18Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? As Paul writes in verse 17, And so I ordain in all the churches. This is a foundational principle for every believer in Christ, in every Christian church, in any culture, in any nation of the world, at any time in history. The principle that Paul had already taught in relation to marriage is here mentioned clearly three times. It is no accident that you are where you are. But the apostles and church leaders met together, and prayed together, and declared from the Lord that this was not necessary. There are times where opportunities present themselves to make something different of our circumstances. You dont have to join a new people group. John 5:1-18 Study Guide: Do You Want to be Healed? Not only the president but anyone at higher rank than you could dump whatever work they wanted to on you. 2. The Holy Spirit living in us helps us to walk through life in a new way. . a- Paul at this time is single. ", John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. We begin to treat our daily responsibilities and duties more seriously. What Paul was doing was showing that obedience to the commands of God is so much more important than any cultural distinctives, that the mere changing of these distinctives should be of no importance whatever to the Christian. All of those things are, by the providence of God, a part of our callingin the very midst of which He calls us into a relationship with Jesus. GOD says, I called you in the middle of an assignment that I had given you, you just werent aware of my presence in that. I have no doubt that, if all our young people are bending every effort to stay close to God and to obey the commands of Scripture, God will distribute them in the world exactly where he wants their influence for him. Father we ask that you will give us grace to seek you, to seek your will, to seek your favor, especially as we wrestle though a thousand difficult questions. Paul then learned of divisions . Let him not seek circumcision.1 Corinthians 7:18, ESV There were some Jewish Christians who insisted on that, however. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 New International Version Concerning Change of Status 17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. All of us, in whatever assignments we find ourselves, we are the slaves of Jesus Christ and that transcends any worldly employment or assignment. If you are married and you have an opportunity to divorce your spouse and go after someone else, the Bible tells you that is sin and you may not do it. He found it to be exhausting and difficult and almost impossible to keep. We will pervert Paul's teaching and miss his intention if we take the sentence, "Let the uncircumcised not be circumcised" (verse 18), and make it an absolute prohibition of cultural adaptations. He is author of. When Jesus said in Matthew 22:14, "Many are called, but few are chosen," he referred to the world-wide call of the gospel which many people hear and reject to their own doom. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Single And Whole Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on May 30, 2018 | 5,574 views This sermon deals with the reality that every single person is a whole person. Those are the vertical, the authority, differentials. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:24, ESV. Gods Calling Transcends Horizontal Assignments Charles Hodge describes it this way, This would mean to be near God. Slaves were sometimes highly educated and trusted with administrative responsibility. The greener grass syndrome, where we look for somewhere else or a different situation where my life would be easier or just flat out better. God alone rules each circumstance of life. The word that occurs in each statement of the principle and nine times altogether in this paragraph is the word "call." It doesnt work that way. We begin to read the Bible with new passion and understanding. That place that we were in when He called us was no accident. View all of our resources on the biblical book of 1 Corinthians. In verses 17-24, we see that Paul applies this principle to all of life. Now, Paul is then drawing the application of this point to probably one of the most difficult circumstances to find yourself in, that of a bondservant, a slave. in which God called him," and when he says in verse 24, "In whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God," he is referring to a divine call by which we were drawn to believe in Christ. You have the same objective passages to look at, but you need to look at how that will be applied in your situation. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 Study Guide: The Sin of Tolerance. Even so, we know that they are a sinner and you are a sinner. So, as a church we are not separated as this holy huddle that is kept away from all peoples everywhere. We dont need to find an island that we can settle in and populate that is just for Christians, sealed off from the rest of the world. God can save you and make you clean. We will have confidence when Jesus Christ returns. Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. Now, dear brothers and sisters; how do we apply this principle? Yet if you are in the condition of a bondservant, understand you dont need to seek a change from that either. Let no man enslave your soul. But the next things that Paul goes on to talk about in verse twenty through twenty-three are vertical boundaries. This is seen most clearly in 1 Corinthians 1:23, 24, where Paul says, "We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." So, he says in verse eighteen, This is true. We are going to see three sections in our study of this text. Rather, we are to walk as a faithful Christian in the very place of life where God has called us to Himselfand to let Him use us there, in that place, as His witnesses for Christ. There were some who had forsaken that sign and who had become uncircumcised. Likewise, Paul also said, Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Building On The Past - 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. In the assignment in which the call of God came to you, walk in that. (2) If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast aboutbut not before God. 1 Corinthians 7:17, ESV It doesnt mean that you are fixed there forever, but the default is bloom where you are planted. