Transcript

When Change Is Wrong

1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Pastor Randy Smith

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On September 11th, 2001, radical Islamic terrorists hijacked four American airplanes. Three were used as missiles to destroy the Twin Towers and cripple the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania short of its intended destination. Over three thousand were taken that infamous day and lives have been changed dramatically because of those events

Roughly two weeks ago Hurricane Katrina slammed the northern Gulf Coast packing 145 mph winds. We have all seen the heart wrenching videos of houses leveled, neighborhoods flooded and human bodies lying dead in the streets. The calculations of loss of property and loss of life are only now being estimated at gross proportions. Once again, lives have been changed dramatically because of those events as well

We remember these people. We pray for the victims. And although I would never wish to trivialize these tragic events, I saw a great parallel to this morning's text in 1 Corinthians 7

In one way or another, these events have changed all of our lives. We may have become more compassionate, or we may have become more critical. We may have become more cautious, or we may have become more courageous. But while these changes in behavior may take place, these events never cause us to lose our overall identity. Who we were on 9/10 is the same person we were on 9/12

However, once we give our lives to Jesus Christ, much more than just our behavior is changed. We become a totally different person. The Bible says we are a "new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17). We are "born again" (Jn. 3:3, 7). Our heart of stone is replaced with a heart of flesh (Eze. 36:26). We are given the mind of our Lord (1 Cor. 2:16). And the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit begins to transform us always further into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29)

We witnessed a transformation in our home recently. We watched an ugly black caterpillar emerge from a cocoon a stunning monarch butterfly. It was a beautiful transformation. Interestingly, the Greek word for transformation - metamorphoo (cf. Rom. 12:2) - It's where we get our English word, metamorphosis.

In the same way, for the Christian, the ugliness of our sin has been washed away. We have gone through a metamorphosis. We have emerged a beautiful child of God. The old self is dead (Col. 3:5). We are made anew and alive in Christ (Rom. 6:11; Eph. 2:5)

Because of this transformation, this change, we should be totally different than the world. This is the point Paul has been trying to make with the Corinthian church. The world is divided; we are united (1:10). The world boasts in humans, we boast in God (1:12, 31). Christ crucified is foolishness to the world, but to us it is the wisdom and power of God (1:23). Sexual immorality and lawsuits are for the world, but we are about purity and reconciliation (6:1, 9). In other words, the greatest indication of a true believer is spiritual metamorphosis. If God has changed us inside, it should be manifested for us to see and all to see - change from the ugliness of the world, transformed to the beauty of God's holy image

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the Corinthians were extremists. When they heard about change they thought everything had to go! Remember they encouraged married couples to cease from intimacy because they assumed that all sex was improper. Remember they had believers divorcing their unbelieving spouses because they thought all mixed marriages were evil. Once again in our text this morning, Paul needed to reel them back in. He makes it clear in verses 17-24 that certain aspects of our former life have no significance regarding our new life in Christ. Wholesale change is not necessary. As a matter of fact, he commands the church in a few situations to stay as they are!

Notice how this thought dominates our text. Please look with me at verse 17. "Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches." The same thought is repeated in verse 20. "Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called." Once again in verse 24, we read, "Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called."

Paul makes himself clear in this section by repeating himself three times that Christians are to accept the lot God has assigned to them from the time they are called to salvation (cf. 1:9). Paul is not speaking of our character; rather, he is talking about our position in life - our ethnicity, our employment, our age, etc. We must understand that our position in life is not sinful, but rather a sovereign assignment from God. And regardless of where we find ourselves, we can serve God with contentment and profit. While the world may esteem social context and outward circumstances, these are insignificant in the eyes of God. God can and does use us where we are because His calling us to salvation and His calling us to ministry transcend our circumstances

Although change is generally expected for the Christian, God's Word will teach us this morning that some change is unnecessary and even at times improper. Squeezed in between these three foundational verses that I just read are two illustrations that help demonstrate Paul's point. Think of them as the two slices of meat on a Big Mac sandwiched in-between three layers of bread

1. THE ETHNIC ILLUSTRATION (vs. 18-19)

Let's begin with the ethnic illustration. Please follow along as I read verses 18-19. "Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God."

