1 Corinthians Week 14

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:12-13 

¹² Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. ¹³ And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. 

Paul dealt with what should occur in a marriage if one becomes a believer and the other is not. If the unbeliever is willing to continue living with the believer, then that should be allowed. Paul first used the husband in his example and then used a wife to say the same. Paul was concerned that such marriages should not be ended if the unbeliever is willing to live with the believer. 

REFLECT 

Often we think the problem of being unequally yoked is only with whom one marries. Have you thought about what to do if the problem arises after marriage? 

RESPOND 

The matter of being unequally yoked has to do with a believer not marrying an unbeliever. This is treated in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15. In 1 Corinthians 7:12-13 Paul gave instructions about this occurring after marriage. Talk with a friend about the differences in these situations. 

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:14 

¹⁴ For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy. 

Paul now answers why he gave permission for an unbeliever to remain with a believer if this unequal yoke occurred after marriage. The words “holiness” and “holy” are related to the same Greek word for “sanctification” and “sanctify.” The meaning in both cases refers to being “set apart.” If the unbeliever will remain with the believer, the children are “set apart” in a better situation than if the couple ended their marriage. 

REFLECT 

Thank the Lord that, as a believer in Jesus, you are set apart from the things of the world to serve and honor Him.  

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about how Paul’s letter began in 1 Corinthians 1:2. He referred to the believers as “holy people.” See what this verse says about how they were made that way. 

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:15-16 

¹⁵ (But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.) ¹⁶ Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you? 

If the unsaved spouse insists on leaving, the other spouse should let the person leave. Paul did not want a person to have to live in an abusive household, instead he said, “God has called you to live in peace.” If the unsaved person would stay with the believing spouse, that could result in the salvation of the unbeliever. This would have an eternal benefit. 

REFLECT 

This points out the concern every believer should have for unbelievers. All a Christ-follower can do is live out the life of Christ. Only God can convert the unsaved person.  

RESPOND 

Join with a friend to read what the apostle Peter said about wives winning their husbands as he wrote 1 Peter 3:1-2. A changed life is one of the greatest testimonies to an unsaved spouse or other unbelievers.  

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:17 

¹⁷ Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches. 

Paul had said that a believer should permit an unbeliever to stay in the marriage relationship. He further instructed that people should remain in the situation they were in when they trusted Jesus as Savior. In this case it meant they should not seek a divorce even though they are now unequally yoked together.  

REFLECT 

What kind of a situation were you in when you trusted Jesus as Savior? Did you remain as you had been? 

RESPOND 

It does not seem the apostle was saying a person should stay in an ungodly business after trusting in Jesus as Savior. If the believer wishes to honor Christ in all he or she does, it will not be long before the person will know what they should do. 

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 7:18-19 

¹⁸ For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. ¹⁹ For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments. 

Paul wrote about the distinction of Jews and Gentiles. After salvation, the individual should not try to change his nationality. The most important thing was to live in a way that honors God. Born again Jews should seek to win others to Christ (Messiah), and Gentiles should seek to win others to Him also.  

REFLECT 

How has your life changed since you trusted in Jesus for salvation? Have you told others this? 

RESPOND 

Your attitude toward others will be an example that you are a Christ-follower. Believers had been told they should love each other, but notice the “new commandment” Jesus gave them in John 13:34. Discuss with a friend about what makes this commandment a new one.