Episode 187 - "Use your freedom!" 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

1 Cor. 7:17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

To begin this brief study, I want to call attention to statements Paul makes about what he says and what the Lord says. Since we uphold the books of the Bible to be the word of God, some people may get concerned about whether or not we consider Paul’s opinions authoritative. What follows is my opinion about Paul’s opinion expressed within the Holy Scriptures.

Paul was specifically called by the Lord to serve as an apostle, a servant to all who would come to faith in Jesus. I find Paul’s qualifications about his opinion and principles versus what the Lord says to be helpful rather than disconcerting. Why? Because if the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, providentially called Paul for this role, then He certainly gave Paul wisdom to offer the Church. This means that when I read something that Paul says, “This is my rule in all the churches” (v. 17), Paul is offering wisdom from the Lord that is intended to mitigate problems and help Christians live in a way that will best serve the purposes of the Kingdom of God.

Already Paul has instructed the Corinthian believers not to divorce their unbelieving spouse if that spouse was content to remain in the marriage. This advice appears on the surface as contrary to what was commanded to the Jews who returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon having married unbelieving wives. (See Episode 186 for my brief treatment of that issue). The encompassing principle in this Scripture I’ve just read, and the previous text is If it’s not leading you to immorality or other unrighteous thoughts, values, and actions, don’t change anything.

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we see the kind of problem Paul is attempting to mitigate with this “rule.” Among the believers addressed in that letter, there were people who had been pressured or otherwise convinced that having been made righteous in Christ through faith in him, they now needed to become circumcised and follow the Law. Paul teaches the Law is insufficient to accomplish what Christ did on the cross, and therefore no one should think that being circumcised, getting married, getting divorced, or any other life-status change should make them better Christians.

Even with the slaves of that day and culture, Paul says that in Christ, they are free. While he says they may obtain freedom from their bondage if possible, they are not sinning if they don’t. He continues by saying that those who are not slaves have been “bought with a price” and have become a “bondservant of Christ.” (v. 22)

When he says in verse 23, “Do not become bondservants of men,” I take this to mean that he is saying, “Don’t let people control you and make you act in ways that are not in keeping with the liberty we have received in Christ.” (My interpretation)

In no way should this Scripture be used to justify the injustices manifested in slavery in times past or present. The focus of this Scripture is really telling us that when you come to faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Lord can and will use you just the way you are. Don’t be distracted and inhibited by thinking you have to do other things before God can use you.

Prayer: Lord - Thank you for the freedom in Christ you have given me. Help me use that freedom to share the gospel and fulfill the Great Commission.