1 Corinthians 7:24
“Brethren, let each one remain with
GOD in that state in which he was called.” NKJV
Here is the problem with using one or two verses to make a
message, if the reader is a Christian for any length of time and has read and studied
the Bible they probably already understand the context in which Paul wrote this
message to The Church, and therefore what he is talking about.
But people who do not want to or do not believe that they
need to keep GOD’s commandments, like The Ten Commandments, have a different
interpretation of its meaning. Such as, “I can keep doing drugs or drinking
alcohol”, or “I can keep having sex without being married”, or whatever they
choose to keep doing.
Another reason is that some Christians tell them, without
context, that GOD Loves them just as they are; which is true but not complete.
GOD Loves us just as we are, but He has a plan for our life that was written
out while we were in our mother’s womb, and He wants us to follow that plan
(Psalm 139:13-18, 2 Timothy 2:14-19, 3:10-17).
Over 100 years ago, Oswald Chambers (google him if you do not
know who he is) wrote about this verse, “We all have to find our niche in life.
In order to do this we must have companied with JESUS; we must know Him as more
than a personal Savior.” Oswald is saying that we must know JESUS better than
we know anyone else! We must be his friend (Proverbs 18:24, John 15:12-17).
So let’s look at the micro context in which Paul made this
statement: “But as GOD has distributed to each one, as The LORD has Called each
one, so let him walk, and so I ordain (direct) in all the churches. Was anyone
Called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone Called
while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and
uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of GOD is what
matters. Let each one remain in the same Calling in which he was Called.
Were you Called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be
made free, rather use it. For he who is Called in The LORD while a slave is The
LORD’s freeman. Likewise he who is Called while free is CHRIST’s slave. You
were bought with a Price; do not become slaves to men. Brethren, let each one
remain with GOD in that state in which he was Called.” 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
NKJV
Paul starts by telling the Corinthians that he teaches this
message (to live as GOD Called them) to all the churches that he ministers to.
Then he talks about circumcision; a religious/health practice that the Hebrews
were commanded in the Torah (their religious law) to practice on all male
humans. If you are a Gentile Christian Paul is saying you do not and should not
practice circumcision as a form of Faith toward GOD. If you are a circumcised Hebrew
Christian you cannot change being circumcised, it cannot be undone. In either
case it has nothing to do with your Christian Faith which is based solely on
JESUS’s birth, death and resurrection; “Circumcision is nothing and
uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of GOD is
what matters.”
“Then JESUS said to those Jews who believed in Him, ‘If you
abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed; and you shall know The truth and
The Truth shall make you free.’” John 8:31-32 NKJV. To abide in JESUS’ Word
means to live in it, to read and study it and to live your life as it directs.
This is not an occasional relationship depending on how you are feeling, it is being
one with JESUS as He is One with The Father (Joun 17).
Next Paul talks about being slave or freemen; freeman is
easy, those who were not indebted to anyone else for any reason. Some say slave
means being employed, that is a nice euphemism but that is not what he was
saying. That is why GOD Calls us to study The Bible (2 Timothy 3). Slave in the
NKJV is servant in the KJV, the Greek word used in this passage means: salve
(literally or figuratively, involuntary in voluntary); frequently therefore in
a sense of subjection or subserviency; bond, bondman, servant. Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible.) Slavery was a way of life for many people
because of wars (involuntary – unlimited amount of time) and economic hard times
(voluntary – limited amount of time). Paul is telling people who are slaves
that if they can win their freedom they should (study Philemon). Either way all
Christians are GOD’s servants and we must if possible be freemen, “You were
bought with a Price, do not become slaves of men.”
“Brethren, let each one remain with GOD in that state in which
he was Called.” Does not mean that we do not have to repent of our sins. Repent
of your sins was the Call of John the baptize, JESUS The CHRIST and all
Christian Ministers since about 33AD. Asking for forgiveness of our sins has
them and their guilt taken away (1 John 1:9), but if we do not repent (stop
sinning) then we fall back into sin and are lost again. “But JESUS said to him,
‘No one having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for The
Kingdom of GOD.’” Luke 9:62 NKJV In other words, “Keep your eye on the prize.”
Looking back is what the Children of Israel did, toward Egypt, while they were
in the wilderness and half of them died in the wilderness and did not enter the
promised Land.
Also, be careful to not become a religious worker, in Matthew
7:21-23, JESUS told of those who come before Him in the Day of Judgment calling
Him LORD and He tells them He does not know them. They declare that they had prophesied
in His Name and cast out demons in His Name and done many wonderous things in
His Name. Yet, JESUS tells them He does not know them, He calls them workers of
lawlessness (doing what they want rather than what He called them to do) and
casts them out. Cast out at the Judgment seat is cast into the lake of fire –
eternal judgment.
The fact is that GOD’s Love and Mercy towards humans is extraordinary,
and His Justice is Righteous and Eternal. It is either Eternal Live in The
Kingdom of GOD through a life of Faithful Obedience or Eternal torment in the
lake of fire through a life of doing what you please.
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