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Still, we might ask the question why Paul doesnt seek that the institution of slavery be abolished all together? But as you see, Zacchaeus didnt remain in that sinful lifestyle any longer. The Bible doesnt say yes it will or no it wont. 1- They seem to be looking to Paul as an example for the Christian life. And in this vocation or station in life another calling comes from God. Most modern versions say, "Were you a slave when called? He has kept those relations in place for a reason. Please place your trust in Him. For those principles from your word, for the clear teaching of your word to so saturate everything we think and do that your Holy Spirit can illuminate our responsibilities, our vows, our promises, the needs of others around us in a way that accords with what you have taught in your word. Text: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17. No matter how difficult his circumstances was, no matter how menials the assignments he was given, what a joy to abide in the presence with God. Between the bottom two pieces are verses 2123 where the principle is applied to slavery and freedom. But instead make obedience a big deal; make the whole aim of your life to obey the moral law of God. This doctrine of effectual calling changes what we expect out of life. Prepare your messages on God's Word in 1 Corinthians with sermon outlines or an . In those days, people would often sell themselves into slavery to pay off debts. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Paul is saying that change, as good as it is and as much as you should pursue it if you can, that change is unnecessary in light of what we are called to in Christ. Indeed, becoming a slave of the right person could be a career choice. Paul has already used this word a few times and its good to look back and see them. We should learn to accept His calling, and to be confident in it, and to even thank Him for it. Rather, he meant that ones place in the social structure as a slave didnt affect whether or not someone was able to be a follower of Jesus. And so, He had His loving eye upon us, and His sovereign hand upon our lives, from the very beginning. Once the person came the sign gave way to a reality. In whatever place of life we were in, at that time when we were called by God to place our faith in Jesus and trust Him as our Savior, we are to remain there as if with God. Quietness Of Spirit . There is no new prophecy, no new words from the Lord, they are already given to us. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. There is no clear objective rule on this. Let's read 1 Corinthians 7:1724. You must be white in order to be approved." He ought to be able to say, "Never mind." Here now the word of the Lord from 1 Corinthians 7:1-9. If they were called to God in a state of cultural freedom, then they are to be faithful to walk with Jesus Christ as His servants within their liberty. When Paul says in verse 17, "Let everyone lead the life . Picking Your Fights - 1 Corinthians 9:1-23. The second is opportunity, I see this word in verse twenty-one. I have a responsibility to my wife that no one in heaven or earth shares. In both of those cases, Paul is saying remain in your assignments, whatever they may be as you await the hope of glory when Christ returns. The moment any woman or man or young person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they become completely born-again in Him. Then we ask am I obeying? Not for an answer, but for the wisdom that other believers, who are further along in the faith perhaps, have gained through the Holy Spirits illumination in their lives as they have been faced with similar questions. Someone was just as able to be called to God through Christand to live for Jesus just as faithfullyin a state of slavery as much as in a state of freedom. I think that the greatest explanation of what Paul meant is found in Romans 2. 4 For the You have heard this morning about how He transforms the lives of all those who trust Him. Again, in verse eleven With long-suffering and prayer and humble, exemplary conduct, the believing partner longs to win the unbeliever. The early church lifted up the single lifestyle. You would be functionally a slave, yet what an honorable position working for that great politician. One time he uses the word "calling" in this vocational sense, namely, in verse 20. Gods presence enables us to abide in whatever assignments we have. We pray this in Christs name. Should you leave whatever you are doing and go do whatever you think Holy Spirit should be doing? There are times when we should avail ourselves of opportunities. Understand that this is the glorious gospel of salvation in Christ. You were bought with a price. Understand that ancient slavery, the kind that Paul was familiar with at this time, was very different than the kind of slavery that was practiced in the United States until the Civil War. With God! Gods Calling Teaches Us to Abide with God. It was a sovereign on purpose; and was guided and arranged by Him for the manifestation of His glory in and through us. Why You Should Preach This Book. Seek to follow the Lords leading but remember this number one priority. Let's all pray before we set out to work: "God, go with me today and keep me conscious of your presence. You dont have to leave what you are doing; you dont have to quit your job and enter full time vocational ministry. 24 and are . The "called" are not all who hear the preaching, but those who receive it as wisdom. First Corinthians 7:17-24 expands on Paul's rule of thumb: that Christians should remain in whatever situation they were in when they came to faith in Christ. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy (1 Corinthians 7:12-14). Now; this fundamental principle is given to us in three verses. The translation problem in verse 21 is really tough. Let him not seek circumcision. Use it to obey Christ and thus "adorn the doctrine of our great God and Savior" (Titus 2:10). Respond to Gods effectual call through faith in Jesus. What if you are dating? (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. In verse 23, Paul said, You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. And that is the true condition of a new creation in Christ, whether they are a slaves or freedmen. 1) God put us here. What do we mean by this? Notice how radically different Paul's rationale is for keeping your cultural distinctives than the rationale current in our day. 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lords freedman. Do not be concerned about it. office@harvestpca.org | (402) 558-4119, Copyright 2023 Harvest Community Church (PCA) | Site Map | Terms & Privacy, Jesus Divides the Earth Matthew 10:3442, No Comfort for the Lonely City Lamentations 1:1-22, "Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage" (1 Corinthians 7:1016), The Present Form of this World is Passing Away (1 Corinthians 7:25-31) . So, what does Paul mean, dont worry about circumcision, just worry about keeping the commands of God. There is one who has authority over you, and you must be humble and submissive.". Then he looks to the noble free man and says, "Do not become proud, for in Christ you are a slave.