Counsel for those Called by God

I Corinthians 7:17–24
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Here in this middle section of the chapter, Paul steps away from the main topic of marriage to give some general guidance to his readers. The same principles that can be applied to marriage can also be applied to other areas of life, namely your physical apearance and your social status. In the previous sections we saw how the Christians in Corinth had mistaken the life of celibacy as being somehow more spiritual then married life. Their lack of understanding, mixed with their own sinful preference had led some of them toward divorce. Paul made it very clear that this way of thinking was wrong (vv. 1-16). In today’s passage (vv. 17-24), we see that the Corinthians had also started to question whether it was more spiritual (or in some cases, more practical) to be circumcised or uncircumcised, a slave or a freeman. 

The Lord is the one who gives us life and calls us to Salvation (v. 17). We should seek to honor and serve God in the places we find ourselves. If we can’t serve God and others in one context what makes us think we can do it in a different context. “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.” (v. 20).  

Some Gentile believers had been convinced that circumcision was necessary for salvation (v. 18a), while some Jewish believers had undergone an operation to reverse their circumcision (v. 18b), likely desiring to partake in the public gymnasium. In God’s church neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is to keep God’s commands (v. 19; Gal. 5:6), the greatest of which is to love God and to love others (Matt. 22:37-40). 

Some slaves felt that they must earn their freedom to fully serve God (v. 21a). Paul didn’t discourage them from seeking freedom, but he reminded them that all Christians are subservient to Christ Jesus. He is our true master having bought us with his blood (vv. 21b-23). Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we are to remain in fellowship with God, (v. 24).

Application

Am I doing everything I can keeping God’s commands in the context he has placed me in?