Introduction
There is a knock at your door. You open it; two strangers inform you they have a message to pass on to you. The event has occurred. Reality as people have known it has changed, and the events that lead to an inevitable destiny have now been set in motion. The question for you is, How now will you live? Will you live as everyone else who do not have the same knowledge, or at least do not believe it? Or will your life be marked different? That is the issue Paul presents to the Corinth saints.
Text
To understand this passage, and to get a better grasp on the whole letter, it is time to consider Paul’s perspective on a subject called eschatology. That is a theological word for “end time.” The popular Left Behind series is about eschatology. The sermon series I preached for Mark 13 was about eschatology, the end time when Christ returns.
Some of you might recoil at the subject. Are we going to go have to listen to another series of theology about the end time? I sympathize. I preached the sermons, and I have trouble sorting through the “isms” presented – premillennialism, postmillennialism, amillennialism, preterism, pretrib- vs. postribulation premillennialism. It can lead to “headache-ism” trying to sort it all out!
You will be glad to know, then, that I will not repeat the series. Our concern is how eschatology influenced Paul and the early church in the way they lived. For what eschatology is really about is how one should perceive the times in which we live right now. The premise of eschatology is not merely that history will come to an end at some time, but that the course of history has changed. Reality itself has been transformed. And how well we understand this change will affect the way we live.
How has history changed? It changed with the entry of God the Son into the world through his incarnation. Up to this time, man’s body was little more than a sign of his fall from favor with God. He had been created in God’s image with the intention of living forever, reflecting God’s glory. Instead, he sinned, marring God’s image and ushering in death. History in one sense has then been the story of how man continues to re-enact Adam’s and Eve’s fall, which ends in death.
But when God the Son took on our flesh, he re-enacted not the fall, but the restoration of the body to reflect God’s glory and entry into everlasting life. He did this, first, by leading a sinless life in complete obedience to God the Father. Then came the crucial act of taking the sins of man upon himself on the cross and making atonement. Next came the resurrection which proved his work on the cross was accepted by God, and that he had won the victory over sin and death. Now, instead of every person born re-enacting the results of man’s fall, now there continues to be a growing number of persons reborn and re-enacting Christ’s restoration of man to the image of God.
Paul writes about this in two places. One is in Romans 5:12-21. Let me read part of what he says:
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ (12, 15-17).
Adam’s sin opened the floodgate for sin and death to come into the world. Christ’s obedience brought justification and righteousness.
In our letter to the Corinthians, Paul will again present the contrast between Adam and Christ, this time emphasizing the effect on our bodies.
[A]s by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ…. “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven (15:21-23; 45-49).
The resurrection of Jesus’ body is the signal that we also will experience resurrection. This can be hard to take in, but we are to understand that what Jesus did by his incarnation, death, and resurrection was not merely a matter of “getting us off the hook,” so to speak. We were not only forgiven, but a process was set in motion to change us and our destiny.
This process got its kick-start at Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. One might say that the age of the Spirit, i.e. the Holy Spirit, had begun. Jesus had promised to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in his people and to be a seal of his saving grace. Peter spoke of the Spirit’s coming and the manifestation of spiritual gifts as fulfilling the prophecy of Joel about the “last days.”
The “last days” have begun, the time in which the Holy Spirit inhabits God’s people and works in them to sanctify them and prepare them for the return of their King. When will be the return? If only the apostles and church leaders knew! What they did know that no more needed to be done by Christ; he had completed his works of incarnation, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. He had sent the Holy Spirit as promised. Nothing remains except for him to return. But how long the interval? What all must the Spirit do? How many of God’s elect are to be harvested? These questions they did not have answers to. What they had was the admonition of Christ to be alert. It is in that context in which Paul writes to the Corinthians.
Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned.
Literally, the term is “virgins.” From the context, it appears that Paul is addressing the case of couples who are engaged to be married. He has said that it is better to remain single or at least don’t change one’s condition. But what if one is engaged to be married? Should he break off the engagement; does he remain in a state of engagement?
Paul notes that he has no command from the Lord to pass on. There is no record of Jesus addressing the issue. Even so, as an apostle he can give trustworthy counsel which is in line with what he has been saying. Remain single if you are able. If, however, you do get married, that’s fine. It is no sin to get married.
Based on Paul’s counsel so far, this instruction is expected. It is what he says next that makes us wonder if he isn’t getting a bit weird on us:
Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
Consider what he says about the way to live. [L]et those who have wives live as though they had none. But Paul instructed married couples earlier in the chapter to fulfill their marital obligations. [Let] those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing. Well, which is it? Are we to be mourning or rejoicing? [Let] those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. Then why buy? Why deal with the world? Why do something and then act as though we are not doing it?
