October 26, 2024 (updated)
1 Corinthians Chapter 7, Paul is speaking to the Corinthians church concerning many things. The Corinthians church was a very carnal church in their infancy… “babes in Christ”, fed with milk. 1 Cor. 3:1KJV, Paul told them that he could not speak to them about “spiritual things” because they were carnal, I have fed you with milk, and not with meat.
Paul is Speaking. Not The Lord
Even as we get to Chapter 7, in this chapter the theme continues with Paul stating some of his advice has nothing to do with the “spiritual things of God” 1 Corinthians 7:12 KJV “But to the rest speak I, not the Lord:
Some of Chapter 7 includes Paul speaking, not the Lord. Because the questions and concerns the Corinthians have regarding the body of Christ had nothing to do with the spiritual things of God, Paul can only give his opinion. His recourse is addressing some of their carnal concerns. The Corinthians concerns should be building the body of Christ spiritually because that is what we are building as a body; 1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV ye are God’s building. Their concerns about sex, fornication, and defrauding one another is only about their “physical bodies”
When Paul later writes the epistle of Ephesians, he explains that when marriage is normally discussed in his 13 epistles (according to the mystery) , it is normally discussed as an example of Christ’s relationship with the church. (The spiritual aspect of marriage in relation to Christ and the church… not the physical aspect of marriage; between a husband and wife).
The Corinthians in their infancy (as a new established church) learning about the spiritual things of God, could not connect the dots of the mystery in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7. Because they were carnally-minded, (carnal- defined as the things of the physical flesh that can be touched, seen, heard, felt); they were focusing too much on the carnal things of marriage.
The body of Christ is instructed to walk by faith in the spiritual things of God; 2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
The mystery of Christ and the mystery of the church; using marriage as an example to explain how we become members of a “spiritual family” and members of a “spiritual body”; aka the body of Christ
Ephesians 5:30 KJV “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
Ephesians 5:32 KJV “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”
The Mystery of the Church
A Spiritual Family and a Spiritual Body
Bones of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh
The mystery of the Church is God made us ONE SPIRIT with him once we believed and trusted the cross. He gave us his Holy Spirit to walk through this life with hope in his promises. (no more sin, eternal life, glorified bodies) Christ in you, the hope of Glory!
Colossians 1:27 KJV To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Galatians 5:5 KJV “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
Members of a body– the body of Christ is one body
- Spiritual body- the body of Christ is a spiritual body with a head and members
- Natural body- our natural bodies also have a head with different parts members
When God describes the church he describes us as one body; (the body of Christ). We are a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:44 KJV “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” Romans 12:5 KJV So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another
Ephesians 4:4-6 KJV There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Members- Members of a family; (family members)
- Spiritual family- the body of Christ is a spiritual family with a Head and Father (power and authority) .
- Natural family- also has family members with a father (authority), head, and children
When God describes the church he also describes it as a family with a Head and Father; the family is describes as beloved, adopted, children, and accepted by God; accepted into a glorious family.
Beloved– a family
Ephesians 1:5-6 KJV “The adoption of children….To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved (family) ”
Head/Father- Authority, Saviour, and Father
Ephesians 5:23KJV For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”
Christ is the head of the “family” and his will is to save his family members from death and sin. He did this by dying on the cross for our sins. It was an act of kindness; a gift.
Benevolence (An act of kindness; a gift)
Galatians 2:20 KJV I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Belong to Christ– (belonging to God with a Seal)
We have a “distinguished” seal for when Jesus return, He will know those that belong to him. We were sealed with the Holy Spirit. We belong to God and not Satan.
A believer in the Finished Work of the Cross & Jesus Can Never Lose Their Salvation
A seal can not be reversed once sealed/signed by a King (Head/authority); God has given the body of Christ his Spirit and made us ONE with him.
Esther 8:8 KJV (Prophesy to the Jew; remnant, the little flock) “for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.”
2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV (Mystery- body of Christ) “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
1 Corinthian 1:4 KJV The wife hath not power of her own body
1Corinthians 7:3 KJV Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.”
ONE FLESH- GENESIS 2:21-23
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
BONES OF MY BONE AND FLESH OF MY FLESH
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
RIGHTLY-DIVIDING THE SCRIPTURES
FLESH AND BLOOD (BIOLOGICAL FAMILY)
VERSUS
FLESH AND BONE (SPIRITUAL FAMILY)
Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold (look) my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
