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. 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. You were bought with a price. Here Paul is telling us assignments in which we are called to abide as we wait for the full fulfillment that Jesus is calling to. 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. Paul says you dont have to worry about different groups of people, the horizontal assignments you have. 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. a- Paul at this time is single. 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. Then and only then may circumcision (as Paul implies in Romans 2:25) and other cultural distinctives become beautiful, in a very secondary and derivative way as expressions of the obedience of faith. Either way, we belong completely to Jesus as His new creations. 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. 3903 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 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. 2. Rather, the Jewish follower of the Jewish traditions who came to Christ was encouraged to remain in the cultural traditions in which he was called, and to live faithfully for Jesus in it. Let me give you an illustration of what this might look like. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. The Bible is an objective word; and it speaks objectively to some situations.There are other situations that are subjective. 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). This is seen most clearly in 1 Corinthians 1:23, 24, where Paul says, "We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Paul has already made that case in marriage and singleness, then in circumcision and uncircumcision. It may be that He calls us to that place for the initial stages of our walk with Him; and all so that He can train us for what He has for us in the future. Why is this? Likewise he who is called while free is Christs slave. Notice how radically different Paul's rationale is for keeping your cultural distinctives than the rationale current in our day. 1) God put us here. He is radically God-oriented. Then Paul expands that principle to show us that its a general principle that should affect all of our lives. These questions plague us.This passage doesnt establish our circumstances as unalterable. We will have confidence when Jesus Christ returns. 1 Corinthians 7:17-31. This is my rule in all the churches. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. There are times when we should avail ourselves of opportunities. Some Jewish men made themselves Hellenisticthat is, members of Greek cultureby doing so. And likewise, the Bible tells us that we are not our own, but that we have been purchased at the cost of the blood of Jesuseven if, culturally speaking, we are now in a state of freedom. The most important thing is your faith and obedience and keeping the commandments of God. Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Sermons: Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, so let him walk. God alone rules each circumstance of life. He found it to be exhausting and difficult and almost impossible to keep. This is a very important principle. We are to live in the same family with God. Is yours a menial job? b. 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. Were you circumcised? 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. If we translated this really literally, it would go like this, Only to each as God assigned, in the situation in which God has called each thus let him walk.. If so, the application is clear, respond. I think that the greatest explanation of what Paul meant is found in Romans 2. You are where you are by divine assignment, even if you got there by fraud. 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. 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. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. We dont need to be so concerned with what we are getting out of life. 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. Understand that ancient slavery, the kind that Paul was familiar with at this time, was very different than the kind of slavery that was practiced in the United States until the Civil War. 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. Its taking the objective teaching of scriptures and applying it to the specifics of our lives. 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. Your Job as Ministry. Literally the verse says, "Let each one remain in the "calling" (not state) in which he was called." Should the believer pull out in order to keep pure? . 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. (2) If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast aboutbut not before God. And in this vocation or station in life another calling comes from God. Stay where you are and obey God. 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. 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. This is why we look for a word of the Lord, you dont need a word from the Lord, you already have it. This is true. Never mind." How you fulfill the demands of that job is just as essential in life as what you do here on Sunday. But the apostles and church leaders met together, and prayed together, and declared from the Lord that this was not necessary. So, as a church we are not separated as this holy huddle that is kept away from all peoples everywhere. If you were converted as a Jew, don't try to become a Gentile. All of those things are, by the providence of God, a part of our callingin the very midst of which He calls us into a relationship with Jesus. God left them to remain in that very situation so that they might also have a godly influence upon their children. Is it a job that is not esteemed as highly as other professions? Building On The Past - 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. Gods Calling Transcends Vertical Assignments In our last time together, we talked about Pauls answer to this important question from 1 Corinthians 7:12-14. Let him not seek circumcision. 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. Indeed, becoming a slave of the right person could be a career choice. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? 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. Sermon Trusting God to Work it Out by Brian Bill. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Do not be concerned about it. You must be white in order to be approved." Was anyone called while circumcised? It is so important, in fact, that Paul repeats it three times in this short passage. This, then, is a very important principle for new creations in Christ. He is author of. 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. Preach on topics including unity among believers, immorality, spiritual gifts, the meaning of love, and the certainty of the resurrection. 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. What does that mean? No, Paul says this is my rule in all the churches. As a Jewish man, he would never have been indifferent to the covenant sign that God gave to his ancestor Abraham. You have to be asking does this person really love Jesus. Part 1: Is He the Christ? Were not automatically required to leave our families when we come to know Jesus Christ. Now we need to see how Paul applied this principle in his day, and what it means for us today. 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 4:1-5 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 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. We are to walk as faithful followers of Jesus in whatever place of life it is that God has called us to Himself. The first word is assignments, I see this in verse seventeen. 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. What Paul is talking about here, hes not laying out the gospel message about what Jesus Christ has done for us. That is the great message of this mornings passage. "The lot is cast in the lap, but the decision is wholly from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33). 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Let him not become uncircumcised. Never mind. Now I want to start this morning by defining three terms that we will be using. 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. Gods presence enables us to abide in whatever assignments we have. 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. God looked upon us when we were dead in our sins and trespasses, when we were nonresponsive to God. Between the top two pieces are verses 18 and 19 where the principle is applied to the issue of circumcision and uncircumcision. Our new Preaching Suite solution makes it easy to prepare, preach and archive your sermons. 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. I think we have a great example of this from the Bible. 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. When we read this and we have to ask, okay I have this job opportunity in front of me. It declares to us how much it is that Jesus transforms the life of whoever trusts in Him. Pray with me. (a member of the Sanhedrin would have NOTE: Paul was separated unto Christ from his mother's womb but not saved until the Damascus Road Galatians 1:15; Acts 9. We can say in this situation, how can I serve? Please answer His call. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? In the last analysis, nothing else will matter but that. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Then verse 20, "Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called." 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. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. We dont pray for an answer but for an illumination. In Corinth, there was a grave danger facing a girl who had reached the age of marriage. They had clearly been transformed on the inside; and there were many changes that were happening on the outside too. Seized By Temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:13. It doesnt work that way. Do you remember the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector in Luke 19? Or am in I the right marriage, the answer to that is yes if you are married. What matters is whether we are being encouraged and humbled by the presence of God. 24 and are . We cant help but repent from our sins and turn to him in faith to accept the faith offered in Jesus Christ. 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. Now, notice that later on in verse twenty-one, God doesnt prohibit slaves from leaving their circumstances. Paul gives a resounding no in verse 3. 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. So I command in all the churches. 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. They are different from circumstance to circumstance and person to person. The old legalism said, "You must be circumcised in order to be saved (Acts 15:1). 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. If we are always trying to discern if we are getting what we need, we will never be content. Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. Zacchaeus became a new creation by faith in Jesus. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Do you see how he praised God for it? Most modern versions say, "Were you a slave when called? Dont be anxious about your assignment in life. 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. But Jesus came by one day and paid a call on Zacchaeus. 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. 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. Our responsibilities to our families, to our work, to our neighbors, to our churches. Let him not become uncircumcised. To be circumcised, of course, was to bear upon ones self the covenant sign of Israel. Then he looks to the noble free man and says, "Do not become proud, for in Christ you are a slave. We're the "church on the hill. Where we are in our life is not by accident. "So brethren," Paul concludes in verse 24, "In whatever state each was called, let him remain with God." Likewise he who is called while free is Christs slave. As the Bible tells us, if the Lord Jesus sets us free then we are free indeedeven if, culturally speaking, we are still in a state of slavery. These assignments are the circumstances of our lives. Picking Your Fights - 1 Corinthians 9:1-23. There were some who had forsaken that sign and who had become uncircumcised. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Still, we might ask the question why Paul doesnt seek that the institution of slavery be abolished all together? Before we can move onto anything else, respond to the call of God in Jesus Christ.