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 . Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. He is not to become uncircumcised. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. Some Jewish men made themselves Hellenisticthat is, members of Greek cultureby doing so. His concern is not to condemn job changes, but to teach that you can have fulfillment in Christ whatever your job is. Wherever you are now, reject a consumers mindset where you just want to take and instead embrace a servant mindset. Let him not seek circumcision. Application. Bloom Where You're Planted. Sermon Central Share a Sermon; Try PRO Free; Help; Sign In; Sermon . 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Study Guide: Why Not Rather Be Cheated? You are not my life. The early church lifted up the single lifestyle. He could have said, "For being a slave is nothing, and being a freedman is nothing, but keeping the commands of God is everything." Your Job as Ministry. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24: Christianity and Staves: E. Hurndall : 1 Corinthians 7:20-24: Pulpit Commentary Homiletics. You dont have to leave what you are doing; you dont have to quit your job and enter full time vocational ministry. . Charles Hodge describes it this way, This would mean to be near God. Paul then learned of divisions . As theyve had to search the scriptures and see the various principles and how the light of Gods word shone into their lives by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 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. 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. Only let everyone lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him. 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. Trending: The Cost of Discipleship. We know this not only because of the exceptions Paul allowed to his principle here in 1 Corinthians 7 (cf. Gods Calling Transcends Horizontal Assignments Your job is to search the scriptures and ask how this speaks into the general principles as you are praying for illumination. The circumstances you are in are relatively unimportant because of the glory that God is calling to you in Christ. If you have an opportunity to go and follow a different religion that rejects the Lord Jesus Christ, that in sin. They had clearly been transformed on the inside; and there were many changes that were happening on the outside too. What does that mean? He is author of. Do not be concerned about it. Picking Your Fights - 1 Corinthians 9:1-23. Verse 17 says, "Let everyone lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him." 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. 44:54. Imagine you had the opportunity to work for that person as a low-level staffer at the White House. Or am in I the right marriage, the answer to that is yes if you are married. Never mind. 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 should seek to serve God in whatever situation He places useither now or later. (1 Corinthians 7:17-24) . Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. The Bible tells us that there are two elements of this. So, we bring in these ideas of following the will of the Lord. 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. verse 15), but also because Scripture depicts and approves such changes. by Alistair Begg. February 17, 2020. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:17-24, ESV 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. Many of them had lived very sinful lifestyles. Let him not become uncircumcised. so it be allowed, having put her away, to marry another. The time may come when we may do something different, as long as it is lawful and properly available. Why You Should Preach This Book. Let's read 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. Up to this point Paul has been talking about remaining in the situations that we find ourselves in in our marriages. Here now the word of the Lord from 1 Corinthians 7:1-9. What wonderful news that is! As a Jewish man, he would never have been indifferent to the covenant sign that God gave to his ancestor Abraham. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Am I in the will of God? Paul says that its good, if you can, to remain in the situation that you are in. You would not work whenever you please, but you would work at the pleasure of the president, every moment of your life. But the next things that Paul goes on to talk about in verse twenty through twenty-three are vertical boundaries. 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." 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? God is sovereign. And so I direct in all the churches. You have to look at what the scriptures teach, and you have to ask for Gods illumination to see how that relates to what is in front of me. 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? Slaves were sometimes highly educated and trusted with administrative responsibility. There are times when we should avail ourselves of opportunities. Do you have to become a member of a different people group? 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. 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. The principle that Paul had already taught in relation to marriage is here mentioned clearly three times. One is the work of the Holy Spirit in the objective inspiration of the Bible. 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. He didnt have to be circumcised, and become a devoted follower of the Jewish religious traditions. In verse 21, he wrote, Were you called while a slave? You dont need to change your social status, just respond right now and repent in faith. He was considered a traitor to the covenant promises of Israel, and a robber of his own people. An opportunity we are going to see is a lawful and properly available path where we might change our circumstances. I have to think about my actions, what did I do, what didnt I do? 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. John Piper Dec 9, 1984. 17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? 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 begin to treat our daily responsibilities and duties more seriously. 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. The moment any woman or man or young person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they become completely born-again in Him. What did I say, what didnt I say? Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. 