1. There is this notion that once a person gets saved everything in his life will be permanently altered. But this is simply not true.
2. The Bible does say, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Cor.5:17). When a man is born again his life certainly will change.
3. He no longer likes the things he used to like. Now he likes to go to church and read the Bible. He will look differently, act differently, talk differently, etc.
4. But nevertheless, some things will remain the same. If he is saved in jail, he will probably remain in jail (at least for awhile). If he is employed in a certain occupation when he is saved, that will not change (right away).
5. And salvation does not change the state of a man’s marriage (7:12-17). "As the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk" (7:17).
6. If a Jew gets saved, he is still a Jew. Now he is a saved Jew, but he does not lose his Jewishness. A Jew does not have to become a Gentile, nor does a Gentile become a Jew (7:18-20). However, when Paul says to "abide in the same calling" (7:20), he is referring to callings that are not in themselves sinful. He is not saying that is alright for a Christian to stay in a sinful occupation (e.g. bartender, gambler, etc.).
7. This also applies to servants (7:21). If they are able to secure their freedom they should do so, but there was no guarantee that they would get their freedom (7:21-24).
8. It is interesting to note that these verses are in the middle of a chapter that is dealing with marriage and divorce (7:1,2,9-11, etc.). There is a reason for it and this is the point: "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called" (7:20). "Let every (single, divorced, widower, married with an unsaved wife, married with a saved wife, etc.) man abide in the same calling…"
9. Salvation does not affect these circumstance. "Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God" (7:24).
10. Whereas the first part of chapter 7 deals primarily with married people, this next section deals primarily with single people. "Virgins" (7:25) refers to "virgin daughters," i.e., single women. And Paul also speaks to single men as well (7:26).

1. The expression "present distress" (7:26) refers to local conditions. The Christians in Corinth were facing difficult times of oppression and persecution.
2. This principle is found elsewhere in the Bible. Do you recall that the Lord instructed Jeremiah not to marry (Jer.16:1-4)?
3. During the tribulation, the 144,000 witnesses will not marry (Rev.14:4).
4. Paul himself found it easier to minister without a wife (I Cor. 7:8,38,40).
5. This is not to suggest that celibacy is preferable or better. Under normal circumstances, it is not wrong to get married. Paul goes on to say, "But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned" (7:28; cf. Gen.2:18; Pro.18:22; 19:14; 31:10; I Tim.3:2,4,5,11,12; 4:1-3; Heb.13:4).
6. Paul is saying that under the present circumstances, i.e. "the present distress" (I Cor.7:26), it would be better to remain single. We are not told what this "present distress" was but it probably involved persecution as well as the horrible immorality that was prevalent in Corinth.
7. Certainly this type of situation could apply in some cases today but it would be the exception rather than the rule.

2. SINGLES NEED TO CONSIDER THE RESPONSIBILITIES.

1. Paul plainly says, "Nevertheless such (married folk) shall have trouble in the flesh" (7:28b).
2. The idea here is to put God first (7:29-31). Many men start out strong for the Lord but then allow a worldly wife to sidetrack them. Likewise, many spiritual women have been hindered by worldly husbands.
3. We should not allow any temporal relationship or any human occupation to hinder our fellowship with God or our obedience to His will (7:29-31).
4. Paul refers to weeping, and rejoicing, and buying (7:30) – all normal activities for the saved as well as the unsaved. The point he is making is that we should not be preoccupied with the things of this world (7:31).
5. Notice the words "carefulness" (anxiety) and "careth" (7:32-34). A wife that is married to a pastor or a missionary must be willing to sacrifice. Paul recognizes this (7:40; cf. 7:8).
6. This passage indicates that fathers should pick out the right husbands for their daughters (7:36-38). The older I get the more and more convinced I am that this is God’s way (cf. Gen.24:1-4).

3. SINGLES NEED TO CONSIDER THE PERMANENCE OF MARRIAGE (7:39).

1. Too many people enter into marriage lightly, as if it were of little consequence. To them, breaking up a marriage is like quitting a job or dropping out of school or moving to a different neighborhood. But that is not the way God looks at it (I Cor.7:10,11,39).
2. This is the view of the NT (cf. Rom.7:1-3; Mark 10:2-12).
3. Death breaks the marriage relationship (I Cor.7:39). However, if the widow wishes to remarry it must be "in the Lord" (7:39), i.e. to a Christian and it must be in the will of God.
4. Certainly no one should ever marry someone outside of God’s will.

CONCLUSION:

1. I referred a few minutes ago to how Abraham told his servant to go and fetch a wife for Isaac. Do you recall that story?
2. If you read it carefully, it is a picture of how God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to fetch a bride for His Son (cf. Gen.24:55-58).