Circumcision was a controversial issue in the early church. Large sections of Scripture, primarily in Acts and Galatians were devoted to this issue. You see the Jews, through Abraham were given circumcision as a sign of the covenant (Gen. 17:10f). It was extremely significant to their faith, so much so that they distinguished people by this distinction alone. They, the Jews, were the "circumcised" and the Gentiles were the "uncircumcised" (cf. 1 Sam. 14:6; 17:26; Gal. 2:7)

Therefore if a Gentile wished to convert to the Jewish faith in the first century, in addition to a ceremonial bath and keeping the law, he needed to be circumcised. It shouldn't surprise us that many of the older men refused this procedure and were content being a "God-fearer" and not a full proselyte

This system was turned on its heels when Jesus arrived with the New Covenant. His initial disciples were primarily Jews. And intending to be faithful to circumcision, they began insisting that circumcision was necessary to be a Christian (Ac. 15:5). Now we all know there is nothing wrong with circumcision in and of itself, but the early church needed to determine if circumcision was required for salvation. Was it required to be part of the New Covenant as it was required in the Old Covenant? And the answer is emphatically, "no!" In his letter to the Galatians Paul said, "Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you" (Gal. 5:2)

Therefore the Gentiles needed to know that they could be accepted by God regardless of whether they were circumcised or not!

On the other hand, the Gentiles looked down upon circumcision. They believed it was an abnormal and disgusting procedure. So when the Jewish man entered the public baths or gymnasiums, he was ostracized and distained. The ancient historians even tell us that there was a surgical procedure to actually reverse circumcision that many Jews received to help them become more acceptable in society

Therefore the Jews needed to know that they could be accepted by God regardless of whether they were circumcised or not!

The point? We don't need to change our ethnicity or culture or social classification, regardless of what the world says, in order to be saved. These have no spiritual significance in God's eyes. And once we are saved, we still do not need to make any changes in these areas. God accepts all who come to Him and there is a value, as we will see shortly, to remain as you are

What changes are significant in God's eyes? In verse 19, Paul addresses the changes that matter most. "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God."

For Paul, a Jew, to say circumcision is "nothing" was as radical as it comes! But as controversial as this statement would have been, he is absolutely correct. In the Old Covenant, circumcision was important, but as much in the Old Covenant, it was only a sign to point to a greater reality. God is not ultimately concerned about an outward procedure as He is about an inward heart transformation. The circumcision of the foreskin was only to picture the circumcision of the heart (Dt. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Ac. 7:51; Rom. 2:28-29). As I mentioned during the introduction, the New Covenant is the fulfillment of God giving us new hearts - pure hearts capable of obedience to His Word. Therefore since the reality has arrived (in new hearts), the sign (in circumcision) is now obsolete (Heb. 8:13)

Therefore, as Paul said in verse 19, "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God" (1 Cor. 7:19, emphasis added). We could say outward, ethnic choices are nothing, but inward, ethical choices of doing God's commandments are everything

You see, when we place an outward requirement upon the Gospel, we not only make it less attractive to certain cultures, we also add a legalistic demand that deters from the concept of God's grace. We elevate the glory of man through human merit and dethrone the glory of God through His undeserved gift

On the other hand, when we realize salvation is an act of grace in Christ received by faith, we accept it freely. We then delight in obeying God's commandments to demonstrate our gratitude and our changed heart by now loving the things He loves

2. THE SOCIAL ILLUSTRATION (vs. 21-23)

To reinforce his point, Paul gives a second illustration in verses 21-23. "Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men."

Another distinction commonly made between people in the first century was whether they were free or slaves. It has been estimated that up to 50% of Rome were slaves. Corinth wasn't much better. Historians tell us that one-third of the population were slaves

While some slaves were treated as family members, others had a very difficult life before them. All slaves were regarded as personal property without any rights. So you can imagine how these individuals were degraded, lacking worth in the eyes of man. But did they lack worth in the eyes of God?

