When God Calls You to Remain (1 Corinthians 7:17-24)

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. [18] Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. [19] For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. [20] Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. [21] Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) [22] For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. [23] You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. [24] So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

I. This “Breathed Out” Word

As we return this morning our study in First Corinthians, may we remember that what we are about to read has been “breathed out by God and [is] profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness...”(2 Timothy 3:16) Amen? Amen! So...

II. The Passage: “There Let Him Remain with God” (7:17-24)

Having just heard vs. 17-24, let me go back and highlight something that many of you probably already noticed. Look again at v. 17... “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” Now drop down to verse 20: “Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.” Finally, like at the final verse of our text for this morning, verse 24: “So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.” It's not difficult to grasp Paul's emphasis here, is it. He can't go but a few verses without repeating it: remain in the condition in which you were called.

But what exactly does that mean? Well, we know it doesn't mean that a Christian should remain in a sinful condition in terms of how someone leads his or her life. In the previous chapter (in 6:9-11), Paul reminded these disciples that “neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Paul certainly did not want his readers to lead that life, that old life, right?

So what “life” (v. 17) or “condition” (vs. 20, 24) is he talking about here? The specific answer to that question is determined by the context. What is 1 Corinthians 7 about? I think we've spent enough time reading and studying this chapter to know that it's main theme is centered on your marital status; specifically, on the goodness of remaining as you are in terms of... your marital status. If you're married, not only should you stay married, but you should also act like your married. If you're engaged, you should, in Paul's opinion, remain engaged; but just engaged. If you're unmarried, you should, in Paul's opinion, remain unmarried. And if you were married, but your spouse has died, then Paul offers this guidance (look down at verses 39 and 40):

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord [that is, only to another Christian]. [40] Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

So when Paul is emphasizing the principle we saw in verses 17, 20, and 24 (that principle of 'remain in the condition in which you were called'), then based on the context, we know that he is primarily talking about a person's marital status. That topic seems to have been one of the main issue about which the Corinthian believers wrote to him (according to verse 1 of this chapter). But here's the more difficult question: “Why? Why does Paul want them to remain as they are?” Last week, Kedrick highlighted for us Paul's thinking about why singleness is so advantageous: (v. 35) in order “...to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” But how do we make sense of the broader idea here, in regard to everyone (i.e., marrieds, singles, widows, the engaged, even the divorced)? Why exactly should all these people... remain in the condition in which they were called? Friends, that question should drive us right back to our main passage.

So we looked at how verses 17, 20, 24 all emphasize that same 'remain' principle. But there's something else here. The second thing I want you to notice about verses 17-24 is how Paul deviates from this focus on marital status. Do you see that in verses 18-19? Then again in verses 21-23? Instead of talking about the married and the unmarried, the Apostle talks there about the circumcised and the uncircumcised. Instead of talking about being engaged or being married to an unbeliever, Paul speaks here about being a slave. Again, we should ask “why”.

Though they were in other churches, I don't think these issues of circumcision and slavery were topics that were controversial in Corinth. Yes, what he tells them here would have been helpful for any who had questions. But the importance of what Paul writes here is broader. Here's what I mean: notice how Paul responds to each of these issues. Verses 18-19... “Was anyone at the time of his call [i.e., when he first came to Christ... was anyone] already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but [here's what counts] keeping the commandments of God.” As we know from other places in the New Testament (NT), some Gentile believers attached real spiritual significance to being circumcised. It may also be that some Jewish believers reacted strongly against the old covenant, and attached real spiritual significance to undoing their circumcision. In the same way, if we move our focus to verses 21-23, some who were “bondservants” (i.e., household slaves) also attached some kind of spiritual significance to the fact that they were enslaved.

Brothers and sisters, here's why these two examples are so helpful (remember, two examples that have nothing to do with one's marital status): In both examples, Paul wants his readers to understand what is truly significant about the condition in which they were called. What is truly significant if you were called to Christ as a slave? That you can now serve both God and man as (v. 22) “a freedman of the Lord”. What is truly significant if you were called into new life while a freedman? That you are now a slave of Jesus, for you were (v. 23) “bought with a price”. Therefore, both the slave and freedman are spiritual servants of Jesus, and both experience spiritual freedom through him. In the same way, both the circumcised and the uncircumcised believer are now set apart as God's covenant people. Paul explains it this way in Rom. 2:26–29,

...if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law [i.e. obeys God], will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.

