Once the person came the sign gave way to a reality. We are to live in the same family with God. 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. #1Corinthians 7:17-24 | Sermon Outlines Let no man enslave your soul. He could have said, "For being a slave is nothing, and being a freedman is nothing, but keeping the commands of God is everything." He wrote; For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God (Romans 2:28-29). If that is true, then we need to think through our opportunities and our assignments with that lens. 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. 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. 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 makes them new creations from their inner-most being, and calls them to walk faithfully with Him in the outer life. Christianity is a message that the calling of God transformations whatever you are doing so that you can remain there. You are where you are by divine assignment, even if you got there by fraud. We do have assignments from the Lord, but the important thing is that call. 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. We Are Made Righteous By Faith (Second Sunday Of - sermoncentral.com Many of them had lived very sinful lifestyles. Now obviously, staying in that place in which He called us assumes that it is not an inherently sinful place. You must be white in order to be approved." God looked upon us when we were dead in our sins and trespasses, when we were nonresponsive to God. Please place your trust in Him. Slaves were sometimes highly educated and trusted with administrative responsibility. Even if you are free, you are not free. A man who lived his life doing very menial tasks and he started this mental, spiritual exercise whereas he was doing menials tasks he tried to remember that he was in the presence of God and spending his life praying. The word that occurs in each statement of the principle and nine times altogether in this paragraph is the word "call." They are different from circumstance to circumstance and person to person. I think Paul himself might be a good example for us in this. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? We can paraphrase the verses to show the difference between the general call and the effective call: Paul says, "We call everyone to believe in Christ crucified, but many Jews find this call to be a stumbling block, and many Gentiles find this call to be foolishness, but those who are called (that is, powerfully and effectively drawn to Christ) find the gospel call to be the power and wisdom of God.". There are times where opportunities present themselves to make something different of our circumstances. 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. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Sometimes we start to ask, what if my good shepherd wants me to go to a greener pasture? Do they love Jesus in a way that through the challenges of life they will never be a hinderance to following Jesus? View all of our resources on the biblical book of 1 Corinthians. mThis is my rule in nall 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. You would be functionally a slave, yet what an honorable position working for that great politician. If so, the application is clear, respond. With God! Sermons about 1 Corinthians 7 - SermonCentral.com *"This date is an approximation of when this sermon was delivered." THE text does not say that time is short. With long-suffering and prayer and humble, exemplary conduct, the believing partner longs to win the unbeliever. Sermon . Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Do not be concerned about it. Some Jewish men made themselves Hellenisticthat is, members of Greek cultureby doing so. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? 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. Effectual calling is the work of Gods almighty power and grace, whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto) he doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein. Now, notice that later on in verse twenty-one, God doesnt prohibit slaves from leaving their circumstances. He is not to become uncircumcised. 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. 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. 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. What should you do? 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal . God used Pauls place of calling mightily. 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). 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. My life is to obey God and enjoy his presence.". Imagine you had the opportunity to work for that person as a low-level staffer at the White House. John 7:14-24 Study Guide What's the Deal with Jesus? Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 67 Not only the president but anyone at higher rank than you could dump whatever work they wanted to on you. This is a very important principle. 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. Then we ask am I obeying? Now, dear brothers and sisters; how do we apply this principle? If you have an opportunity to go and follow a different religion that rejects the Lord Jesus Christ, that in sin. "A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). 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. How to Survive the Last Days, Part 3 - 1 Corinthians 16:17-24. If Im not in full time ministry, am I really doing something worthwhile? He looks to the slave who may feel hopeless and says, "In Christ you are a free man. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 April 21, 2002 Intro: Again Paul seems to be alluding to a series of questions presented to him. Everything, everything falls before the priority of God. So, what does Paul mean, dont worry about circumcision, just worry about keeping the commands of God. The Spurgeon Library | Scriptures | 1 Corinthians Sermons on 1 Corinthians 7:17 - SermonCentral.com The question isn,t am I at the right job or church? 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (HTML) - Thirdmill Verse 17 says, "Let everyone lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him." If the Bible tells you something directly and you were planning on going in a different direction, you are objectively sinning.The Bible says to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Yet he realized that was the greatest joy that he had. If instead we are looking to serve, theres always opportunity. John 5:19-29 Study Guide: Jesus Gives Life, John 5:30-47 Study Guide: The Scriptures Point to Me, John 6:22-40 Study Guide: I am the Bread of Life, John 6:41-59 Study Guide: Jesus Addresses the Skeptics. As a tax collector, he was a sinful man. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. Its a fundamental principle for us here today, dear brothers and sisters. It means to remain or endure in a situation, specifically with the idea of awaiting something else. 1 Corinthians 7 ESV - Principles for Marriage - Now - Bible Gateway John 5:1-18 Study Guide: Do You Want to be Healed? 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. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? 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. 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 things we used to love to do, we no longer want to do. Search. And in this vocation or station in life another calling comes from God. Sunday services at 10:30 am. Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. One time he uses the word "calling" in this vocational sense, namely, in verse 20. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, ESV "Were you a slave when called? 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. Many of them demanded that the Gentiles who were coming to Christ now needed to become circumcised and to follow the traditions passed on by Moses. Were not automatically required to move out of our neighborhoods. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Look at that word remain in verse twenty. Let him not become uncircumcised. To be circumcised, of course, was to bear upon ones self the covenant sign of Israel. The main point of my message this morning can be stated as a declaration and as a prayer. you should give the resounding answer: "His will is that I maintain close fellowship with him and devote myself to obeying his commandments." Let me conclude now with some practical implications. By: Pastor Jacob Gerber | Series: 1 Corinthians. These assignments are the circumstances of our lives. Gods Calling Teaches Us to Abide with God. First, I believe we should learn to be confident in Gods call for us. So in answer to their question, he told them no. It is so important, in fact, that Paul repeats it three times in this short passage. When Paul says in verse 17, "Let everyone lead the life . 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 - Sermon Writer Either waywhatever the cultural or social situation we are called in, we are to do as Paul says in verse 24. An opportunity we are going to see is a lawful and properly available path where we might change our circumstances. We are to go to the same job or the same schoolbut were to now do it all as before God, and as His servants, and with trust in Him, and as unto His glory. This is clear from the fact that he had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:3), and from his own statement that he becomes all things to all men that he might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22). 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. These three statements of Paul's principle divide the text into two parts. He should not become uncircumcised. There were some who had forsaken that sign and who had become uncircumcised. Sermon Discipleship is a Process by Brian Bill. That place that we were in when He called us was no accident. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24: Christianity and Staves: E. Hurndall : 1 Corinthians 7:20-24: Pulpit Commentary Homiletics. How do I sort through my own mixed emotions when Im trying to make decisions on how to live in the various circumstances of my life? Romans 3:23 - 24: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And so ordain I in all churches abide. To every person. In the process, the theological reason for it will emerge also. You have heard this morning about how He transforms the lives of all those who trust Him. The time may come when we may do something different, as long as it is lawful and properly available. No, Paul says this is my rule in all the churches. Bible Study & Sermon Videos; 1 corinthians 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 16:17-18. So, we bring in these ideas of following the will of the Lord. Up to this point Paul has been talking about remaining in the situations that we find ourselves in in our marriages. In calling us to Himself in Christ at the time He did, and in the place of life He did, and under the circumstances He didwith that upbringing we had, or in that cultural setting in which we live our lives, or with that social standing He has given us in this worldHe has not made any mistakes. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 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? 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. It does not condemn all job changes. Paul says that its good, if you can, to remain in the situation that you are in. But that is not the way Paul has used it eight out of the nine times it occurs in this paragraph. 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.