1 corinthians 7:17 24 sermon 1 corinthians 7:17 24 sermon

You are called in whatever assignment you find yourself to abide with God through faith in Christ. Its in almost every verse. We dont need to be so concerned with what we are getting out of life. Understand that this is the glorious gospel of salvation in Christ. But this was not the calling Paul had in mind. mThis is my rule in nall the churches. He is not to become uncircumcised. Our sermon ideas on 1 Corinthians will help you preach a powerful message on sound conduct and doctrine within the church. Notice how radically different Paul's rationale is for keeping your cultural distinctives than the rationale current in our day. 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. What do we mean by this? Thats why slave of Christ, in verse twenty-two, could be an honorable designation suggested a position of some authority.. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. There were some who had forsaken that sign and who had become uncircumcised. Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. His concern is not to condemn job changes, but to teach that you can have fulfillment in Christ whatever your job is. That's basically what uncircumcision and circumcision stood for. Another example in verses 1216 is the question, What should we do if one marriage partner puts his or her faith in Christ but the other doesn't? 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. All things truly have become new. The first word is assignments, I see this in verse seventeen. John 7:14-24 Study Guide What's the Deal with Jesus? | Download (0.2KB), Worship Time Childcare provided for children ages 0-7, Revival Prayer Meeting, 6:00 pm at the church, Church Prayer Group, 7:00 pm at the church, Men's Breakfast, 7:30 am at the 185th Shari's. Either waywhatever the cultural or social situation we are called in, we are to do as Paul says in verse 24. Our new Preaching Suite solution makes it easy to prepare, preach and archive your sermons. He makes me lie down in green pastures. We are thankful for this. Were you called while a slave? Wherever you are now, reject a consumers mindset where you just want to take and instead embrace a servant mindset. Pray with me. And again, he says the same thing in verse 24; Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. Literally, the apostle Paul wrote, In whatever you were called, brethren, in this remain before God. And note carefully the manner in which Paul tells us to remain in that calling; that is, with God. Should the believer pull out in order to keep pure? Are you single, married? 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. 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. Notice, for example, how he illustrated this to us in terms of outward traditions. We can say in this situation, how can I serve? The universal default principle is that you should stay where you are. You dont have to join a new people group. Amen. We know this not only because of the exceptions Paul allowed to his principle here in 1 Corinthians 7 (cf. Gods presence enables us to abide in whatever assignments we have. 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 All Sermons Bible Studies Devotionals Prayers. Gods Calling Transcends Vertical Assignments The things we used to love to do, we no longer want to do. 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. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 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. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? In verse 21, he wrote, Were you called while a slave? 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 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. Verse 17 says, "Let everyone lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him." 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. 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. They were called into a relationship with Jesus Christ from the midst of a sinful culture. Now I want to start this morning by defining three terms that we will be using. And if we understand its broad cultural application, it offends all of us. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. That was a very important question that was being asked by the Christians in the ancient city of Corinth. This is a word that is so often translated in the gospel of John and the letters of John as the word abide. If everything on the inside is new, should we then completely get rid of every aspect of the outside life and start over? Is this fulfilling my personal goals and aspirations? 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Study Guide: Why Not Rather Be Cheated? When you serve your master, you are not serving him, but the Lord. In the assignment in which the call of God came to you, walk in that. The Bible tells us that He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:7). He is author of. He could have said, "For being a slave is nothing, and being a freedman is nothing, but keeping the commands of God is everything." Let me give you an illustration of what this might look like. 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? (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. So, in verse nineteen Paul says, just to explain this a little further, If we are always trying to discern if we are getting what we need, we will never be content. Never mind. 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. During dinner, he stood up and said. God's revealed will for you (the only will you are responsible to obey) is your sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3), not your vocation. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. The Bible tells us that. When Paul says in verse 17, "Let everyone lead the life . For many of us that may mean turning over a new leaf tomorrow morning. Paul is not saying that a professional thief or a Corinthian cult prostitute should stay in the calling in which they were called. 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 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). 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Paul says you dont have to worry about different groups of people, the horizontal assignments you have. 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? Romans 3:23 - 24: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. To what degree should the outside be changed? Amen (1 Timothy 1:12-17). As a declaration it would be: How you fulfill the demands of your vocation is an essential part of Christian discipleship. 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." You dont need to change your social status, just respond right now and repent in faith. 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. 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. For holy Scripture causes a hard knot in this matter, in that the Apostle says, that, by commandment of the Lord, the wife ought not to depart from . 