Pastor Sonny continues his message on 1 Corinthians 7 from last week, addressing the complex dynamics of “mixed marriages” and the believer’s call to peace. He unpacks Paul’s teaching that a believing spouse brings sanctification to the marriage, yet clarifies that if an unbeliever chooses to leave, the Christian is “not enslaved”. This sermon explores the balance between the permanence of the marriage covenant and God’s provision of protection against abandonment and abuse, reminding us that God calls His children to peace, not bondage.
1 Corinthians 7:10–16
10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?