I think Paul himself might be a good example for us in this. Never mind. Let no man enslave your soul. Then Paul turns in verses 2123 to apply his principle to the issue of whether one is a slave or a freedman. 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. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) The people group that God assigned you by your birth is in no way a hinderance to believing the gospel and following after the call of Jesus Christ to believe in him. But it's true. Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. Still, we might ask the question why Paul doesnt seek that the institution of slavery be abolished all together? This is my rule in all the churches. And note one more thing. We areeach of usto remain with God in that state in which we were called. I have to think about my actions, what did I do, what didnt I do? Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:22-24. Please place your trust in Him. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). You were bought with a price. In the last analysis, nothing else will matter but that. If you took that job you would functionally be a slave. The Holy Spirit takes the objective, inspired word of God and he illuminates that to my specific details of my life. But as you see, Zacchaeus didnt remain in that sinful lifestyle any longer. The Time is Short "The time is short." 1 Corinthians vii. But otherwise, the believer is to remain in the place where God had called them to Himself; and they should continue walking faithfully with Him there, and allow Him to use them as His witnesses for the kingdom of Jesus. Then verse 20, "Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called." March 17, 1904. 1 Corinthians. The upshot of this is that whether a person is a slave or a freedman, it ought not be the cause of his despair or his pride. And so, the apostle Pauls specific instruction to usthat is, that we remain in the place we were in at the time God called us to Himselfshould be understood to mean that we are not to continue practicing sin. This is my rule in all the churches. For the scriptures to frame how we are looking at this question. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 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. Sermon . Gods Calling Transcends Vertical Assignments This is the same point he was making with cultural differences like circumcision: Were you uncircumcised? The things that we didnt want to do before, we now begin to love to do. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.1 Corinthians 7:23, ESV Later text clarifies that Paul is not denouncing marriage or forbidding it in any sense. | Download (0.2KB), Worship Time Childcare provided for children ages 0-7, Revival Prayer Meeting, 6:00 pm at the church, Church Prayer Group, 7:00 pm at the church, Men's Breakfast, 7:30 am at the 185th Shari's. What matters is not whether our job is high or low in man's eyes. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Do they love Jesus in a way that through the challenges of life they will never be a hinderance to following Jesus? Those arent even the right questions to ask.Instead we need to ask how do I serve Christ and others here, right now in these relationships, in these circumstances that God has put me? View all of our resources on the biblical book of 1 Corinthians. We begin to pray about everything. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. Theme: We are to walk as a faithful Christian in the place of life where God has called us to Himself. So in answer to their question, he told them no. God had providentially called them from within that particular relationship in order that He might use them as a witness to their unbelieving husband or unbelieving wife. So, in verse nineteen Paul says, just to explain this a little further, Bloom Where You're Planted. *"This date is an approximation of when this sermon was delivered." THE text does not say that time is short. you should give the resounding answer: "His will is that I maintain close fellowship with him and devote myself to obeying his commandments." Are you single, married? In light of the glorious heavenly calling that we have received, our earthly circumstances are in fact rather unimportant. Its not quite what Paul is dealing with, but we might as well address it since Paul comes close to the topic. Bible > 1 Corinthians > Chapter 7 > Verse 17 Library Free Downloads eBibles 1 Corinthians 7:17 The hope of glory when he returns. The call of God which puts us into believing, loving fellowship with Jesus is a powerful, effective call that draws us to the Son (John 6:44, 65). 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:24, ESV. Am I living my best life now? Genesis 5:22-24 But if it is not sinful place of lifeif it is not a place that is in violation of Gods clear commandmentsthen we are to remain there and let God work through us. The fact were urged to stay in the place we were when God called us does not mean that thats where God will always keep us. You should not be driven from one by fear or despair, nor allured to the other by wealth or pride. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Preach on topics including unity among believers, immorality, spiritual gifts, the meaning of love, and the certainty of the resurrection. The circumstances you are in are relatively unimportant because of the glory that God is calling to you in Christ. Our sovereign God makes those of us who trust in Jesus into new creations on the inside; but He then calls us to remain in the place where He has called us on the outsideand to thus let Him show forth His work in us to others who are also in that place. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 Study Guide: The Sin of Tolerance. To seek Godly counsel. Let him not become uncircumcised. 2) Even before our salvation God worked for our good. Let me conclude now with some practical implications. While on his third missionary journey, the apostle Paul wrote the letter of 1 Corinthians to a fractioned church in the city of Corinth in Ancient Greece around A.D. 54. A- He has discussed marriage and divorce. 1 Corinthians 7:17, ESV We should stay where our Lord has called usso long as He has us therebecause thats the place where He wants us to serve as His faithful missionaries to others that are in our life. There is one who has authority over you, and you must be humble and submissive.". 