Paul gives an explanation. He gives his instructions based on the times in which they live. [T]hose who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short…[T]he present form of this world is passing away.
What is Paul talking about? What troubles? Are they connected with the “present distress” of verse 26? What is the “appointed time” that has grown very short? What is meant by the mysterious remark that the present form of this world is passing away?
It seems that some kind of trouble is at hand. Paul himself has certainly experienced trials and persecutions for his preaching. Could it be he is anticipating persecution for the church?
Consider now the comments about time grown short and the present form of this world passing away. The ESV’s rendition of “appointed time” is not helpful. There is only one Greek word – kairos. It can indicate a date, also the concept of a season of time, such as the time of fall or winter. Now think, what season has recently entered into human history? It is the age of the Holy Spirit or the Church spreading the kingdom of God in anticipation of Christ’s return. The present form of this world is passing away as the kingdom of God enters and spreads. The troubles that come are birth pains, so to speak, of the changes taking place.
The return of Christ is at hand. How soon? Paul doesn’t know, but it is evident in this and other texts that he anticipates it possibly in his lifetime. Again, he doesn’t know and never does make a prediction. But he does preach to believers to be alert. One thing he does know for sure is that a new age has dawned. There are no more ages to pass through before the final day comes. Therefore make each day count for the kingdom of God. Make the spread of God’s kingdom with the anticipation of Christ’s return the motivating factor for living. Yes, you live in this world and are to carry out your responsibilities in this world, but keep your eyes on the kingdom of God.
Lesson
Live with a sense of urgency and with your priority being service to God’s kingdom. That is the message of this text. Whatever your eschatology – pre-mil, post-mil, a-mil, preterest, and everything inbetween – live as though nothing is more important than serving your King who someday will return. If Paul sounds a bit extreme, consider how mild he sounds next to Jesus.
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:59-62).
And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (12:29-40).
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (14:26-27).
All this sounds radical, even worse, unbalanced! Surely we are not to hate our families. Surely, we are to be good stewards of our resources and take proper care of ourselves and families. Yes, there is something to be said for balance, and, of course, we are to love our families, but don’t miss the point of both Jesus and Paul. Nothing, nothing is more important than the glory of God. No one is to take from our love for God. No one and nothing is to come in between our devotion to God. Jesus Christ has purchased us by his blood; we belong to him.
Jesus has ushered in a new age in which we as his people are to grow into his image, live in selfless devotion to his service, and show what it means to belong to his kingdom. There ought to be something out of balance about us.
And that is difficult for us in our comfortable society. We live in society that teaches us there is nothing more important than our comfort, and, most dangerous of all, enables us easily to be comfortable. “Don’t overdo,” is our motto, the exception being that we should not be deterred from achieving our personal goals. Then we may live somewhat focused.
But nothing is worse than being “heavenly-minded.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard that phrase be used positively. To be heavenly-minded is to be no-earthly good, right? A pie-in-the-sky religion makes us escapists from the world, yes? From the Bible’s perspective, what is our reason for living on this earth if it is not to serve heaven? If the earth someday will be re-created as a new earth, and if our destiny is spent in eternity beyond this earthly life, why do we live as though this world is what holds real, lasting value?
Consider marriages and families. Are we to love our spouses and family members? Of course. But to put them before God is not only make idols out of them, but to curse them. We harm them to make them what they were not created to be. They were created to glorify God, not detract from his glory. Likewise, the same is true with anything good in this world, anything that we enjoy. All has been created, all has been given that in them and through them God might be glorified. And now that Christ has come and brought redemption, there should be nothing more important to us than to be used for the sake of redemption. Nothing should matter more than to see Christ’s redemption bring forgiveness and transformation in the lives of people, for God has chosen to glorify himself by displaying his redemption.
I know these statements raise questions. Should I give up my job? Should evangelism be the only thing I do? What are practical ways that I can apply what you are saying? But the real question is how convicted we are that we have been created and redeemed so that we might live our lives to the glory of God? We need to examine our hearts with that question. It’s a mindset. Be concerned about keeping a balance between service to God and meeting one’s needs, then these questions never do get settled. Have a mind and heart devoted to God and the practical questions will work themselves out. When you believe you are living in the end time, and you are focused on serving the Lord, he will provide for you.
