Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Continuing in 1 Cor 7 - we have considered singleness and marital intimacy, marriage and divorce
• Now v17-24 which is all about staying put in a changing world
• Life is in a state of change - examples
• We cannot rely on our homes, our money, our government
• Our hope is in God and our citizenship is in heaven
• What really matters is keeping the commands of God
• The Corinthians lived in a time of political uncertainty and persecution
• 1 Cor 7:26 - present distress
• 1 Cor 7:29-31 – have a light hold on things
• Don't live for the things of the world
• Looking at v17-24 – life in an uncertain world
• Accept your calling
• Keeping the commands of God
• Live as those bought at a price

Accept your calling

• v17, 20, 24
• Remain in your calling - this refers back to earlier verses
• Be a Christian were you are
• Example of Cliff Richard, Dan Walker
  
• Honour God and keep His commands
• Becoming a Christian
• A mighty spiritual change - you are no longer a slave of sin but to please Jesus Christ
• You have been given a new heart
• Not a social change - examples
• Be who you are in Christ and keep the commands of God
• "but" – referring to what has been said before (v17)
• Do not leave a non-Christian spouse
• (but) if the spouse has left you then do not try to go back
• A command from God (v17)
• 'Now'
• Don't look at the Greek or Roman world and forget your Jewish identity (v18)
• Do not wish you were part of another culture - accept your own Nationality and culture
• Don't look towards the Jews and seek to be more like them (in circumcision)
• The status of circumcision is irrelevant (v19) - don't let your cultural background define you
• What defines you is that you are in Christ and keeping His commandments
• The world looks for anything that can better itself - it is never content
• Do not be discontent
• Be content with such things that you have
• Example from Alistair Begg
• Be content in God whatever your circumstances

Keeping the commands of God (v19)

• What really matters is keeping the commands of God
• Quote from Solomon in Ecclesiastes
• Quote from Jesus Christ "If you love me - keep my commandments"
• John 15:14
• Very challenging
• Loving God and loving your neighbour as yourself
• Gal 5:6
• Quote from Spurgeon

Live as those bought at a price (v23)

• God bought us at such cost
• Explanation
• We do not live to please men
• We follow Christ
• 1 Pet 2:9
• 1 Cor 6:20, 7:23
• Roman slavery (v21-22)
• Slavery was rife in the Roman world - but we belong to Christ
• Slaves could hold many privileged positions but have an owner
• Slavery in Roman times is not how we would think about slavery today
• If you can gain your freedom - do so
• Do not think of yourselves as a slave to man but having liberty as the Lord's freedman
• Example of Joseph, Paul
  
• We belong to God - even those who were free / had no master
• Do not become slaves of men (v23)
• Be submissive and serve others
• Resist things that are wrong - examples
• Stay as you are (v24)