Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
- 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
When a passage starts with a word like “Nevertheless,” it’s important to get the context of what was written before it. Paul started this chapter by giving instructions for marriage as Christians, and then he addresses single people, widows, and everyone else in the context of romantic relationships, including a brief discussion on divorce.
The first part of verse 17 summarizes all of this well: “Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.” Whether you are married, single, divorced, widowed, or anywhere in between, we should live as believers in Jesus! Whatever relationship status God has given you in life, that is where you should be content and be obedient to God until He calls you to something else.
As believers, we are called to live lives that honor and glorify God no matter what specific circumstances we’re in. This is a rule that Paul is giving to all the churches who would read this letter in the first century, but it also applies to us today. This rule from Paul goes along with God’s commands throughout the Scriptures.
Paul then applies this principle to the nationality crisis that was occurring in his day between Jews and Gentiles. In verses 18-19, he brings up the issue of circumcision, which was a huge issue then. Any man who was a Jew would have already been circumcised, and any man who was a Gentile would not have been, so this was a divisive issue for them. Now that both Jews and Gentiles could be a part of the body of believers in Jesus, what happens with the circumcision issue?
A group of people known as the Judaizers tried to force all the Gentile men to be circumcised when they became followers of Jesus – see Acts 5:1-5 and Galatians 3:1-3 for more on that. Paul’s point is that this outward sign no longer has any meaning, so it really doesn’t matter. If you were already circumcised, that’s fine. If you weren’t already circumcised, that’s fine too. It’s not something that really matters anymore, now that all who believe are one in Jesus Christ. As Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
Verse 20 repeats what Paul has been saying to give it added emphasis. Whatever situation you have in life, you can still be a believer and do what God is calling you to do.
Paul gives another illustration of applying this principle as it relates to slavery in verses 21-23. Remember that slavery in Biblical times was not what we in the modern United States think of as slavery. For more on what slavery is, check out this post by Charlie Wolcott and the entire series he’s currently writing here. Slavery was more of a social status, and it was often temporary to pay off a debt to someone.
Paul’s emphasis here is that a person does not need to worry about their social status when they come to faith in Jesus Christ. Wherever you are in life, you can still be a believer! Becoming a Christian does not guarantee that your social status will get better, though Paul does encourage those in slavery to be freed from it if possible.
Verse 22 is one that may make us think a bit: “For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.” We know that Jesus has set us free from the penalty of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), and we have been bound as slaves to Jesus. Everyone is a slave to something, as Paul writes in Romans 6. When you became a believer in Jesus, you were set free from the grasp of sin and death. But you also became a slave of Jesus rather than a slave of the world.
The distinction of who you are a slave to is an important one for the believer. As Paul writes in verse 23, our priority needs to be that we are slaves to Christ and not slaves to our fellow humans. Jesus should have all authority over us, not other people. We should serve faithfully in whatever station in life God has called us to, but we do so because God bought us for a price and we are now His servants and His slaves.
In verse 24, Paul repeats almost the same thing he already said in verse 17 and verse 20: “Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.” This further emphasizes Paul’s point that your station in life is not relevant when you follow Jesus Christ, as long as you are obeying what God has called you to.
This still applies to us today also. Whether you are a student, a factory worker, unemployed, a stay-at-home parent, a manager, a top-level executive, or anything in between, your goal should be to live that life for the glory of Jesus Christ. You are a part of God’s family no matter what your station in life. You should live as a true believer no matter what the circumstances of your life look like, and God will be glorified through you.
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
0 comments:
Post a Comment