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. 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). Quietness Of Spirit . 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. Now; Paul doesnt just merely state this principle to us. Once the person came the sign gave way to a reality. 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. Do not be concerned about it Paul didnt mean, of course, that it was a matter of indifference that someone was a slave. There were some Jewish Christians who insisted on that, however. You have a master, its the Lord Jesus Christ. Then Paul gives the theological reason for this admonition. Bible Study & Sermon Videos; 1 corinthians 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 16:17-18. This has far-reaching cultural implications: if you are black, don't try to become white; if you are white, don't try to become black. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 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. Never mind. 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. You have heard this morning about how He transforms the lives of all those who trust Him. In verse twenty-four Paul tells us what is means to abide with God. Sermon Discipleship is a Process by Brian Bill. Even though he or she may claim to be a Christian, but does he or she really love Jesus? Even so, we know that they are a sinner and you are a sinner. (All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated). Don't let that be a care to you; but, even if you can become a freedman, rather make use of (your present position)." But Paul was urging that this was not at all necessary for a believing Jewish person to do. 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. A brand new inner lifemade gloriously new in Christhas begun. I think we have a great example of this from the Bible. The question isn,t am I at the right job or church? Your job is to search the scriptures and ask how this speaks into the general principles as you are praying for illumination. 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. This doctrine of effectual calling changes what we expect out of life. God used Pauls place of calling mightily. The new legalism would say, "You can't be circumcised if you want to be saved. I have to ask for the illumination to understand the objective teaching of scripture, does that line up with this situation? I have to think, do those things line up? Do not be concerned about it. What Paul is talking about here, hes not laying out the gospel message about what Jesus Christ has done for us. Between the bottom two pieces are verses 2123 where the principle is applied to slavery and freedom. Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 67 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. Literally the verse says, "Let each one remain in the "calling" (not state) in which he was called." 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:24, ESV. Caleb Greggsen pastors an English-speaking church in Central Asia. Its not quite what Paul is dealing with, but we might as well address it since Paul comes close to the topic. In verse 18, he wrote Was anyone called while circumcised? Your job is your ministerial assignment, just as much as mine is. Paul has already made that case in marriage and singleness, then in circumcision and uncircumcision. Fourth, and finally, this text implies that the job you now have, as long as you are there, is God's assignment to you. Encourage my heart when I tend to despair, and humble me when I tend to boast. 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." Gods life gives us courage as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 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. Am I in the will of God? Paul has already used this word a few times and its good to look back and see them. If we are faithful in the place where He has called us, then He is better able to lead us to another place of calling if He so chooses. 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. Am I doing the right thing? You have to be asking does this person really love Jesus. Then he looks to the noble free man and says, "Do not become proud, for in Christ you are a slave. We pray this in Christs name. It seems wholly out of place between these to say, "If you can gain your freedom, do it." Stay in the relationship you were in when God called you to faith. We wonder if the grass is greener or if our good shepherd might be leading us to greener pasture syndrome. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. We are to walk as faithful followers of Jesus in whatever place of life it is that God has called us to Himself. 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. 4 For the 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. Here begins our text in 1 Corinthians 7:17. And to a certain degree, that new inner life also has an impact on the outer life. The reason a person can say, "Never mind," even though he is a slave, is this: verse 22, "For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord." Christianity is not a revolutionary religion of upward social mobility. The most important thing is your faith and obedience and keeping the commandments of God. Paul says that its good, if you can, to remain in the situation that you are in. We begin to pray about everything. Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight By Rick Malm on March 2, 2023 7 Ways To Keep From Killing Your Message By Carey Nieuwhof on March 1, 2023 People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? Sometimes we start to ask, what if my good shepherd wants me to go to a greener pasture? This is all made clear in 1 Corinthians 1. It was to be a follower of the traditions of the Jewish people. 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. The hope of glory when he returns. Part 1: Is He the Christ? 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Most practically, how do we evaluate opportunities that present themselves? You dont need an objective ruling, you need illumination. 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 is not pronouncing a blanket condemnation upon all those who adopt aspects of other cultures and give up aspects of their own. 1 corinthians 7 17 24, Sermon series on 1 corinthians 7 17 24, Sermon series about 1 corinthians 7 17 24. This was meant for all of Gods people in Christ. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. He is saying that in the gospel there is an antidote for despair in menial jobs and an antidote for pride in highly esteemed jobs. Let me conclude now with some practical implications. The innocent believer is not bound to the deserter. In 1 Corinthians 7:8, Look carefully at that phrase as God has distributed to each one. We are to live in the same family with God. What matters is whether we are being encouraged and humbled by the presence of God. 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?