Guiding Principle:
Live out your Christian life where you
were at when God called you.
Stay where you are and do not think
changing your circumstances will change you spiritually.
Mixed marriage is the topic but the
theme becomes –
1) Living at
peace (7:15) and
2) Staying where
you are (7:17)
Point: Do not think you are more
spiritual by changing your physical situation
So, 7:1 “Good
not to marry (“touch”) was the Corinthian’s attempt to be more spiritual by
changing their natural principles, laws and institutions.
In Christ your relationship with God is
altered completely at the point of salvation or “calling”.
There is nothing more to do and nothing
to improve your spiritual condition.
Leaving your wife (husband), your
career, etc.
will not make your spiritual experience better.
Instead, because of your relationship
with God you have a transforming presence in your marriage, workplace,
relationships, etc.
Paul will now illustrate this with two
other examples:
1) Circumcision –
here in
2) Slavery
These examples are used to support his
statements concerning:
1) Sex in
marriage
2) Marriage to a
non-believer
The Point remains: Do not change these (sex, marriage) in an
attempt to improve your spiritual life.
“kalew” or “calling”
is used 8x (the noun “klhsiV” is used 1x)
“Calling” is used:
1) with each
condition listed: circumcised, uncircumcised, slave, free
2) with the imperative “remain”
Outline of Paul’s argument:
1) The term
“call” describes the born again experience.
2) The “call” came to people in any one of many social situations.
3)
These two realities (saved as a member of the
a. Since God calls people while they are in any and every social situation this proves that the social or natural situation is irrelevant
b. Since the social situation (marriage, Jew, slave, business man) is irrelevant at the time of the call it remains irrelevant after the call.
c. But, since these social situations are irrelevant then if change does occur (slave becomes free, career changes, etc.) then this change is also irrelevant in light of your spiritual condition.
7:17
“Nevertheless”
refers back to verse 15 where an exception was made to marriage with the
unbeliever leaving. “Nevertheless” then
returns to Paul’s point that change in circumstances is not to be sought due to
a person having become a Christian.
ei
mh ekastw
wV
memeriken o kurioV ekaston
Only to each as has divided the Lord each
wV
keklhken
o qeoV
outwV peripateitw
as has called God so let him walk
kai
outwV
en taiV ekklhsiaiV pasaiV
diatassomai.
And so in the churches all I command
“Retain”
or “Remain” is imperative and so is
a command. It is the word “peripateitw” and means “to make one’s way, to make
progress, to make due use of ones opportunity, to regulate one’s life, to
conduct one’s self”
This verse sets forth the basic
principle:
“Live out your Christian life where you
were at when God called you!
Gal. 3:28 states a similar
principle: It does not matter if you are
a Jew, Greek, male, female, slave or free.
You are fine.
This same principle is restated at the
end of this argument in 7:24:
“Each man, as responsible to God,
should remain in the situation God called him to.”
Paul’s concern is not that the people
can not change their position in life but that they not change it due to poor
theology.
Paul is telling them that they can live
out their natural lives without damaging their spiritual life.
It is proper to live out your natural
life
Two areas they are to live their Christian
life:
1. That assigned - It is the word “memeriken and
means “to part, too apportion a share, to deal, to distribute, to give.
2. The one called to – It is the word “keklhken ” it is a reference to being called to partake in divine
blessing of redemption or salvation.
7:18
7:19
An incredible
statement by Paul the former Pharasee.
But Paul can not let this be turned
into a statement like “Obedience to God is nothing.”
7:20
“Calling”
is klhsei
“He
was Called”
is eklhqh
These are both the same root word