Everything, everything falls before the priority of God. Use it to obey Christ and thus "adorn the doctrine of our great God and Savior" (Titus 2:10). 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. Paul gives a resounding no in verse 3. If you took that job you would functionally be a slave. We pray that if there are some who do not know Jesus Christ that you would right now be working in their hearts. 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. Is it a job that is not esteemed as highly as other professions? These questions plague us.This passage doesnt establish our circumstances as unalterable. Let him not be circumcised. If a Gentile man became a believer in Jesus the Jewish Messiah, he himself did not have to then become Jewish. 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) . Gods joy gives us perseverance in the midst of sorrow. What he is talking about here is the situation that a believer, someone who has been called to faith in Jesus Christ and has responded with saving, justifying faith to the call of God, that we believers are called to live a life where we are living in a way that is defined to us by the word of God. It doesnt give you a point system; its not one of those teen magazines where you can fill out the quiz and get a point score answer to find out who your perfect mate is. Fourth, and finally, this text implies that the job you now have, as long as you are there, is God's assignment to you. You are not my life. Part 1: Is He the Christ? But as you see, Zacchaeus didnt remain in that sinful lifestyle any longer. It means to remain or endure in a situation, specifically with the idea of awaiting something else. We can say in this situation, how can I serve? 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. 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. English Standard Version Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. Your Job as Ministry. 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. We belong to Him wherever He calls us; For, as Paul tells us in verses 22, he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lords freedman. He told his story in 1 Timothy 1; and he was thankful for how God used the place of life he was in when he was called. And now, as we continue our study in 1 Corinthians 7, we find that this was not just a principle meant only for marriage. 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. Now if we read the word called as it is translated there it almost sounds like what Paul is saying is that we are called to these assignments. 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. Their condition as married people did not need to change. Wherever you are now, reject a consumers mindset where you just want to take and instead embrace a servant mindset. This wasnt meant just for the believers in Corinth. So; thats what this principle looks like in relation to outward traditions. 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. Why is this? Our sermon ideas on 1 Corinthians will help you preach a powerful message on sound conduct and doctrine within the church. 1) God put us here. There were people that were preaching that in order to be a Christian you had to first be circumcised. 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. The early church lifted up the single lifestyle. God looked upon us when we were dead in our sins and trespasses, when we were nonresponsive to God. What if its not just me, what if Im disobedient not to go? Seek to follow the Lords leading but remember this number one priority. The "called" are not all who hear the preaching, but those who receive it as wisdom. There's the crucial phrase. Thats why slave of Christ, in verse twenty-two, could be an honorable designation suggested a position of some authority.. Then verse 24, "So, brethren, in whatever state each of you was called, there let him remain with God." He should not become uncircumcised. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:17-24, ESV (All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated). 1 Corinthians 7:17-24: Christianity and Staves: E. Hurndall : 1 Corinthians 7:20-24: Pulpit Commentary Homiletics. We often use the word "calling" to refer to our vocation: my calling is to be a homemaker; my calling is to be a salesman; etc. This passage teaches us that we can all calm down; we dont have to get anxious about our calling in life. This is a word that is so often translated in the gospel of John and the letters of John as the word abide. All Videos Images Commentaries Devotionals Other Translations Sermons Related Scriptures Podcasts Blogs. He showed Zacchaeuas love and mercy; and He even went to Zacchaeus house for dinner. Notice verse 17, "Let everyone lead the life which the Lord assigned to him, and in which God has called him." 8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.1 Corinthians 7:8, ESV Picking Your Fights - 1 Corinthians 9:1-23. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Scripture Sermons 5 Series 1 Live as You Are Called 17Only let each person lead the life 3 that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. Gods Calling Teaches Us to Abide with God. The Bible is an objective word; and it speaks objectively to some situations.There are other situations that are subjective. Likewise, Paul also said, Was anyone called while uncircumcised? "So brethren," Paul concludes in verse 24, "In whatever state each was called, let him remain with God." You would be functionally a slave, yet what an honorable position working for that great politician. John Piper Dec 9, 1984. The question this morning is do you hear Gods effectual call? Between the bottom two pieces are verses 2123 where the principle is applied to slavery and freedom. 1 Corinthians 7:17-31. What matters is whether we are being encouraged and humbled by the presence 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. 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. As a declaration it would be: How you fulfill the demands of your vocation is an essential part of Christian discipleship. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 April 21, 2002 Intro: Again Paul seems to be alluding to a series of questions presented to him. Now; Paul doesnt just merely state this principle to us. 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. But Jesus came by one day and paid a call on Zacchaeus. Even though he or she may claim to be a Christian, but does he or she really love Jesus? The Bible tells you to love your neighbor as yourself and that looks different in different relationships. This is absolutely imperative to grasp lest we create a new legalism. In those days, people would often sell themselves into slavery to pay off debts. