1 Corinthians (Written)

Tuesday, 29 July 2014

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23

This verse isn’t saying what may initially come to mind when it is read. What it sounds like is that because we were bought at a price, meaning the finished work of Jesus which included His cross, that we are now His and so we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be sold into literal slavery as bondservants of another. However, this is not what is being referred to.

Rather, the idea of being a slave that Paul is speaking of would be yielding to unnecessary rites and customs which a false teacher or non-believer might impose on them. As slaves of Christ, we are under His ultimate authority. We have been granted grace and are freed from the constraints of both the law and of the world around us. We are to live as slaves to Him. If we were to allow ourselves to fall back under the law, or to be swayed by those who reject or manipulate the gospel, we would be brought into a form of slavery from which we had been bought from.

Paul explains this in a concise statement found in Ephesians 4:14 where he says that “we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” If we fall into their trap, we are making ourselves a slave to a far lesser authority than Christ who redeemed us. The Pulpit commentary gives an excellent explanation of this verse when they say the following:

“There is a grand play of words in the advice to them not to become slaves, at the very moment when he is advising them to continue in slavery. In that which the world called “slavery” the Christian slave might enjoy absolute liberty. The price which a master paid for them was but an unmeaning shadow; they had been bought once and eternally by an infinitely nobler price, and that purchase was the pledge of absolute emancipation.”

Again, the words of Paul in Galatians 5:1 give another beautiful rendering of the thought he is making when he says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” The “yoke of bondage” which makes us “slaves of men” is speaking on a spiritual not a physical level.

Life application: The greatest freedom we can ever possess is to be found as a slave of Christ. To enjoy the fullness of this freedom, we must read, learn, and apply the Bible to our lives. If we don’t do this, but rather trust in the doctrines of men, then we are putting ourselves back into bondage, even if we think we are following a path of freedom and ease. Read your Bible, keep its precepts in context, and apply them to your life. In doing this, you will truly experience the fullness of the life that Christ desires for you during this earthly existence.

Let us no longer be children
Tossed to and fro and carried about
With every wind of doctrine
By the trickery of men who rave and shout

In the cunning craftiness of their deceitful plotting
Let us their wayward tricks be a’spotting

And let us speak the truth in love
That we may grow up in all things into Him
Who is the head—Christ, our Lord above
Let us in His doctrine immerse ourselves and swim

Let our walk be acceptable in His sight
Let us always follow the noble path, the one just and right

Yes, Lord! It is my prayer today that I would be grounded in Your word and kept from the bondage of those who would twist it in a way that would keep me from a sound and joyous walk with You. In Your word is freedom, wholeness, and the path for right living. So fill me with proper understanding and then the desire to apply that to my every step. Amen.

Monday, 28 July 2014

For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 1 Corinthians 7:22

In the previous verse, Paul said, “Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it…” That may seem uncaring about the plight of the slave unless one understands the freedom of those in Christ, even if they are in bondage to another human. In an exchange with the Jews of His time we read these words between Jesus and them in John 8 –

“‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ ³³ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?'” ³⁴ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.'” John 8:31-36

The premise of the Bible is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because we are in our father, Adam, we inherited his sin. Further we eventually come to the age where we commit our own sin on top of the inherited sin in our lives. Because of this, we are in bondage to the devil, and he is a cruel and harsh taskmaster. But once in Christ, we have become free of the devil’s power. Thus, “he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman.”

Regardless of the burden of being bound to a human master, it is nothing in comparison to the freedom that is found in Christ. The earthly master may have temporary say over the earthly existence of the believer, but Christ has eternally set those in Him free from a much greater bondage. Building on that, Paul then says, “Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.” In other words, we are all slaves in some way. Nobody is truly free to act in complete independence.

Therefore, in Christ the slave and the one who is free are actually on the same spiritual level. We are bound to His laws and the freedom that we have in Him is equally shared regardless of our fleeting time on earth. In this then, a sense of complete contentment should be shared by all. In Christ, we have all been freed from the power of Satan and we all are slaves of the One who created us, redeemed us, and has complete and eternal control over the endless future which lies before us.

Life application: If you feel the weight of day to day trudge and toil because of your work or because of those who are appointed over you in some way or another, let that not overly displease you. Rather, if you are in Christ, you are the freest of all beings. Whatever temporary displeasures you face will be erased for all eternity when you are glorified at His return.

Heavenly Father, I long for the day when Jesus returns for His people. The thought of no more grief, pain, toil, or sleepless nights is a wonderful hope which I can almost taste. Moment by moment I wait in antici…….pation for that wondrous sound when the trumpet blows and we are gathered to be with Him. May that fantastic moment be soon. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Sunday, 27 July 2014

Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.1 Corinthians 7:21

Paul now refers to the second major issue tied to what he said in verse 17 – ” But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk.” This second issue is slavery. He asks a question of those who are bound in slavery, “Were you called while a slave?”

