Paul had planted the church in Corinth on his second missionary journey ( Acts 17:16-18:17 ). One of the problems in the church at Corinth was the uncertainty about how faith in Christ should affect the ordinary relationships of human life. 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. He had betrayed his own Jewish kinsmen; and he was collecting taxes from them for the Roman government. 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. Once the person came the sign gave way to a reality. In verse 21, he wrote, Were you called while a slave? Bible Study & Sermon Videos; 1 corinthians 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 16:17-18. Thats because its a manifestation of Gods providential work in our lives. If we are always trying to discern if we are getting what we need, we will never be content. Paul gives a resounding no in verse 3. Paul has already made that case in marriage and singleness, then in circumcision and uncircumcision. Sermon Your Job as Ministry Jun 14, 1981 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 John Piper Article The Spiritual Power of Staying Put Why Christians Are Slow to Leave Jan 19, 2023 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Scott Hubbard Article The Best Form of Slavery Feb 11, 2012 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:22 John Piper Article Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7. Stay Where You're Called (1 Corinthians 7:17-24) In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. 1 Corinthians 7:17-31. Your Job as Ministry. 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. The moment any woman or man or young person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they become completely born-again in Him. So, what does Paul mean, dont worry about circumcision, just worry about keeping the commands of God. Ill show you where Im going to be getting these terms from. Now obviously, staying in that place in which He called us assumes that it is not an inherently sinful place. 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. You have heard this morning about how He transforms the lives of all those who trust Him. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Denomination: Baptist God's Word About Sex, Divorce, & Singleness Series Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Mar 6, 2003 based on 27 ratings | 5,976 views The purpose of this sermon is to teach God's Word about these areas and inspire obedience to it. But that is not the way Paul has used it eight out of the nine times it occurs in this paragraph. 4 For the Those that He has called to Himself by faith in Jesus were chosen by Him for that relationship long before they were ever born. Was anyone called while circumcised? "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established" (Proverbs 19:21). If you are Mexican, don't try to become American; if you are American, don't try to become Mexican. 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. 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. Recent Sermons "Jesus Divides the Earth" - Matthew 10:34-42 Pastor Jacob Gerber, February 26, 2023 "No Comfort for the Lonely City" - Lamentations 1:1-22 Pastor Andrew Lightner, February 19, 2023 Facebook Phone Email . Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Building On The Past - 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. The idea of abiding in a situation while you are awaiting something bigger, we see most clearly in 1 John 2:28 Verse 17 says, "Let everyone lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him." 1 Corinthians 7:17,20 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. 1 Corinthians 7:15-16, ESV . What does that mean? Sometimes we start to ask, what if my good shepherd wants me to go to a greener pasture? But Paul was urging that this was not at all necessary for a believing Jewish person to do. Again, in verse eleven (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) Were not automatically required to leave our families when we come to know Jesus Christ. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:17-24, ESV We need to remain in the same calling in which we are calledunless and until God calls us to another place of life. ", 18245 NW Germantown Road The Sermon below tackles about the Biblical teachings about marriage, marital relationship and divorce. Besides this, we know that there are some jobs in which you could not stay and obey God's commands: e.g., prostitution, numerous forms of indecent and corrupting entertainment, and others in which you may be forced to exploit people. This is my rule in all the churches. 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. Never mind. It seems wholly out of place between these to say, "If you can gain your freedom, do it." In verse twenty-four Paul tells us what is means to abide with God. The new legalism would say, "You can't be circumcised if you want to be saved. That place that we were in when He called us was no accident. Were not automatically required to quit our jobs, or quit our course of study at school, or abandon our vocations. He wrote; But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. But it may be, as Jesus predicted in Matthew 10:34ff., that the rebellion and unbelief of the unbelieving spouse will turn Christianity into a sword that severs, instead of a peaceful balm that heals. Paul is not saying that a professional thief or a Corinthian cult prostitute should stay in the calling in which they were called. The real contrast, it seems to me, should be expressed as: "Don't let your slavery make you anxious, but instead use it." 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. 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? To what degree should the outside be changed? And the reason the person who is free can say, "Never mind," is similar: "He who was free when called is a slave of Christ." God alone rules each circumstance of life. Should the believer pull out in order to keep pure? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. 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? Seek to follow the Lords leading but remember this number one priority. As Richard Hayes writes, To be the slave of a powerful master could be an honorable station. The circumstances you are in are relatively unimportant because of the glory that God is calling to you in Christ. 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. God would not call us in Christ to remain in a continually sinful lifestyle or to carry on sinful practices. In verse 18, he wrote Was anyone called while circumcised? And so I ordain in all the churches. Their condition as married people did not need to change. I have to think about the specifics of that in relation to who I am and who she is. Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. He may call us to Himself while we are in a place of sin; but He then leads us to live for Him outside that place of sin. Were you circumcised? 17-24). Let's read 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. Thats why slave of Christ, in verse twenty-two, could be an honorable designation suggested a position of some authority.. 1 Corinthians. I think we have a great example of this from the Bible. 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. 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. When we read this and we have to ask, okay I have this job opportunity in front of me. In verses 17-24, we see that Paul applies this principle to all of life. We begin to treat our daily responsibilities and duties more seriously. This calling is the Holy Spirit's pull into fellowship with Christ. But their husbands or wives had not done so. Search the scriptures, but not for an answer. Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 67 That speaks of the total transformation of our inner self. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Then Paul expands that principle to show us that its a general principle that should affect all of our lives. And if we understand its broad cultural application, it offends all of us. All of us are prone to asking whether or not the grass may be greener somewhere than where we are living our lives right now. And thirdly, I believe we should always strivewherever He has usto be a faithful witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Bethany Bible Church Sunday Message; January 27, 2019 from 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. 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. We are going to see three sections in our study of this text. This is my rule in all the churches. Do not be concerned about it Paul didnt mean, of course, that it was a matter of indifference that someone was a slave. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Its important to remember that when someone comes to faith in Jesus, it wasnt only thenat that momentthat God had begun to work in their lives. 44:54. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? You would not work whenever you please, but you would work at the pleasure of the president, every moment of your life. You have the same objective passages to look at, but you need to look at how that will be applied in your situation. There is no new prophecy, no new words from the Lord, they are already given to us. I have to think about my actions, what did I do, what didnt I do? 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. 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. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Some of them had become born again by faith in Jesus, and were now brand new creations in Christ. This passage teaches us that we can all calm down; we dont have to get anxious about our calling in life. But Paul deepens our understanding with a new theological reason. Heaven is open, as St. Stephen saw it open (Acts 7:55); and we hear God when He addresses us in Baptism, in Holy Communion, in confession, and in His Word as it proceeds from the mouth of the men who proclaim His message to the people." --Martin Luther (1/19/1538 [LW 22:202])-- Send Pastor Mark Schlamann an email. NOTE: Paul was separated unto Christ from his mother's womb but not saved until the Damascus Road Galatians 1:15; Acts 9. March 17, 1904. Is it a job that is not esteemed as highly as other professions? 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 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Your job is your ministerial assignment, just as much as mine is. We wonder if the grass is greener or if our good shepherd might be leading us to greener pasture syndrome. Now I want to start this morning by defining three terms that we will be using. But as you see, Zacchaeus didnt remain in that sinful lifestyle any longer. A life that is lived in faith to Jesus and the way the he appoints for believers to live in. Are we doing this in response of faith and the obedience to Jesus Christ in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in? Rather, he simply meant that in terms of a saving relationship with God through Christ, those things are not what is important. Podcast: Play in new window This isnt to sugar coat slavery; it could be a very bad condition and thats why people did try to save up money to buy their own freedom. Any date. What should you do? In the minds of most Jewish people, he was something close to a gangster. 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. This is my rule in all the churches. But the apostles and church leaders met together, and prayed together, and declared from the Lord that this was not necessary. Paul says you are missing the point, you dont have to worry about the ethnic or national boundaries that existed in the old covenant because the call of Jesus Christ comes to all kinds of people in all kinds of cultures and the call says, follow Jesus where you are. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? (2) If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast aboutbut not before God. Never mind. 18Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Is yours a menial job? Specifically, the definition that we are going to get about what this calling is toward is in verse twenty-four. That was a very important question that was being asked by the Christians in the ancient city of Corinth. Let him not seek circumcision.1 Corinthians 7:18, ESV So I command in all the churches. Why You Should Preach This Book. For this objective teaching of the eternal word of God recorded for us in the scriptures of the Old and new testaments, which is the only rule to direct us concerning God and what duty we owe to God. Only let everyone lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him. 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. Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Romans 4:1-5 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? What should we be saying? But that raises and important and practical question. God left them to remain in that very situation so that they might also have a godly influence upon their children. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. The Time is Short "The time is short." 1 Corinthians vii. If everything on the inside is new, should we then completely get rid of every aspect of the outside life and start over? Please place your trust in Him. 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. 