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do you remember the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector in Luke 19? 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 Corinthians 7:15-16, ESV . Its a fundamental principle for us here today, dear brothers and sisters. Text: Acts 19:1-20 Sermon Series: On Mission. Before we can move onto anything else, respond to the call of God in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit takes the objective, inspired word of God and he illuminates that to my specific details of my life. Sermon Discipleship is a Process by Brian Bill. Again, there is no point system. These are our assignments, the relationships that God has given us to live in. 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. The first word is assignments, I see this in verse seventeen. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. The time may come when we may do something different, as long as it is lawful and properly available. Is this fulfilling my personal goals and aspirations? 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. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? In a word, the application of Paul's principle to cultural distinctives is this: Don't fret and don't boast about your present state of cultural distinctives; they are of little importance to God compared to whether you are devoting yourself, soul and mind and body, to obeying his commandments, which are all fulfilled in this: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Romans 13:810; Galatians 5:14). John 7:1-13, 40-52 Study Guide: What's the Deal with Jesus? 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.1 Corinthians 7:11, ESV First, I believe we should learn to be confident in Gods call for us. Second, as we have seen, the command to stay in the calling in which you were when converted is not absolute. Then Paul turns in verses 2123 to apply his principle to the issue of whether one is a slave or a freedman. He is not to become uncircumcised. Let him not seek circumcision. In other words, coming to faith in Christ does not make a person want to abandon relationships appointed by God, but to sanctify them. Rejoice in the Lord and hope in him and you will be freer than all the anxious nobles." Community Group Study Guide Living the Life God has Given, John 12:20-26, 44-50 Study Guide: We Wish to See Jesus, Matthew 28:18-20 Study Guide: The Great Comfort of the Great Commission, John 12:12-19 Study Guide: The Triumphal Entry or \"A New Kind of King\", John 11:45-57 Study Guide: Under Pressure, We are a part of the Bay Area chapter of The Gospel Coalition, John 10:31-42 Study Guide: The Works of God, John 11:1-27 Study Guide: I Am the Resurrection and the Life, John 11:28-44 Study Guide: I am the Resurrection and the Life Part 2: The Love of God in the Face of Death, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Study Guide: Being Raised with Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:20-34 Study Guide: Living in Light of the Resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 Study Guide: Resurrection Bodies, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Study Guide: The Death of Death, 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 Study Guide: Growing up in Christ, John 1:14-18 Study Guide: The Word Became Flesh, John 1:19-34 Study Guide: Behold the Lamb of God, John 1:35-51 Study Guide: A Call to the Curious, John 2:1-12 Study Guide: From Water to Wine, Gideon Week 1 Study Guide: Hiding from God, Gideon Week 3 Study Guide: With Great Power, John 2:13-25 Study Guide: Clearing Out the Temple, John 3:14-21 Study Guide: Jesus High and Lifted Up, John 3:22-36 Study Guide: He Must Increase, I Must Decrease, John 4:46-54 Study Guide: In Need of a Miracle. Respond to Gods effectual call through faith in Jesus. You dont have to join a new people group. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (ID: 1640) In 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, Paul called for stability and contentment among believers regardless of their station in life. Salvation came to himand right in the middle of a sinful lifestyle. We say, white is beautiful, black is beautiful, red is beautiful, yellow is beautiful; therefore, don't try to switch cultures. 7 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. In other words, whatever assignment you have been given, the calling of God comes to you at a specific time in the middle of an assignment. Were you called while a slave? Or to put it another way: How you do your job is a big part of your obedience to Jesus. They had clearly been transformed on the inside; and there were many changes that were happening on the outside too. 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. Gods Calling Transcends Horizontal Assignments That would have been a true statement. 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. What matters in life and in eternal life is staying close to God and enjoying his presence. 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. But how much of these things on the outside needed to change? Were not automatically required to move out of our neighborhoods. He makes them new creations from their inner-most being, and calls them to walk faithfully with Him in the outer life. I have to think, do those things line up? Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. The question at Corinth was: When we come to Christ, what should we abandon? I have to ask for the illumination to understand the objective teaching of scripture, does that line up with this situation? Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? But it's true. 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. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 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." Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? 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. Those that He has called to Himself by faith in Jesus were chosen by Him for that relationship long before they were ever born. The most important thing is your faith and obedience and keeping the commandments of God. We talk about language where we say that God is leading me here or some people say that they have a word from the Lord. 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. 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. Do not be concerned about it. He had betrayed his own Jewish kinsmen; and he was collecting taxes from them for the Roman government. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Either waywhatever the cultural or social situation we are called in, we are to do as Paul says in verse 24. This was meant for all of Gods people in Christ. There are times when we should avail ourselves of opportunities. These assignments are the circumstances of our lives. By: Pastor Jacob Gerber | Series: 1 Corinthians. Slaves were sometimes highly educated and trusted with administrative responsibility. There is no clear objective rule on this. Likewise he who is called while free is Christs slave. They are new creations. 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. With long-suffering and prayer and humble, exemplary conduct, the believing partner longs to win the unbeliever. 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. We start to show the love of Jesus for other people. 44:54. Encourage my heart when I tend to despair, and humble me when I tend to boast. Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. 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. Jun 14, 1981. This is my rule in all the churches. Look carefully at that phrase as God has distributed to each one. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? That's basically what uncircumcision and circumcision stood for. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Building On The Past - 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. He wrote; But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. 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. For example, in 1 Corinthians 7 the question is raised whether faith in Christ should mean that a husband and wife should abstain from sexual relations. Then Paul expands that principle to show us that its a general principle that should affect all of our lives. What Paul is talking about here, hes not laying out the gospel message about what Jesus Christ has done for us. The Bible tells us that He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:7). And what we all need to hear is that what lies most on the heart of God is not whether we move from one to the other, but whether in our present work we are enjoying God's promised presence and obeying his commands in the way we do our work. One of the most amazing and encouraging verses in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 5:17. Never mind. Should you leave whatever you are doing and go do whatever you think Holy Spirit should be doing? so it be allowed, having put her away, to marry another. The second is opportunity, I see this word in verse twenty-one. Now, notice that later on in verse twenty-one, God doesnt prohibit slaves from leaving their circumstances. We dont need to be so concerned with what we are getting out of life. Third, for you younger people who have not entered a profession yet, the implication of our text is this: When you ask yourself the question, "What is God's will for my life?" 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). 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. This, then, is a very important principle for new creations in Christ. Caleb Greggsen pastors an English-speaking church in Central Asia. We areeach of usto remain with God in that state in which we were called. Our separation from the world as Gods holy church is not marked by ceremonial circumcision, but by holy obedience that God graciously enables through Christ by his spirit in our lives. 1 Corinthians:7:32 . It does not condemn all job changes. What does that mean? 1 corinthians 7 17 24, Sermon series on 1 corinthians 7 17 24, Sermon series about 1 corinthians 7 17 24. With God! You can't be white if you want to be accepted." Bloom Where You're Planted. Let's read 1 Corinthians 7:1724. How do you know if they are good or if you should pursue them? 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 New American Standard Bible 17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this way let him walk. Seized By Temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:13. 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." (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) That has to do with our outward mode of lifethe place of life in this world that God has granted to us. Repent from your sins and ask God to forgive you for what you have done in rebellion against him. You are where you are by divine assignment, even if you got there by fraud. We abide in Christ now, so that when he appears with all his holy angels and all the armies of Heaven, we wont be frightened. He repented of his sinful practices. Part 3: Sending the Spirit, John 8:12-30 Study Guide: I am the Light of the World, John 8:31-47 Study Guide: The Truth Will Set You Free, John 8:48-59 Study Guide: Before Abraham Was, \"I am\", John 10:1-21 Study Guide: The Good Shepherd, John 10:22-42 Study Guide: Safe in the Father\'s Hand, Jonah 1 Study Guide: Defiance and Discipline, Jonah 2 Study Guide: Salvation Belongs to the Lord, Jonah 3 Study Guide: The God of Second Chances. We begin to read the Bible with new passion and understanding. Then he looks to the noble free man and says, "Do not become proud, for in Christ you are a slave. Its in that context that you can serve your master, because you arent serving your master suddenly you are in an assignment where the calling of Jesus Christ is intersected. Rather, he simply meant that in terms of a saving relationship with God through Christ, those things are not what is important. 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. You would not work whenever you please, but you would work at the pleasure of the president, every moment of your life. Now we need to see how Paul applied this principle in his day, and what it means for us today. Then we ask am I obeying? 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. It doesnt work that way. The innocent believer is not bound to the deserter. The principle that Paul had already taught in relation to marriage is here mentioned clearly three times. Gods Calling Transcends Vertical Assignments This is my rule in all the churches. Where we are in our life is not by accident. You have heard this morning about how He transforms the lives of all those who trust Him. 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? Confirming the Witness of Christ. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7. God used Pauls place of calling mightily. That was a very important question that was being asked by the Christians in the ancient city of Corinth. Do you notice how he was able to say how thankful he was for his calling? Dont be anxious about your assignment in life. Were you circumcised? Its taking the objective teaching of scriptures and applying it to the specifics of our lives. The question isn,t am I at the right job or church? Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised?

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