptist Church - 10-22-2025
1 Corinthians 7:1-9
Introduction:
A. The word “Now” ties chapter 7 to chapters 5 and 6, as the context continues.
1. In chapter 5, Paul dealt with the fornication of a man within the church that the church knew about but chose not to deal with. Sounds like churches today?
2. In the last part of chapter 6, Paul deals with the issue of fornication, a sin to flee! Your body or God’s? Your body was bought at a price, along with the salvation of your soul.
3. The body of the believer is the dwelling place and the temple of the Holy Ghost. Fornication is a sin against the body, which is a sin against the Holy Ghost. Fornication is a union with another to whom the believer is not married.
B. There had evidently been some correspondence between the Corinthian believers and the Apostle Paul concerning fornication. Chapter 7 is Paul’s answer to their questions.
C. In verse 1, “not to touch a woman” speaks of intimacy, not greeting.
1. The context of chapters 5, 6, and 7 is fornication, sexual relationships outside of the bond of marriage. Our people greet each other every service with love and purity. There is nothing sinful to be found there!
2. The men and ladies are brothers and sisters in Christ and love each other with a pure, biblical love.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
D. Verse 2 shows the importance of marriage to avoid fornication. The Bible is specific in that one man, and one woman make up the bond of marriage. Marriage is a circle that includes three persons: the husband, the wife, and the Lord. Marriage is God’s safeguard against sexual sin.
E. Verse 3 explains the sexual obligation of both husband and wife. God’s Word is very plain at this point. The wording is precise here, so do not be offended. God ordained marriage and the union of husband and wife!
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Let’s define some of the wording found in verses 3-4 in our text for clarity.
1. Render – to give up, requite, or yield.
2. Due - figuratively to be under obligation (ought, must, should)
3. Benevolence – kindness, compassion, well-minded. To give or yield something to one who has none.
4. Likewise – this is a two-way street as both husband and wife are obligated to each other.
5. “Due benevolence” means affection and marital duty. Each spouse owes the other love and care.
F. Verse 4 shows the true ownership of the body in marriage.
1. The wife has no power of decision in the marriage union. Her body belongs to her husband.
2. The husband has no power of decision in the marriage union. His body belongs to his wife.
3. The bodies of both husband and wife belong to God and the Holy Ghost, so are to be treated with the utmost respect and purity.
4. In marriage, the husband and wife belong to one another under God. There is no place for selfishness or withholding affection. Marriage requires mutual surrender out of love and respect.
G. Verse 5 shows us mutual celibacy at appropriate times. Couples should not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement, for spiritual purposes. A godly marriage includes both intimacy and spirituality. Neglecting either opens the door to temptation.
1. Defraud ye not – departure or to keep back that which belongs to another.
2. Except with consent during times of fasting or prayer.
3. Come together again, afterward, to return to the obligation of the marital bed.
4. Danger – temptation by Satan to commit fornication.
H. Verse 6. Your private life is very personal, and no one else needs to be involved. It is between the husband, wife, and the Lord! Paul offers practical wisdom guided by the Spirit, not a direct command.
J. Verse 7. Marriage is not a commandment but rather a blessing of choice. Paul values singleness for undivided service to Christ but recognizes marriage as a divine gift too. Both marriage and celibacy are gifts — neither superior, both honorable when used for God’s glory.
1. There is nothing wrong with not being married. It frees one to follow Christ fully and without restriction. There are three types of eunuchs in Matthew chapter 19. Eunuch - In the New Testament, eunuch is derived from a Greek word that means someone castrated and impotent who no longer has the desire. But the Lord put them into three different categories.
Matthew 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
a) Eunuchs – Born – Some people have no desire to marry.
b) Eunuchs – Of Men – Some people were rendered incapable by violent acts that left them with no physical desire.
c) Eunuchs – For God – Some have the gift of celibacy and only desire to use their lives for the Lord. Paul was such.
2. There is nothing wrong with being married. It is a natural desire fulfilled only within the bonds of matrimony. It brings about companionship and posterity. Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
K. Verses 8-9. For those without self-control, marriage is God’s provision. “Burn” refers to the temporal judgment of fornication. Marriage is God’s design for purity and companionship; it is better to marry than to sin.
L. Marriage Is God’s Ordained Method Of Companionship.
1. There Is To Be Fidelity In Marriage – “own wife – own husband”
a) Fidelity Brings Rejoicing - Proverbs 5:15-18 Dink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
b) Infidelity Brings Reproach - Proverbs 6:29-35 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
2. There Is To Be Fulfillment In Marriage.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Proverbs 5:19-20 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
Song of Solomon 1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3. There Is To Be Fellowship In Marriage.
a) Strength In Marriage - Song of Solomon 8:6-7 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
b) Satisfaction In Marriage - Ecclesiastes 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
c) Sharing In Marriage - 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
1) Spiritually – Church, devotion to God, service.
2) Conversationally – learn to talk and share your wants and desires.
3) Emotionally – learn to cross the rivers of life together.
4) Recreationally – learn to have common interests and do things together.
5) Intimately – this has been covered, but it is of the utmost importance.
Conclusion: Flee fornication. A sin that involves the union of the holy with the unholy, thus defiling spiritually and psychologically.
