Concerning Marriage. 1Corinthians 7:1-16 In the assembly at Corinth, there were two extremes. Some people didn’t seem to think that physical sexual activity affected them negatively, and others considered any physical sexual activity to be inherently evil. Some were careless in their lives and morals and others became very self-centered and went to the extreme other direction and were saying Christians should not get married and perhaps they should get a divorce if they were married in order to keep from sinning. Those believers didn’t each have a Bible of their own so in a way, we can understand why these things came up.
Circumstances and society in general in the city of Corinth made it very easy for sexual immorality to flourish - even among Christians. It is quite common for those who belong to the family of God to be wrongly influenced by the things society around accepts as normal. Virginity among young unmarried people today is uncommon. The pressure to be like everyone else is ongoing day after day in schools and the workplace. Paul addresses those questions the Corinthian believers had because there were extreme views about the marital practices of the saints. It seemed like some were promoting celibacy as necessary for one who is spiritual. Others were probably saying that now they were saved all things were lawful.
The pendulum of self-imposed ideas often swings from one extreme to another. In one so-called "Christian" denomination celibacy is considered necessary for spiritual service. In other groups some practice open, uncommitted sexual intercourse as evidence of "Christian love." Celibacy is certainly permitted in the context of Christian and assembly life but it is not commanded, nor is it recommended to those who have the need for sexual intimacy. It is an honorable state and entirely proper if one lives in strict celibacy. But that is what it is. It does not leave room for occasional sex. If one is called by God and given this gift, then one can be thankful for the freedom to serve the Lord in a committed and contented state. It is neither more “right,” nor more spiritual. It simply leaves one at more liberty to attend to the things of God.
The Holy Spirit lives in each one who has come into the family of God by faith in Jesus Christ and He bears witness with our awakened spirit that we are children of God. In order to not do or say what is wrong we have to commit ourselves to following His guidance. Sexual relations are normal and a holy part of marriage. Christian husbands and wives in the bonds of marriage should give each other full rights in this area of married life and not divorce each other.
Christian marriage provides a way to avoid sexual temptations and fulfill the natural and normal desires God gives us. To "be fruitful and multiply" were instructions from God that can be fulfilled by means of sexual love. The privilege of sexual love with one person in a union to which both are legally committed by marriage vows enables us to "avoid fornication." The way it is properly maintained is by each recognizing our body belongs to the one to whom we are married - the husband's body to his wife, and her body to him. This deliberately makes each one available to the other to meet his or her need physically and emotionally. Because sex around us is promiscuous does not mean that such practice is right. To marry and stay married to one person for life is what we are to do. I belong to my wife and she belongs to me. That is a fundamental condition of Christian marriage.
Christians who have been married to non-Christians before God saved them should not divorce an unbelieving spouse who wants to remain in the marriage. Unbelievers benefit from the blessings God gives to believers. Godly lives have a holy influence on family members who are still not Christians. The big concern for the one who is a Christian is to maintain peace in their marriage. It may be by the Holy Spirit being the obvious guide in the believer, that the other partner may be brought to salvation. No matter what the situation, God enables a believer to “walk” a new life in Christ as it should be.