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Study Guide: Such Were Some of You, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Study Guide: Bought With a Price, 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 Study Guide: The Beauty of Marriage, 1 Corinthians 7:8-16 Study Guide: Approaching Difficulties in Marriage, 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Study Guide: Living the Life God has Given, 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 Study Guide: Christian Singleness, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Study Guide: When You're 100% Right and 100% Wrong, 1 Corinthians 9:1-23 Study Guide: Surrendering Your Rights, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Study Guide: Run to Win the Race, 1 Corinthians 10:1-14 Study Guide: A Way Out of Temptation, John 17 Study Guide 2: Sharing in Community, John 17 Study Guide 3: Sharing in Mission, John 17 Study Guide Part 4: Growing in Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1 Study Guide: Glory to God in All Things, 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Study Guide: Because of the Angels, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Study Guide: The Lord's Supper, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Study Guide: Spiritual Gifts for the Common Good, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 Study Guide: One Body, Many Members, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 Study Guide: Love Never Ceases, 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Study Guide: When the Perfect Comes, 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 Study Guide: Pursuing Love and Desiring the Gifts, 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 Study Guide: Orderly Worship, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Study Guide: Gospel Centered Faith. And to a certain degree, that new inner life also has an impact on the outer life. But he allows the exception that if the relationship is abandoned and destroyed apart from your desire or control by the unbelieving partner, then let it be. A life that is lived in faith to Jesus and the way the he appoints for believers to live in. He wrote; But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. Let him not become uncircumcised. To be circumcised, of course, was to bear upon ones self the covenant sign of Israel. If you are Mexican, don't try to become American; if you are American, don't try to become Mexican. Were not automatically required to move out of our neighborhoods. Gods peace gives us comfort in the midst of our tears. How can I love the Lord God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and how can I love my neighbor as myself wherever I am?What this passage teaches us is that we cannot search for satisfaction in what we are doing, but in how we are doing what we are doing. An opportunity we are going to see is a lawful and properly available path where we might change our circumstances. Don't let that be a care to you; but, even if you can become a freedman, rather make use of (your present position)." Instead, wherever we are, we can be content. Sermon Discipleship is a Process by Brian Bill. In other words, don't make such a big deal out of whether you are circumcised or not, or whether you are white or black or red or Swedish. First, I believe we should learn to be confident in Gods call for us. Most modern versions say, "Were you a slave when called? And so I direct in all the churches. In verse 19, Paul wrote, Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing And we should understand that Paul, in saying this, didnt mean that such things didnt matter. This is my rule in all the churches. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. This idea of effectual calling when we are drawn out of our sin to Jesus Christ, that is included in the assignments in which the calling finds us. Now, notice that later on in verse twenty-one, God doesnt prohibit slaves from leaving their circumstances. Their condition as married people did not need to change. John 7:1-13, 40-52 Study Guide: What's the Deal with Jesus? He has kept those relations in place for a reason. Is yours a menial job? We are going to see three sections in our study of this text. Paul went on to say, but if you can be made free, rather use it. Remaining in the cultural situation in which God called us didnt necessarily mean that God may not call us to a different cultural situation later on in life. You must be white in order to be approved." Paul then learned of divisions . Now that they were made new on the inside, did their condition as married people also need to change? Dont be anxious about your assignment in life. Our big idea today is this,We can abide in our circumstances because God calls us to abide with him. Pray with me. God used Pauls place of calling mightily. They had clearly been transformed on the inside; and there were many changes that were happening on the outside too. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.1 Corinthians 7:17-19, ESV Imagine you had an opportunity to work as a low-level staffer at the White House of, pick your president I dont want to get into politics, whichever president you would most like to work for past or present, think about that person and lets not get into politics. You have the same objective passages to look at, but you need to look at how that will be applied in your situation. Paul intended this to be a fundamental principle for all people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ and have become new creations in Him. The idea of abiding in a situation while you are awaiting something bigger, we see most clearly in 1 John 2:28 Paul gave the same principle again in verse 20; Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Do you notice that Paul referred to that place in which God calls us as a calling? Thats the most important thing. He is not to become uncircumcised. The moment any woman or man or young person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they become completely born-again in Him. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. It may be helpful to think of these as three pieces of bread in a double-decker sandwich (like a Big Mac). . 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. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. They are new creations. We want the Bible to give us clear answers. This calling from God is different, on the one hand, from our vocational "calling" and, on the other hand, from the general call to repent that goes out to all men. So all Christians, and only Christians, are called in this sense. Quietness Of Spirit . Application. Therefore, when Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:17, 20, and 24 that we should remain and live with God in the state in which we were called, he means: Remain in the state you were in when you were converted, when you were drawn by God into believing, loving fellowship with his Son. What matters in life and in eternal life is staying close to God and enjoying his presence. 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. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Live as You Are Called 17 Only let each person lead the life3 lthat the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. 1 corinthians 7 17 24, Sermon series on 1 corinthians 7 17 24, Sermon series about 1 corinthians 7 17 24. What did I say, what didnt I say? The new legalism would say, "You can't be circumcised if you want to be saved. This is my rule for all the churches. Stay where you are and obey God. They were called into a relationship with Jesus Christ from the midst of a sinful culture. The word "calling" here refers to vocation or station in life. We have in this congregation nurses, teachers, carpenters, artists, secretaries, bookkeepers, lawyers, receptionists, accountants, social workers, repairmen of various sorts, engineers, office managers, waitresses, plumbers, salesmen, security guards, doctors, military personnel, counselors, bankers, police officers, decorators, musicians, architects, painters, house cleaners, school administrators, housewives, missionaries, pastors, cabinet makers, and many more. Its not that we have a different Bible and the infallible word of God is just open to interpretation. Caleb Greggsen pastors an English-speaking church in Central Asia. He ought not to boast if he is a doctor or lawyer or executive, and he ought not to be self-pitying or depressed if he has a job that society esteems less highly. The calling of life has been provided by nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ and the faith that he gives us by the Holy Spirit. Its a fundamental principle for us here today, dear brothers and sisters. 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. 28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.1 John 2:28, ESV Now; Paul doesnt just merely state this principle to us. When we read this and we have to ask, okay I have this job opportunity in front of me. So the principle that the apostle follows is: stay in your God-ordained relationships; do not seek to abandon them or destroy them. b. Jun 14, 1981. Introduction I am reminded of the illustration by Emo Phillips: I was walking . God's Word To The Separated - 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 How To Tame Temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 This Do In Remembrance Of Me - 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 A Time We Call Communion - 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 Our Time At The Lord's Table - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 The Lord's Supper Service - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 That is the great message of this mornings passage. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Sermons: Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, so let him walk. Let him not be circumcised. All things truly have become new. It doesnt mean that you are fixed there forever, but the default is bloom where you are planted. Paul gives a resounding no in verse 3. You dont need an objective ruling, you need illumination. Paul himself was a devoted Jewish man; and becoming a follower of Jesus didnt mean that he had to abandon the traditions of his fathers. If she wanted to marry, and her father would not allow her to do so, she might disgrace her father and ruin her own testimony by marrying the wrong person. The Holy Spirit living in us helps us to walk through life in a new way. So often when we go to the Bible, we are trying to get answers to our questions; what school should I go to, who should I marry? There are times where opportunities present themselves to make something different of our circumstances. It was all for a glorious purpose. We cant help but repent from our sins and turn to him in faith to accept the faith offered in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that there are two elements of this. Amen. But this was not the calling Paul had in mind. In the assignment in which the call of God came to you, walk in that. 1 Corinthians 7:17,20 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. There were people that were preaching that in order to be a Christian you had to first be circumcised. When we are called into a relationship with Jesus, God calls us in a place where we still have our old friends and old relations. I believe this is the word of God for us today, and I would like to unfold it for a few minutes from 1 Corinthians 7:1724. Am I doing the right thing? Again, in verse eleven Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7. It doesnt work that way. Let me give you an illustration of what this might look like. So; thats what this principle looks like in relation to outward traditions. Ultimately your circumstances are of deeply secondary importance. Not only the president but anyone at higher rank than you could dump whatever work they wanted to on you. During dinner, he stood up and said. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. And for those of us who have already trusted Him, lets walk as a faithful Christian in the place of life where God has called us to Himself. Indeed, becoming a slave of the right person could be a career choice. For holy Scripture causes a hard knot in this matter, in that the Apostle says, that, by commandment of the Lord, the wife ought not to depart from . And again, he says the same thing in verse 24; Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. Literally, the apostle Paul wrote, In whatever you were called, brethren, in this remain before God. And note carefully the manner in which Paul tells us to remain in that calling; that is, with God.