Slavery is something that has occurred throughout human history and has come in different forms, from complete bondage and absolute rule, to simply being owned by another yet with varying amounts of freedom, but without pay for the work which is performed. The Old Testament details provisions for slavery, how certain slaves are to be treated, and the rights which slaves bore within the context of Israelite society.

In the Roman Empire of Paul’s time, a large portion of the population were bound under slavery and it was as common and accepted as the general paid-labor force is in the world today. The difference mostly centered on the amount of freedom offered to slaves. In coming to Christ, the individual slave may feel that his allegiances were now confused. He or she is bound to a master and yet they have committed to Christ. This might have brought about a level of concern or anxiety concerning their position.

His question as to their state when they called on Christ is to show them that there is no true complication in the matter. If they are slaves now as he writes and they were slaves when they we called, then there currently is no change in their state. Christ called them while they were in servitude and they were accepted by Him. And so, He understands the dilemma they feel which to Him is no dilemma at all. Because of this he continues with, “Do not be concerned about it…”

If Christ wasn’t worried about it, then they shouldn’t be either. The allegiance they have to Him is one that will not conflict with the allegiance they have with their own master. They are to remain obedient to their rightful owner and what he expects. A good example of this actually comes from the Old Testament. It is found in 2 Kings 5. A Syrian officer, Naaman, came to know and call on the God of Israel, but he also had allegiances which bound him to his master. This caused him a bit of anxiety as to what he should do when he had to accompany his master into the temple of Rimmon where his master would worship. He asked Elisha the prophet for pardon concerning this matter. The request and response are found in 2 Kings 5:18, 19 –

“‘Yet in this thing may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord please pardon your servant in this thing.’ ¹⁹ Then he said to him, ‘Go in peace.’ So he departed from him a short distance.'”

Jesus is looking upon the hearts of his faithful and He understands the difficult position that they are in concerning worldly responsibilities. As He called us, so we may continue, but with a different heart and direction concerning Him. However, at the end of Paul’s words today, he gives this final thought, “…but if you can be made free, rather use it.” What he means is that if a slave can free himself, then there is nothing wrong with that.

In the Roman Empire, like in Israel, there were provisions for obtaining freedom. One could buy their freedom or earn it in various other ways. Paul told them that despite being called as a slave, nothing bound them to remain as slaves. But if they did remain as slaves, there was nothing wrong with that either. Today, this is comparable to changing jobs. If you were a lawyer when you were called, there is nothing wrong with changing one’s profession. The principle which is being laid down is one for peace and contentment in the state one is in, but not necessarily being firmly bound in that state.

Life application: There is nothing degrading in menial labor or even bondage. If the Lord calls you in such a state, then how can it be considered degrading? You have been given the highest honor in all the world. Whatever lowly position you think you’re in is only in your mind, not His. To Him, you are a member of His family and in a high and exalted position!

Oh Lord, at times I feel like the menial jobs I do are degrading and not worthy of notice, but then I remember that You called me just as I am. You weren’t at all concerned about the amount of money I make, about the dirty hands and face I have at the end of the day, nor the life which lacks flash and pomp that I live. Instead, You called me and set me next to You in the heavenly places. What higher honor is there? When I remember this, the jobs I do take on a new and wondrous light. Thank You for the work of my hands which You have established. Amen.

Saturday, 26 July 2014

Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 1 Corinthians 7:20

This verse is a repeat of the thought given in the second half of verse 17, which said, “as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk.” He has been speaking about circumcision and has said that “circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.” And this came after his words that those who were circumcised when they were called should stay that way and those who were uncircumcised when they were called should likewise stay that way.

His thought now in verse 20, is given as a confirmation of this. Whatever was our calling when we were called is where we are expected to remain. In order to show that this is not limited to circumcision, but that it is an overall precept to show that we are acceptable to Christ in the station in which we were called, he will give a new example in the coming verses, that of slavery.

Shouldn’t it be obvious that if Jesus accepted us in a certain condition, that we thus must be acceptable to Him? And yet, many then spend the rest of their walk with Christ trying to please the One who already found them acceptable. In this, they forget that grace is grace and so they attempt to find justification in their own personal works and not in the work of Christ. It is a sad cycle which can lead to neurotic believers who waffle in their convictions and are always worried about “losing” the eternal salvation they have been granted.