So let's connect these examples back to the context. As was the case for some in regard to issues like slavery and circumcision, both married believers and unmarried believers in Corinth seemed to believed there was a certain kind of spiritual significance in that other life condition. That is, it seems certain married people believed they needed to be single (or at least, act like they were unmarried) in order to be holy like Jesus (who was, of course, single). But conversely, certain single people seemed to believe they needed to be married if they really wanted to be pleasing to God (maybe believing they served God best by being fruitful and multiplying). But as he explained regarding circumcision and slavery, in this chapter, Paul clearly clarifies what is truly significant about each of these marital conditions. Though he delves deeper into the spiritual significance of marriage in places like Ephesians 5, Paul is clear in vs. 1-5 of this chapter that two of God's blessings in marriage are sexual provision and spiritual protection. Similarly, as you saw last week, what is truly significant about singleness is how it allows a brother or sister to be much less entangled and far more focused, practically speaking, in terms of one's devotion to Christ and to our ministry for Christ.

So notice what Paul is doing. He's not only correct false notions about lifestyle changes that are somehow more spiritually significant, but he also wants to encourage them in terms of why the condition in which they were called really is good from a kingdom perspective.

III. God's Providential Placement

But, brothers and sisters, what does this mean for us? What will it mean for us 'remain in the condition in which we were called'? Well, first, if we keep the broad principles of this passage in mind, I think it means recognizing that God has (v. 17) an assignment to which you are called, whether you came to Christ yesterday or in yesteryears. But second, understand that sometimes such assignments are not fixed. Paul qualifies so much of what he's saying here, to make sure they understand what is a command, and what is an encouragement; an encouragement to see through a new lens. For example, one's freedom in Christ could give a bondservant a new perspective on his position in terms of serving both God and man. But if he could secure his freedom (which was quite common thing in the Roman world), then he should. In most cases, Paul's teaching about 'remaining' was not an absolute, as he makes clear over and over again.

Third, as appears to be his intention with those original readers, we also need to receive Paul's correction here. Many Christians have believed that it somehow would be inherently more pleasing to God if they became a foreign missionary, or went into full-time ministry, or married someone who went into full-time ministry, or had more kids, or had no kids, or worked for a Christian company, or got out of politics, or maybe into politics, or left a marriage, or moved to the rough part of town, or radically changed their tax bracket, or lived on a commune, or made some other, major life change rather than... remain. But as Paul does here (and throughout this letter... and all his letters), he reminds them that if they are in Jesus Christ, then their 'life condition' cannot be any more spiritually significant than it already is.

Which tees us up perfectly for a fourth and final explanation. What does it mean for us to remain in the condition in which we were called? I believe it means to see where you are right now with new eyes. Brother, sister, do you understand what is truly significant about the life condition, the life position, the lifestyle in which God called you or is calling you today? As I just mentioned, what is always significant about your life, disciple, no matter where you are, is Jesus. Therefore, as you think about your devotion to Christ, as you consider your witness for him, your fruitfulness for him, please prayerfully listen to God's Spirit, for he may he might be reminding you this morning to... remain in that difficult relationship, to remain in that difficult workplace, in that trying career, to remain in that friendship with an unbeliever, to remain in your neighborhood, or your tax bracket, or that struggling church, or that secular classroom, or that challenging living situation. For a “bondservant is a freedman of the Lord”, just as a freedman “is a bondservant of Christ”. That means a weary restaurant manager is also a steward of Jesus. It means a struggling wife ultimately has Jesus as her husband. It means a frustrated neighbor has her citizenship in heaven, and a tested family member first belongs to God's household. It means the childless father or mother has children through the faith family, children to bless and encourage. It means the man or woman who is not a foreign missionary... remains a priest of Jesus, and ambassador for Christ, a light of the world for the Light of the World in precisely the place that God has assigned them, at least for a season. Again, in so many of these situations, it would not be sin to not remain. But I think we just might miss opportunities to bless and be blessed in light of God's providential placement. We just might miss the opportunity to grow in contentment, savoring Jesus Christ as more than enough. [v. 23...] “You [and I] were bought with a price”. On the cross, Jesus redeemed you... right... where... you... are. May God remove any 'scales' from our eyes so that we can remain for our risen Lord's glory, rejoicing in his providential placement.