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. ", John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. That's basically what uncircumcision and circumcision stood for. Where we are in our life is not by accident. The point is: when you are called into the fellowship of Christ, you gain a new set of radically Christ-centered priorities; so much so that if you are a slave, it should not cause you to fret. Let him not become uncircumcised. We dont pray for an answer but for an illumination. You are called in whatever assignment you find yourself to abide with God through faith in Christ. These are our assignments, the relationships that God has given us to live in. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.1 Corinthians 7:23, ESV The Holy Spirit takes the objective, inspired word of God and he illuminates that to my specific details of my life. Look at that word remain in verse twenty. 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. In the last analysis, nothing else will matter but that. We start seeking out fellowship with other Christians. Our sermon ideas on 1 Corinthians will help you preach a powerful message on sound conduct and doctrine within the church. Bible > 1 Corinthians > Chapter 7 > Verse 17 Library Free Downloads eBibles 1 Corinthians 7:17 Trending: The Cost of Discipleship. (a member of the Sanhedrin would have A brand new inner lifemade gloriously new in Christhas begun. 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. The Bible tells us that there are two elements of this. Am I perhaps seeing signs, I got this parking spot here, I got a phone call there, is God speaking to me by his providence? Let him not be circumcised. With these other questions since you can take a different job or you can go to a different church, we have to ask harder questions. 1 Corinthians 1:1-17 - God Calls Us to Unity - Study and Obey 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 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. What matters in life and in eternal life is staying close to God and enjoying his presence. This wasnt meant just for the believers in Corinth. Notice, for example, how he illustrated this to us in terms of outward traditions. 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. The universal default principle is that you should stay where you are. Sometimes we think of calling in the sense of vocation, but the word calling as Paul uses it has to do with Gods effectual calling. 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. A- He has discussed marriage and divorce. Amen. He has kept those relations in place for a reason. As a declaration it would be: How you fulfill the demands of your vocation is an essential part of Christian discipleship. Once we are made new on the inside, things begin to change on the outside. Father make us steeped in the scriptures, not so we can just spit out the right answers without thinking to complicated questions, but so that you can frame the way that we are thinking and wrestling with you in prayer. Before we can move onto anything else, respond to the call of God in Jesus Christ. Portland OR 97231, Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on January 27, 2019 under 2019 |, Bethany Bible Church Sunday Message; January 27, 2019 from 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. 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). 3903 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 In Corinth, there was a grave danger facing a girl who had reached the age of marriage. Its not that we have a different Bible and the infallible word of God is just open to interpretation. The question isn,t am I at the right job or church? Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:22-24. 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. 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. By: Pastor Jacob Gerber | Series: 1 Corinthians. Why is this? The Bible doesnt say yes it will or no it wont. Should you leave whatever you are doing and go do whatever you think Holy Spirit should be doing? Everything, everything falls before the priority of God. What Paul is talking about here, hes not laying out the gospel message about what Jesus Christ has done for us. Rejoice in the Lord and hope in him and you will be freer than all the anxious nobles." Do you see how he praised God for it? Acknowledging God in every moment of every day in prayer. Am I in the will 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. Is this fulfilling my personal goals and aspirations? John 6:60-71 Study Guide: Where Else Would We Go? 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. A believing husband should not divorce his unbelieving wife, and a believing wife should not divorce her unbelieving husband. Are you single, married? Introduction I am reminded of the illustration by Emo Phillips: I was walking . Still, we might ask the question why Paul doesnt seek that the institution of slavery be abolished all together? English Standard Version Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. The things we used to love to do, we no longer want to do. It does not condemn all job changes. View all of our resources on the biblical book of 1 Corinthians. Not only that, but this translation does not do justice to all the words in the Greek ("even" and "rather") which come out in the alternative translation: "Were you called as a slave? We can say in this situation, how can I serve? Gods Calling Teaches Us to Abide with God. 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. Now, dear brothers and sisters; how do we apply this principle? It is so important, in fact, that Paul repeats it three times in this short passage. The word of God for all us "success seekers" is this: Take all that ambition and drive that you are pouring into your upward mobility and pour it instead into a spiritual zeal to cultivate an enjoyment of God's presence and obedience to his revealed will in Scripture. 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. Christianity is a message that the calling of God transformations whatever you are doing so that you can remain there. Let me give you an illustration of what this might look like. They were believers who now, suddenly, found themselves married to non-believers. (All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated). 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. Stay in the relationship you were in when God called you to faith. Then we ask am I obeying? All Videos Images Commentaries Devotionals Other Translations Sermons Related Scriptures Podcasts Blogs. 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. 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Study Guide: Why Not Rather Be Cheated? God is sovereign. Picking Your Fights - 1 Corinthians 9:1-23.

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