1 CORINTHIANS 7:17\u201324<\/b><\/p>\n
Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called<\/i><\/p>\n
(1 Cor. 7:20)<\/i>.<\/p>\n
We return today to our study of 1 Corinthians to find Paul exhorting the Corinthians to be content in whatever social, marital, or ethnic situation they were in when they became Christians. Paul\u2019s point in these verses is two-fold. He wants believers to be content in whatever circumstance they might be in, and to understand that Christianity does not give them the right to break free from the social structures in which they find themselves. This, however, does not mean that Paul was opposed to self-improvement. This is evidently not the case because he explicitly encourages slaves (in v. 21) to become free if the opportunity is made available. But, his point is that the believer\u2019s relation to Christ is compatible with any social relation or position. \u201cIt matters not whether they were circumcised or uncircumcised, bond or free, married to a Christian or married to a Gentile, their fellowship with Christ remained the same,\u201d Hodge wrote. \u201cTheir conversion to Christianity involved, therefore, no necessity of breaking asunder their social ties. The Gospel was not a revolutionary, disorganizing element.\u201d<\/p>\n
The things that a Christian ought to be concerned about is conformity in the heart and life to the revealed will of God. As Paul said in other letters, what matters is not circumcision or social status, but faith working itself out in love, or in other words, keeping the commandments of God.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn whatever station or condition a man is called, therein let him remain,\u201d Hodge wrote. \u201cThis of course is not intended to prohibit a man\u2019s endeavoring to better his condition. If he be a laborer when converted, he is not required always to remain a laborer. The meaning of the apostle evidently is, that no man should desire to change his status in life simply because he had become a Christian; as though he could not be a Christian and yet remain as he was. The Gospel is just as well suited to men in one vocation as in another, and its blessings can be enjoyed in all their fullness equally in any condition of life.\u201d Our primary concern should be to obey God, to be slaves to His Word and not to men. In Christ, we are free from the controlling influences of men, yet slaves to righteousness, bond-servants of the Lord; and in the eyes of God, equal to one another in value and worth.<\/p>\n
CORAM DEO<\/b><\/p>\n
2 Samuel 15\u201316<\/p>\n
Luke 22:1\u201338<\/p>\n
What are some other ways that people try to change their social status, marital or family ties when they become a Christian? How do people try to use Christianity as an excuse to get out of difficult situations? How would you advise someone who is struggling with being content in a difficult circumstance? (Read verses below.)<\/p>\n
For further study: Rom. 2:25\u201329 \u2022 Gal. 3:26\u201329; 5:1\u20136 \u2022 Eph. 6:5\u20139<\/i><\/p>\n
thursday<\/p>\n
april<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
1 CORINTHIANS 7:17\u201324 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called (1 Cor. 7:20). We return today to our study of 1 Corinthians to find Paul exhorting the Corinthians to be content in whatever social, marital, or ethnic situation they were in when they became Christians. Paul\u2019s point in these … Continue reading “LIVE AS YOU ARE CALLED”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12745"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12745\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}