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Sunday, April 18, 2010 pm             Return to Corinthians

Studies in 1 Corinthians
WALK AS YOU ARE CALLED
1 Corinthians 7:17-24

 Tonight we continue our study of this book addressing various problems the church at Corinth faced.  In chapter 7 Paul was dealing with some marriage issues as they relate to being Christians.  Thus far we have discussed the roles of each spouse toward each other and in our last lesson we addressed the importance of keeping your marriage vows.  It was a lesson with a text that is greatly debated among brethren, because of the implications of prohibitions to remarry when one divorces.  Tonight, we have more general principles addressed, but they still apply to the subject at hand – our marital status – as well as every other aspect of our life.  Paul addresses our attitude toward the present state that you are in.

 I.                    Live within your boundaries

a.        Each of us possesses unique traits AND circumstances.

b.       We ought to learn to live within the boundaries we find ourselves – in other words, don’t let your circumstances hinder you from serving God.  Far too many of us live our lives wishing we had different circumstances.  We can begrudge those who are what we wanted to be or we can accept who we are and make the best of it.  That is exactly what Paul is calling for here.
1 Peter 4:10-11, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

c.        There are some things to consider in this:

                                                   i.      We all have limitations and have to do things we don’t want to do.
In scripture, many had to live in difficult circumstances – Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in slavery, Esther in a foreign land, Paul with his thorn in the flesh, etc.
Today this might mean, male/female limitations; the job you are in, your economic status, the congregation where you are at, and even you marital status.

                                                  ii.      Contentment is needed here – 1 Tim. 6:6-8

                                                iii.      Just because you obey the gospel it does not nullify responsibilities or circumstances (unless it involves sin). One of the arguments being made to justify remarriage for any cause is that it is unfair to deny man a spouse under any circumstance, since he has natural urges that can only be properly fulfilled in a marriage relationship.   That is an emotional argument NOT based upon scripture.  All true Christians have to sacrifice in one area or another.  Paul’s statement here is not dealing with how fair life is, but rather he tells us to accept our circumstance.

d.       Specific examples – Circumcised/uncircumcised, free/slave. 
Paul notes that if you are Jew, don’t seek to become a Gentile and if you are a Gentile, don’t seek to become a Jew.  (vs. 18-19a)  The same applied to the freedman class and the slave class of the Roman Empire (21-22). 
Why is this so?  Because there are people in ALL walks of life who need someone to teach them – and often the best teacher is one’s peer (a converted Jew could have better luck with a fellow Jew, a slave could better teach a fellow slave, etc.)  Paul will elaborate on this later in 1 Cor. 9:19-23 where he notes that he became all things to all men (without compromise).

e.       Application within this context – there are circumstances that AFFECT our marital status – some cannot marry, some SHOULD not marry, others need to stay married, some cannot remarry – respect God’s laws!

 II.    So I ordain in all the churches

a.       A simple mention here as Paul has already stated in 4:17, Paul’s teaching was consistent everywhere he went.   He presented ONE gospel without contradiction and compromise.  His teachings here in Corinth were the same as any other congregation should he need to deal with similar issues.

b.       We need to seek the same with one another!

c.        Note:  Apply this to the issue of this text – marriage, divorce and remarriage.  Do we not have a right, yea a responsibility, to expect the truth to be taught among those we recognize as our brethren?

 III.  What Really Matters?

a.        Keeping the commandments of God!  This takes precedence over all things and it IS what matters.

b.       God doesn’t look at outward appearances, like man does.  What He looks at is what you do with what you have.

c.        1 John 2:3-4 states that the way we know that we know Him is if we keep His commandments.  To NOT keep his commandments and profess to know Him is to lie.
1 John 5:2-3, His commandments are not burdensome.

d.       Friends, in ALL things, we must obey God.  Even the matters which we don’t like.  It is how we demonstrate our faith – James 2:14-18 and how we demonstrate our love for God – Gal. 5:6, 1 John 5:3, John 14:15.

IV.    If You Can Improve

a.        If you can be made free… (vs. 21) 
Paul’s point in this text is not to discourage improvement, but a reminder that a change in one’s role in life does not mean you are a better person spiritually.
 In Roman society the examples given in this text (circumcision and bondage) did carry social implications.  Paul is saying those things don’t matter to God.  You can be a Christian no matter what your social status, whether you be slave or free, male or female, Jew or Gentile, or one’s skin color, etc.

b.       In life, we need to constantly seek improvement.  We are commanded to grow – 2 Peter 3:18, Colossians 1:10 – being fruitful in every good work and increasing in knowledge, Eph. 4:15, etc.

c.        But such improvement is different from one seeking to change who you are.  Colossians 3:11 says speaking of putting on the new man, “where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

d.       Let us make sure that in whatever we improve ourselves, it does not deter from serving God.  James 1:9-10.

V.                  Freedom and Bondage in Christ (vs. 22)

a.        Paul describes being a Christian in an ironic way.  It is a reminder, that no matter what your place, you are not any better than anyone else.

b.       You were bought at a price.  All Christians have been redeemed by the blood of Christ – Ephesians 1:7.  Therefore we belong to Him.  Paul addressed this in chapter 6:19-20.

c.        To slaves, Paul reminds them they are free in Christ – while man may oppress you, he cannot oppress your spirit and rob you of it.

d.       To freedmen, Paul reminds them they are in bondage to Christ. Romans 6:18 says the same thing.

e.       Lesson: Becoming a Christian means a change.  It matters NOT your circumstance, when you obey the gospel the has to be a change in your attitude and conduct.

 VI.                Do not become slaves of men (23)

a.        Paul’s obvious point here is to not put yourself in a circumstance with those of the world that will hinder your Christian service.   

b.       The servitude in Christ is nothing like bondage to men.  Be cautious to not give the ungodly advantage.  For example consider Romans 13:8 – owe no one anything; I also think of the false teacher – 2 Peter 2:1-2, Gal. 2:4.

c.        If we keep God’s commands, we have nothing to worry about.

 Vs. 24 concludes this entire section reminding us to live as we were called.  May we resolve that in all circumstances we will know our place and seek to be the best we can, no matter what state that might be.