So, these are the horizontal assignments, the boundaries, the people Gods. During dinner, he stood up and said. Putting the two applications of Paul's principle together, the teaching seems to be this: Obeying the commands of God (v. 19) and enjoying his presence (v. 24) are so vastly more important than what your culture or your job is that you should feel no compulsion to change your position. He wrote; But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. 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. If you are married and you have an opportunity to divorce your spouse and go after someone else, the Bible tells you that is sin and you may not do it. Paul says that its good, if you can, to remain in the situation that you are in. 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. 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. You would not work whenever you please, but you would work at the pleasure of the president, every moment of your life. This is my rule in all the churches. Paul is a very unfashionable thinker and, therefore, eternally relevant. Amen. He is radically God-oriented. For many of us that may mean turning over a new leaf tomorrow morning. Its not quite what Paul is dealing with, but we might as well address it since Paul comes close to the topic. Instead, they should stay in the marriage in which God had called them to Himself. The main point of my message this morning can be stated as a declaration and as a prayer. Luke 1:26-45 Study Guide: What did Mary Know? What if you are dating? I think we have a great example of this from the Bible. That would have been a true statement. Do you have to become a member of a different people group? 2) Even before our salvation God worked for our good. I love to watch Paul put his theology to work like this. The third word is calling or called, and we see this all over this passage. Gods Calling Teaches Us to Abide with God. 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? Only let everyone lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him. The second is opportunity, I see this word in verse twenty-one. 1) God put us here. Prepare your messages on God's Word in 1 Corinthians with sermon outlines or an . Its a fundamental principle for us here today, dear brothers and sisters. So, Paul then gives a principle. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 A Sermon By Scott Lindsay We are continuing this morning in our study of Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, picking up at verse 17 of chapter 7 and working through to verse 24 of that same chapter. Literally verse twenty says, each one in the calling in which he was called, in this let him remain. Here is the closest place that Paul uses calling in the way that we usually mean it, our responsibilities, our vocation, the assignments that we have in life. This is a very important principle. Before we read it, let's orient ourselves from the preceding context. Its in almost every verse. He applies it like this: if you were converted as a Gentile, don't try to become a Jew. Most Popular. He makes them new creations from their inner-most being, and calls them to walk faithfully with Him in the outer life. Its a good question. 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. But how much of these things on the outside needed to change? They are different from circumstance to circumstance and person to person. I think Paul himself might be a good example for us in this. Confirming the Witness of Christ. Instead what we need to do is to ask for illumination. 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. Were not automatically required to move out of our neighborhoods. 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 then, Paul went on to give us another illustrationthis one having to do with social structures. But Paul deepens our understanding with a new theological reason. If she wanted to marry, and her father would not allow her to do so, she might disgrace her father and ruin her own testimony by marrying the wrong person. Theme: We are to walk as a faithful Christian in the place of life where God has called us to Himself. Sermon . But Jesus came by one day and paid a call on Zacchaeus. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Here now the word of the Lord from 1 Corinthians 7:1-9. 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). And so ordain I in all churches abide. One time he uses the word "calling" in this vocational sense, namely, in verse 20. We begin to pray about everything. Do you notice how he was able to say how thankful he was for his calling? Look at that word remain in verse twenty. To every person. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? 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. Any duration. . This is the same point he was making with cultural differences like circumcision: Were you uncircumcised? Gods Calling Transcends Horizontal Assignments God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God Ways to Follow. Introduction I am reminded of the illustration by Emo Phillips: I was walking . Instead, wherever we are, we can be content. They may look the same on the outside, but their inner beingtheir spiritis completely transformed. Again, there is no point system. There was a monk whose name was Brother Lawrence who wrote a booked called, Practicing the Presence of God. 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. What did I say, what didnt I say? Most modern versions say, "Were you a slave when called? Thats the most important thing. 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. So in answer to their question, he told them no. Our new Preaching Suite solution makes it easy to prepare, preach and archive your sermons. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:17-24, ESV The question this morning is do you hear Gods effectual call? And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 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. The fact were urged to stay in the place we were when God called us does not mean that thats where God will always keep us. This passage teaches us that we can all calm down; we dont have to get anxious about our calling in life. 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. We begin to read the Bible with new passion and understanding. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.1 Corinthians 7:23, ESV 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. But as you see, Zacchaeus didnt remain in that sinful lifestyle any longer. (All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated). In other words, so that we can have by the transformed lives to the gospel lives that are lived obediently to what God is calling us to. Ultimately your circumstances are of deeply secondary importance. Am I living my best life now? Theme: We are to walk as a faithful Christian in the place of life where God has called us to Himself. Its taking the objective teaching of scriptures and applying it to the specifics of our lives. 29. God's Word To The Separated - 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 How To Tame Temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 This Do In Remembrance Of Me - 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 A Time We Call Communion - 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 Our Time At The Lord's Table - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 The Lord's Supper Service - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 He makes me lie down in green pastures. We are thankful for this. 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. Most practically, how do we evaluate opportunities that present themselves? The Bible tells us that. John Piper Dec 9, 1984. To seek Godly counsel. You would be functionally a slave, yet what an honorable position working for that great politician. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. When Paul says in verse 17, "Let everyone lead the life . In Corinth, there was a grave danger facing a girl who had reached the age of marriage. Gods Calling Transcends Vertical Assignments This is a very unfashionable teaching in contemporary western society, because it cuts the nerve of worldly ambition. Part 1: Is He the Christ? 18Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? One of the questions that they asked had to do with their marriages. Or am in I the right marriage, the answer to that is yes if you are married. The people group that God assigned you by your birth is in no way a hinderance to believing the gospel and following after the call of Jesus Christ to believe in him. The Bible tells you to love your neighbor as yourself and that looks different in different relationships. Never mind. 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. Let me suggest a few things. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:17-24, ESV Let him not become uncircumcised. Text: Acts 19:1-20 Sermon Series: On Mission. 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. 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. This is my rule in all the churches. Paul talks about this in terms of "living as you are called." This calling is not talking about your vocation, it is talking about your identity in Christ and how you live your life in response to that. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (ID: 1640) In 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, Paul called for stability and contentment among believers regardless of their station in life. Respond to Gods effectual call through faith in Jesus. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 A Sermon By Scott Lindsay We are continuing this morning in our study of Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, picking up at verse 17 of chapter 7 and working through to verse 24 of that same chapter. Is this fulfilling my personal goals and aspirations? Thats not what Im saying.The Bible talks about how husbands should relate to wives, but the Bible doesnt tell Jacob how he should relate to Allison. In the process, the theological reason for it will emerge also. 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. You were bought with a price. Caleb Greggsen pastors an English-speaking church in Central Asia. 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. Was anyone called while circumcised? It will transform and transcend everything else you do. Is it a job that is not esteemed as highly as other professions? To be perpetually mindful of his presence and favor. View all of our resources on the biblical book of 1 Corinthians. Having discussed the principle of staying in the God-ordained relationship of marriage when you become a Christian, Paul now discusses this principle in two other connections. Were you called while a slave? The most important thing is your faith and obedience and keeping the commandments of God. But that raises and important and practical question. a- Paul at this time is single. 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. Jesus Is Wounded By The Dividing Of Church Contributed by Lay Man on May 28, 2015 . There is no clear objective rule on this. Bible Study & Sermon Videos; 1 corinthians 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 16:17-18. Paul has already made that case in marriage and singleness, then in circumcision and uncircumcision.