It should again be noted that remaining in the calling in which one is called does not refer to the abusive and forbidden lifestyles referred to in Scripture. One cannot say, “I was called as a homosexual and therefore I can remain a practicing homosexual.” This is what we are called from, not to. A person is not called from circumcision. This is a thing that they already possessed which is not contrary to New Testament doctrine. Freedom in Christ never means freedom to sin.

Life application: If Christ is the end of the law, then let the law be ended! Don’t reinsert precepts which will only bring you into bondage and mental confusion.

Oh God, some days I arise and I am as tired as when I went to bed. The day ahead of me seems long and filled with toil. Often I have stress between myself and someone else. These things can seem so hard to overcome. But at such times, I would ask that You would grant me sufficient peace in my mind to be able to go to Your word and read enough to settle my soul. I know that if I have this, the rest of the day will fall into place. You have all things under control and Your precious word is there to remind me of this. Thank You for being with me each step of the way. Amen.

Friday, 25 July 2014

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 1 Corinthians 7:19

The confusion that reigns over this verse in the minds of some is immense. Paul could not be clearer in the first half of the thought – “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.” For the believer in Christ, it makes absolutely no difference whether one is circumcised or not. As seen in a previous verse, almost the entire book of Galatians deals with this one subject which is used as the premier example of the Law of Moses, circumcision. It was given by God to Abraham as a sign to the covenant people and the mandate is repeated in Exodus and Leviticus. However, it served its purpose and was fulfilled in Christ.

Now whether one is a Jew who is circumcised, or a Gentile who is not, there is no difference between the two. The circumcision has no bearing at all on their status before God because a believer in Christ is circumcised in the heart (Romans 2:29). The external rite is fulfilled and thus set aside in Christ. However, cults, aberrant teachers, and those who run ahead without knowledge still mandate this rite and thus promote a false gospel. As noted, it could not be clearer, and yet the waters get muddied.

And this leads to the second half of the verse which can likewise become muddied, both by those who mandate circumcision, or even by those who understand circumcision is no longer required. Paul says that “keeping the commandments of God is what matters.” The obvious connection of “the commandments of God” to “circumcision” should be made. When was circumcision mandated? Under the Law of Moses! Is circumcision still required? No! Therefore, “keeping the commandments of God” cannot be speaking of the Law of Moses or any part of it!

This is the force and intent of Paul’s words now and is (as noted above) the meaning and purpose behind his words in Galatians. If circumcision is used as a benchmark of the law, and circumcision is set aside in Christ, then all of the precepts of the Law of Moses are set aside in Christ. This is stated explicitly in Hebrews 7, 8, and 10, and both explicitly and implicitly elsewhere. It is:

1) Annulled (Hebrews 7:18)
2) Obsolete (Hebrews 8:13)
3) Taken away (Hebrews 10:9)
4) Wiped out, taken out of the way, and nailed to the cross (Colossian 2:14)
5) Etc. elsewhere in multiple statements, explicitly and implicitly

So what are “the commandments of God” which Paul is speaking of? They are found in Jesus’ words which are directed to believers after the cross, not those directed to Israel under the law. The are also found in the prescriptive verses of the book of Acts which make up a very small portion of the book, possibly no more than five percent of it. And finally, they are found in the New Testament epistles. These, in particular, are doctrine for the church based on the fulfillment of the Law of Moses by Christ.

To reinsert the law, or to pick and choose portions of the law – such as mandating circumcision, no eating pork, or observing a Sabbath, etc, is to set aside the grace of Christ and is “another gospel” and thus heresy. We must trust that Christ is the fulfillment of the law and that His work is sufficient to save us, wholly and entirely. And yet, we must also understand that His work in salvation does not give us license to sin by ignoring prescriptive elements of the New Testament. For example, women who preach violate New Testament law based on Paul’s words to those in Corinth and also his words to Timothy. This is an example of what Paul is referring to here. It is a willful disobedience of what God has shown He expects of New Testament believers.

Life application: If you allow yourself to be circumcised in an attempt to meet the standards of the law, the Bible says that you have “set aside” the grace of Christ and have become a debtor to the whole law. As no one can fulfill the law, it is a self-condemning act. This is true with any precept of the law fulfilled by Christ. Don’t be led astray by a false teacher who boasts in works of the flesh and negates the glorious work of Jesus Christ!

Glorious God Almighty! The power and the marvel that You display in the heavens is beyond imagination. Pulsars and quasars put out more energy in a moment than we could mentally comprehend in a lifetime. The forces of gravity are consistent and they hold the universe together in a way which allows all things to continue as they should. And yet, despite the unimaginable power of these things, You tend to our hearts and needs as if we were the sole apple of Your eye. How great is Your love. How wondrous is Your glory! Amen.