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. In chapter 1, verse 9, Paul says, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." If they were called to God in a state of cultural slavery, then they are to be faithful to walk with Jesus Christ as His servants within that state of slavery. Where we are in our life is not by accident. This is my rule in all the churches. If so, the application is clear, respond. 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. Understand that this is the glorious gospel of salvation in Christ. What a wonderful way it is that God places us in a ready-made mission field in which to serve Him as His new creation ambassadors for Christ! The question this morning is do you hear Gods effectual call? First, I believe we should learn to be confident in Gods call for us. 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. Salvation came to himand right in the middle of a sinful lifestyle. Now obviously, staying in that place in which He called us assumes that it is not an inherently sinful place. 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. Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. There was a monk whose name was Brother Lawrence who wrote a booked called, Practicing the Presence of God. We know this not only because of the exceptions Paul allowed to his principle here in 1 Corinthians 7 (cf. The first time is in verse 17; where Paul writes, But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk.. But having said that in verses 12 and 13, the apostle does allow that, if the unbelieving partner deserts the believing partner and wants nothing more to do with the believer, then the believer is not bound forever to the relationship. To every person. It was a sovereign on purpose; and was guided and arranged by Him for the manifestation of His glory in and through us. This is actually a remarkable thing, if you were a Jew, one of the primary things you were called to do was to be circumcised. Regardless of your circumstances. So; thats what this principle looks like in relation to outward traditions. But it's true. Circumcision was an old covenant symbol and the purpose of the picture was to point to a person, the person of Jesus Christ and out of the Jewish circumcised people came the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. By Leslie Holmes on February 28, 2023 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching But as you see, Zacchaeus didnt remain in that sinful lifestyle any longer. Notice, for example, how he illustrated this to us in terms of outward traditions. Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 67 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. Am I doing the right thing? So in answer to their question, he told them no. I think it is true in the final analysis that this is not an absolute prohibition of accepting freedom, anymore that verse 18 was an absolute prohibition of circumcision. The Bible doesnt say yes it will or no it wont. He applies it like this: if you were converted as a Gentile, don't try to become a Jew. He looks to the slave who may feel hopeless and says, "In Christ you are a free man. For many of us that may mean turning over a new leaf tomorrow morning. Let's read 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. Do not be concerned about it Paul didnt mean, of course, that it was a matter of indifference that someone was a slave. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24: Christianity and Staves: E. Hurndall : 1 Corinthians 7:20-24: Pulpit Commentary Homiletics. And it assumes that God had been sovereignly working in our lifeall the way up to that point in time at which He called us into a relationship with Himself through the gospel. 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? Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. In verse twenty-four Paul tells us what is means to abide with God. Stay where you are and obey God. You have heard this morning about how He transforms the lives of all those who trust Him. 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. Putting the two applications of Paul's principle together, the teaching seems to be this: Obeying the commands of God (v. 19) and enjoying his presence (v. 24) are so vastly more important than what your culture or your job is that you should feel no compulsion to change your position. I have to think about my actions, what did I do, what didnt I do? And to a certain degree, that new inner life also has an impact on the outer life. Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:8-10). 2) Even before our salvation God worked for our good. The translation problem in verse 21 is really tough. 24 and are . 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:17-24, ESV But this was not the calling Paul had in mind. You were bought with a price. 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. Our new Preaching Suite solution makes it easy to prepare, preach and archive your sermons. Remain, if you are free as you are. Text: Acts 20:17-38 Sermon Series: On Mission. The Holy Spirit living in us helps us to walk through life in a new way. New practices and habits begin to be embraced. Very simply the call of God that comes to a person in his vocation is the power of God converting the soul through the gospel. The Bible tells us that there are two elements of this. Are you single, married? And in this vocation or station in life another calling comes from God. Paul's first application of the principle is not to vocation, but to circumcision and uncircumcision. Its a fundamental principle for us here today, dear brothers and sisters. O God, give me the grace to obey your commandments, which I know are all summed up in this, to love my neighbor as myself. 1 corinthians 7 17 24, Sermon series on 1 corinthians 7 17 24, Sermon series about 1 corinthians 7 17 24. Amen. This sermon (1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 17) was preached at West Ewell Evangelical Church, Surrey, on Sunday 15 March 2015. Let him not seek circumcision. God looked upon us when we were dead in our sins and trespasses, when we were nonresponsive to God. Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. Paul had planted the church in Corinth on his second missionary journey ( Acts 17:16-18:17 ). We pray that if there are some who do not know Jesus Christ that you would right now be working in their hearts. The "called" are not all who hear the preaching, but those who receive it as wisdom. Responsible Freedom - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. Gods Calling Teaches Us to Abide with God. Some Jewish men made themselves Hellenisticthat is, members of Greek cultureby doing so. And so, He had His loving eye upon us, and His sovereign hand upon our lives, from the very beginning. This doctrine of effectual calling changes what we expect out of life. This may be correct, but I find it hard to accept since the principle he is illustrating is expressed in v. 20 as "Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called," and in verse 24 as "In whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God." Let him not become uncircumcised. Your job is not to close your eyes, open the Bible, point to a word and then see what this has to say to me. But Jesus came by one day and paid a call on Zacchaeus. Never mind." Then verse 20, "Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called." As Richard Hayes writes, To be the slave of a powerful master could be an honorable station. We need to think long and hard about whether what we communicate to our children about success is biblical or just American. Gods Calling Transcends Horizontal Assignments 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.1 Corinthians 7:23, ESV Either way, we belong completely to Jesus as His new creations. 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Paul then wrote a letter to the Christians at Corinth warning them "to have no company with sexual sinners" (1 Corinthians 5:9), but that letter has been lost to us. In those days, people would often sell themselves into slavery to pay off debts. Let me suggest a few things. But that raises and important and practical question. What do the scriptures teach about how God leads and directs the various circumstances in our lives? We begin to read the Bible with new passion and understanding. We can say in this situation, how can I serve? They had clearly been transformed on the inside; and there were many changes that were happening on the outside too. 3903 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 So, he says in verse eighteen, Stated as a prayer, the main point today is: Father, grant to us all the grace to be conscious of your presence at our work and to obey your commands in all our vocational relationships. Devote yourself to that with all your heart, and take whatever job you want. We wonder if life would be greener somewhere else, but Christians have this additional element where we are thankful for the green pastures that our good shepherd has led us. Let no man enslave your soul. And do you remember what Zacchaeus did? Instead, they should stay in the marriage in which God had called them to Himself. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? There were some Jewish Christians who insisted on that, however. Introduction I am reminded of the illustration by Emo Phillips: I was walking . God alone rules each circumstance of life. Praise God for the total transformation that comes from being a new creation in Christ. What if you are dating? John 7:14-24 Study Guide What's the Deal with Jesus? If that is true, then we need to think through our opportunities and our assignments with that lens. Christianity is a message that the calling of God transformations whatever you are doing so that you can remain there. The new legalism would say, "You can't be circumcised if you want to be saved. So, these are the horizontal assignments, the boundaries, the people Gods. (All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated). He used circumcision and slavery as illustrations to describe God's sovereignty over the social and religious barriers of his day. Up to this point Paul has been talking about remaining in the situations that we find ourselves in in our marriages. This is the same point he was making with cultural differences like circumcision: Were you uncircumcised? Many of them had lived very sinful lifestyles. So, we bring in these ideas of following the will of the Lord. This is my rule for all the churches. Bloom Where You're Planted. That was about the most offensive thing Paul could say to a Jew: Circumcision is nothing. Faith in Christ as Lord and Savior will never destroy the covenant of marriage which God ordained at creation. 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 You must be white in order to be approved." 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. Instead what we need to do is to ask for illumination. If Im not in full time ministry, am I really doing something worthwhile? Even in there God made a way that he powerfully calls us out of ourselves and open our eyes to see Jesus and how good and glorious and radiant he is. 29. A brand new inner lifemade gloriously new in Christhas begun. How do I bloom where Christ has put me? 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 A Sermon By Scott Lindsay We are continuing this morning in our study of Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, picking up at verse 17 of chapter 7 and working through to verse 24 of that same chapter. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Building On The Past - 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. b. You should be able to say to your position, "Never mind. Paul is saying that circumcision has nothing to do with this. For example, when Jesus when off to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, he told his disciples abide here while I go to pray. The idea was wait here until I come back. Now Paul talks about those who are slaves or free. We need to remain in the same calling in which we are calledunless and until God calls us to another place of life. So, as a church we are not separated as this holy huddle that is kept away from all peoples everywhere. Once we are made new on the inside, things begin to change on the outside. They would find his favor to be life and his loving kindness to be better than life.. Respond to Gods effectual call through faith in Jesus. And if we understand its broad cultural application, it offends all of us. We are anxious about so many things, but our Heavenly Father knows that we need all of these things. In verse 18, he wrote Was anyone called while circumcised? Am I in the will of God? NOTE: Paul was separated unto Christ from his mother's womb but not saved until the Damascus Road Galatians 1:15; Acts 9.