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? Seized By Temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:13. Part 1: Is He the Christ? English Standard Version Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. 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. Thats because its a manifestation of Gods providential work in our lives. But Paul deepens our understanding with a new theological reason. Paul has already used this word a few times and its good to look back and see them. Prepare your messages on God's Word in 1 Corinthians with sermon outlines or an . *"This date is an approximation of when this sermon was delivered." THE text does not say that time is short. You were bought with a price. In verse twenty-four Paul tells us what is means to abide with God. The hope of glory when he returns. There are times when we should avail ourselves of opportunities. God left them to remain in that very situation so that they might also have a godly influence upon their children. In verses 17-24, we see that Paul applies this principle to all of life. You are called in whatever assignment you find yourself to abide with God through faith in Christ. No, Paul says 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. The question isn,t am I at the right job or church? These three statements of Paul's principle divide the text into two parts. Likewise, he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? So the principle that the apostle follows is: stay in your God-ordained relationships; do not seek to abandon them or destroy them. In calling us to Himself in Christ at the time He did, and in the place of life He did, and under the circumstances He didwith that upbringing we had, or in that cultural setting in which we live our lives, or with that social standing He has given us in this worldHe has not made any mistakes. John 6:60-71 Study Guide: Where Else Would We Go? God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God Ways to Follow. . Let Him make you into a new creation. The things we used to love to do, we no longer want to do. Ultimately your circumstances are of deeply secondary importance. There is no clear objective rule on this. Sermon Central Share a Sermon; Try PRO Free; Help; Sign In; Sermon . That place that we were in when He called us was no accident. Sermon. But their husbands or wives had not done so. Theme: We are to walk as a faithful Christian in the place of life where God has called us to Himself. What wonderful news that is! Here begins our text in 1 Corinthians 7:17. 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. 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." 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." Notice, for example, how he illustrated this to us in terms of outward traditions. Was anyone called while circumcised? For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy (1 Corinthians 7:12-14). They might be translated slightly differently in your Bible, but we are going to go with the words that ESV has since thats what Im preaching from. We dont pray for an answer but for an illumination. 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. The word that occurs in each statement of the principle and nine times altogether in this paragraph is the word "call." 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? The word of God for all us "success seekers" is this: Take all that ambition and drive that you are pouring into your upward mobility and pour it instead into a spiritual zeal to cultivate an enjoyment of God's presence and obedience to his revealed will in Scripture. Do not be concerned about it. 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. 44:54. If they were called to God in a state of cultural freedom, then they are to be faithful to walk with Jesus Christ as His servants within their liberty. Second, I suggest that we should always be flexible to change. As a tax collector, he was a sinful man. So; thats what this principle looks like in relation to outward traditions. "A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). If instead we are looking to serve, theres always opportunity. There were people that were preaching that in order to be a Christian you had to first be circumcised. And if we understand its broad cultural application, it offends all of us. This wasnt meant just for the believers in Corinth. We wonder if the grass is greener or if our good shepherd might be leading us to greener pasture syndrome. 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 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. We are to "remain with God" rather than be bitter about how our life has unfolded and work hard to try to fix it (1 Corinthians 7:17, 24). Thats why Paul said that circumcision is nothing, uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? How do you know if they are good or if you should pursue them? With long-suffering and prayer and humble, exemplary conduct, the believing partner longs to win the unbeliever. It is no accident that you are where you are. 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. Everything, everything falls before the priority of God. 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). The Bible is an objective word; and it speaks objectively to some situations.There are other situations that are subjective. Denomination: Salvation Army. Look at that word remain in verse twenty. The Sermon below tackles about the Biblical teachings about marriage, marital relationship and divorce. John Piper Jun 14, 1981. Again Paul answers, no. He says if you have an opportunity to gain your freedom, avail yourself of that opportunity. Our sermon ideas on 1 Corinthians will help you preach a powerful message on sound conduct and doctrine within the church. Notice verse 17, "Let everyone lead the life which the Lord assigned to him, and in which God has called him." Later text clarifies that Paul is not denouncing marriage or forbidding it in any sense. 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. 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. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Single And Whole Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on May 30, 2018 | 5,574 views This sermon deals with the reality that every single person is a whole person. Use it to obey Christ and thus "adorn the doctrine of our great God and Savior" (Titus 2:10). 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. They had clearly been transformed on the inside; and there were many changes that were happening on the outside too. Paul could have given the very same theological reason for this position as he did in verse 19. Pray with me. And so I direct in all the churches. Some of them had become born again by faith in Jesus, and were now brand new creations in Christ. Paul is saying that circumcision has nothing to do with this. It declares to us how much it is that Jesus transforms the life of whoever trusts in Him. He says in verse twenty-two, Romans 3:23 - 24: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 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. But Jesus came by one day and paid a call on Zacchaeus. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Stay where you are and obey God. 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. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? 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. And so ordain I in all churches abide. 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? For the scriptures to frame how we are looking at this question. And so I ordain in all the churches. 29. What did I say, what didnt I say? Never mind." 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. John 5:19-29 Study Guide: Jesus Gives Life, John 5:30-47 Study Guide: The Scriptures Point to Me, John 6:22-40 Study Guide: I am the Bread of Life, John 6:41-59 Study Guide: Jesus Addresses the Skeptics. Now, notice that later on in verse twenty-one, God doesnt prohibit slaves from leaving their circumstances. "The lot is cast in the lap, but the decision is wholly from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33). And for those of us who have already trusted Him, lets walk as a faithful Christian in the place of life where God has called us to Himself. The principle that Paul had already taught in relation to marriage is here mentioned clearly three times. What do the scriptures teach about how God leads and directs the various circumstances in our lives? What should you do? Rather, he simply meant that in terms of a saving relationship with God through Christ, those things are not what is important. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. John 7:14-24 Study Guide What's the Deal with Jesus? Acknowledging God in every moment of every day in prayer. 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. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 1 Corinthians 7:19, ESV We need to remain in the same calling in which we are calledunless and until God calls us to another place of life.