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. Likewise, Paul also said, Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Do you notice how he was able to say how thankful he was for his calling? Our new Preaching Suite solution makes it easy to prepare, preach and archive your sermons. But the apostles and church leaders met together, and prayed together, and declared from the Lord that this was not necessary. Then verse 20, "Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called." He showed Zacchaeuas love and mercy; and He even went to Zacchaeus house for dinner. It is so important, in fact, that Paul repeats it three times in this short passage. Christianity is not a revolutionary religion of upward social mobility. I have to think about the specifics of that in relation to who I am and who she is. That speaks of the total transformation of our inner self. This is my rule in all the churches. Amen. Gods Calling Teaches Us to Abide with God We wonder if the grass is greener or if our good shepherd might be leading us to greener pasture syndrome. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Building On The Past - 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. 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. a. Gods Calling Transcends Vertical Assignments Yet if you are in the condition of a bondservant, understand you dont need to seek a change from that either. And Paul's answer is: You don't need to abandon your vocation if you can stay in it with God. He wrote; But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. As a declaration it would be: How you fulfill the demands of your vocation is an essential part of Christian discipleship. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. And so I ordain in all the churches. 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. What if you are dating? 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. NOTE: Paul was separated unto Christ from his mother's womb but not saved until the Damascus Road Galatians 1:15; Acts 9. Its not quite what Paul is dealing with, but we might as well address it since Paul comes close to the topic. I think Paul himself might be a good example for us in this. 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." 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. God can save you and make you clean. What matters is whether we are being encouraged and humbled by the presence of God. 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. Any date. We need to remain in the same calling in which we are calledunless and until God calls us to another place of life. Even if you are free, you are not free. There is provision for freeing slaves in the Old Testament, and we are familiar with a tax collector who became a preacher and fishermen who became missionaries. And to a certain degree, that new inner life also has an impact on the outer life. . 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. Again, there is no point system. Should you leave whatever you are doing and go do whatever you think Holy Spirit should be doing? Playing To Win - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. In other words, in communion with God this would secure their contentment and happiness. 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. To what degree should the outside be changed? Jun 14, 1981. Pray with me. Luke 1:26-45 Study Guide: What did Mary Know? Do not be concerned about it. But he allows the exception that if the relationship is abandoned and destroyed apart from your desire or control by the unbelieving partner, then let it be. 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. 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. That was about the most offensive thing Paul could say to a Jew: Circumcision is nothing. Or to put it another way: How you do your job is a big part of your obedience to Jesus. Paul is saying that circumcision has nothing to do with this. Dont put yourself in slavery because you were brought with a price. Now Paul talks about those who are slaves or free. Most practically, how do we evaluate opportunities that present themselves? Lets have enough confidence in Gods call upon us to trust Him in it, and to let Him use it, and to even thank Him for it. Even in there God made a way that he powerfully calls us out of ourselves and open our eyes to see Jesus and how good and glorious and radiant he is. Thats why slave of Christ, in verse twenty-two, could be an honorable designation suggested a position of some authority.. We dont pray for an answer but for an illumination. This is a very unfashionable teaching in contemporary western society, because it cuts the nerve of worldly ambition. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, ESV All of us, in whatever assignments we find ourselves, we are the slaves of Jesus Christ and that transcends any worldly employment or assignment. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1- They seem to be looking to Paul as an example for the Christian life. Is it a job that is not esteemed as highly as other professions? To be perpetually mindful of his presence and favor. They were called into a relationship with Jesus Christ from the midst of a sinful culture. Still, we might ask the question why Paul doesnt seek that the institution of slavery be abolished all together? 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. 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) . Search. O God, give me the grace to obey your commandments, which I know are all summed up in this, to love my neighbor as myself. And in this vocation or station in life another calling comes from 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. The Sermon below tackles about the Biblical teachings about marriage, marital relationship and divorce. Theme: We are to walk as a faithful Christian in the place of life where God has called us to Himself. We say, white is beautiful, black is beautiful, red is beautiful, yellow is beautiful; therefore, don't try to switch cultures. 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. 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. We cant help but repent from our sins and turn to him in faith to accept the faith offered in Jesus Christ. This is my rule in all the churches. What if its not just me, what if Im disobedient not to go? 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal . Do not be concerned about it Paul didnt mean, of course, that it was a matter of indifference that someone was a slave. Between the top two pieces are verses 18 and 19 where the principle is applied to the issue of circumcision and uncircumcision. 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.
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