But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, (30) those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, (31) and those who use this world as not misusing it.  For the form of this world is passing away.

The letter to the Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul  This first letter was written to address problems in the Christian church established by Paul – and the verses we study today concern practical application of principles set down by him .  Paul is NOT invoking his apostolic authority here and he clearly says this earlier in chapter 7.

The audience of 1 Corinthians is being told that they live in times of present distress and that “the time is short” – meaning that Christians have been told to expect suffering in this fleeting life by virtue of their Christian beliefs.  When a Christian marries the impact of distress caused by suffering is even greater because of worry for family.  Paul is basically saying that it is easier for a single person than a married Christian with a family  to endure tribulation.  Paul has made it clear that he is NOT advocating separation or divorce but is telling his readers to minimize distractions of earthly things and to focus on the eternal.  There is a proper place for family and the family is not to be forbidden or forsaken. But,  it is a temporal gift from God and nothing earthly should take precedence over God.

Paul is addressing weeping/suffering here also.  He is telling the Corinthians that everything in this life is temporary and insignificant relative to eternal glory – he is saying the same principle applies to rejoicing.  God has given us pleasure and it is not sinful in itself but can be abused.  What is wrong is finding pleasure apart from God.   Both suffering and pleasure are short lived.  All we possess – material things, physical strength and beauty, power/authority – all are gifts from God and we are the stewards of such gifts.  But the things of the world are not ours – they belong only to God.

Paul is challenging the Corinthians to consider staying single – not that this would make them more spiritual but perhaps would/could enhance their holiness.  But staying single does not automatically please God.  We can do anything and everything for the wrong reasons –  such as staying single out of fear of commitment, for immoral reasons or selfishness.  Our verses can also benefit those who marry.  We are called to certain conditions in life but our primary goal is to be HOLY – not happy – as either single or married believers.

Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them.  Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  (14) And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.  (15) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot?  Certainly not!

(17) But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  (18) Flee sexual immorality.  Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.  (19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is inn you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  (20) For you were bought at a price:  therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christian community at Corinth.  There were many problems in the ancient church there and today’s verses address the problem of sexual immorality.   There existed at Corinth a temple to the goddess Aphrodite and there was legal prostitution encouraged as part of the behavior for a cult to this pagan goddess.  Religious prostitution seems to have been widely acceptable as normal and moral – and legal.   In Corinth,  prostitution involved a religious act of worship.

The Corinthians appeared to equate morality with legality and lived according to human judgment.  Paul is telling his readers in our verses today that there is a higher standard for Christians.  Paul begins Chapter 6 by saying that as a Christian all things are lawful to him but not all things are profitable and that he would not allow anything to master him.  Paul believed that the cost of sexual immorality is high and there is great harm done – deep rooted damage we do ourselves in that sin.  Illicit sex not only harms, it can control, drive, compel and dominate – ending in our spiritual deaths.

The Christian believes that his/her body is meant for eternal life and that our bodies are meant for the Lord.  Sexual immorality is a unique sin in that it is a spiritual sin – the sexual act transcends the biological.  Sex is God’s idea and is meant for marriage.  In the Bible, the only ground given for divorce is adultery, mentioned twice in the gospel of Matthew.  Sin always brings loss – but sexual sin especially has more consequences in shattered marriages and families, damaged children – it can bring disease,heartache and can control the body.

Christians believe that Christ lives within them and that the body is the temple for the indwelling Spirit.  Christians believe that they belong to God and have been bought at the terrible price of Christ’s blood.  A building is not a temple of God, our bodies are.  Our bodies are meant to glorify God.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said:  In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.  (35)  But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.  (36) The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all – (37) that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:  (38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

The Acts of the Apostles was a history of the early Church written by Luke who was also the author of one of the Gospels.  Concerning the verses we study today, we have been told earlier in Chapter 10 about a vision the Apostle Peter had  – in this vision a sheet was let down from heaven and “in it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things and birds of the air……And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’  This was done three times.  And the object was taken up into heaven again.”  Following this vision Peter was called to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile who had also had a vision telling him to call for Peter.

Jesus had spoken against externalism and appearances.  He had said that uncleanliness comes from the heart and not from the external but from the heart TO the external.  The prophets foretold of this cleansing, Jesus announced it and now Peter is reminded of it in this vision.

After his revelation Peter did visit the house of Cornelius, the Gentile, and tended to his conversion and that of all his household.  So what we are taught through the story of food cleansing is God’s lesson that there is a new covenant between God and man – that there are no more clean and unclean meats.  Only a divine revelation could have changed Peter’s mind and heart and theology.  Jesus had performed a cleansing which made obsolete the ceremonial food laws.  True cleansing came through the cross.  The revelation to Peter was by the Holy Spirit and extended from foods to people.  Peter was led by the Spirit to proclaim the gospel to Cornelius the Gentile – the same gospel he had been preaching to the Jews, and it was all they needed to know and believe to be saved.

Christ is Lord of all.   Everyone, Jew or Gentile, who believes in Him will be cleansed from sin and given life eternal.  Salvation is from God and is available to all who believe.  There was/is no distinction between Jew and Gentile.  All who believe are moved from darkness to light – from death to life.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles – (2) if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, (3) how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery……(5) which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets;  (6) that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel

The letter to the Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul.  He wrote this while in prison in Rome to assure the faithful in Ephesus that his suffering was for the gospel and he wrote that he considered it a privilege to endure this suffering for the glory of God and for the future glory of the faithful.  In our verses today, Paul writes of a mystery which he calls the mystery of Christ which is now revealed.  This revelation was that in Christ, Jews and Gentiles alike are to be members of Christ’s church and there would be no distinction between them.

Paul was concerned about the impact his imprisonment might have on his readers.  Some sought to capitalize on this making it appear that Paul’s gospel was wrong and God was punishing him.  Paul assures his readers that he was called by God to be a preacher of the Gospel.  Broadly speaking it was the ministry of a mystery about salvation of sinful man, accomplished by the life, death and resurrection of Christ.  What was new and unexpected – utterly unexpected – was that Jews and Gentiles would be equal in the new man and the new Church.  This was not a welcome thought for the Jews.  God promised that His blessing would come through the “seed” of Abraham – Paul is saying that the promised seed was not referring to all Jews in general but one particular Jew – Jesus Christ.  Judaism thought/thinks that salvation was the automatic possession of all Jews.  The Jews also believed that only the Gentiles who became Jews were to be saved – they looked down on Pagans.

Paul said that “both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin….There is none righteous; not even one.”  Salvation is through faith in the completed works of Christ and is an unearned gift of God.  Salvation is not the possession of the Jews – it is the possession of God accomplished by God through the cross of Jesus Christ.  God is the One who will bestow salvation upon anyone He chooses, by grace.  Christ came as Messiah to Jews and Gentiles.  The reconciiation of both in Christ and in His church is the mystery God has revealed.