Christian principles eventually brought the end to slavery in many parts of the world. However Paul, instead of taking on the whole system as a Jew belonging to a small persecuted sect of Christians, gave these individuals hope in their present situation. He basically said, "If you are a slave, don't worry about it. You are just as special in the eyes of God. And no situation, regardless of the pain and injustice can ever keep you from serving God (cf. Eph. 6:5-8; Col. 3:22-25)."

And lest he be fully misunderstood, Paul does add a caveat in verse 21 saying, "If you are able also to become free, rather do that." Therefore he does not forbid slaves from leaving, but realizes their departure is far from being in their own control. And even when they are wrongly under the control of another in a less than desirable situation, they are esteemed by God with the opportunity to serve Him and be content.

In verse 22, Paul justifies his radical comments about slavery by pointing out that who we are in God's eyes is really what matters most. He says, "For he who was called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman." The freedom we humans need most of all is not freedom from other humans, it is freedom from the condemnation of sin. There is no greater bondage than that! Therefore all slaves forgiven by Christ regardless of their social status are in reality freer than the Roman Emperor! In Christ, slaves are given dignity and honor and spiritual freedom

And lest the freedman boast in his position, Paul brings this person humility. He may receive praise and adoration because of his high standing in life, but in the eyes of the Lord he is really a slave of Christ. The remainder of verse 22, "Likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave." The beautiful paradox - freed from sin and joyfully enslaved to the lordship of Christ!

The thought is concluded in verse 23. "You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men."

You see, God has purchased His children off the auction block of sin. It came at a great price to God, the precious blood of His Son (1 Pet. 1:19). He has changed us and given us the ability to serve Him. Therefore, says Paul, we should not be slaves to man. We should not put into essentials that which has no spiritual significance in the eyes of God. We should no longer live according to the values of this world.

On the contrary, we should live according to the commandments of God (7:19). As God's slaves we dishonor our Master if we become slaves of men, slaves to a worldly way of thinking. Our goal is to please God in the situation we find ourselves regardless of what any human may think because the values of man are not the values of God. We demonstrate ourselves slaves to God when we value His opinions over the opinions of man.

Listen, if you think white people are better than other people or some professions are nobler than other professions or the clothes you wear make you more spiritual, you have become a slave to man because that is not how a child of God thinks

For the remainder of this message, I would like to provide some personal application to this concept:

Don't stay in a sinful situation

Just because the point of this message is "remain as you are," it doesn't mean that we should cease to repent from existing sin. Most professions and hobbies and organizations are acceptable in God's sight, and God can use us in these various affiliations for His glory. However some are outright sinful, and these we need to change. There may be a Christian electrician, but not a Christian prostitute. There may be a Christian Red Cross worker, but not a Christian KKK member

Don't elevate some affiliations over others

We have a tendency as parents to encourage our children toward certain occupations. But when we esteem the role of a lawyer, CEO, doctor, and even a Pastor, over the so-called menial and ordinary professions, we violate the principle of this morning's text. God needs His servants in all occupations and any elevation we create between occupations is man centered and unhealthy for the Christian church. We need to teach our children that God has gifted His people and called His people to different roles and that is to be celebrated.

Just as one person's role in the church is no more important than another's, one person's role in society is no more important than another's in God's sight either. Parents, encourage your children to pursue their interests and talents. Encourage them to work hard and do their job for the glory of God. This is success in God's eyes. Don't make them feel inferior because they fail live up to the world's standards. Pastor David Legg of Ireland said, "Christianity does not create an artificial greatness, but teaches that true greatness is in humble places. After all, true greatness does not consist in doing great things, but rather doing little things in great ways."

Your special opportunity to serve God

Paul has good reason to tell these converts to "remain as you are." First of all they needed to understand that occupations, culture, and ethnicity are all assigned from God and none are more spiritual than the other. But also, they needed to realize that their unique position in life was a gift, a special assignment from God (7:17)! You are an ambassador for God in whatever setting you find yourself!

Who can reach people of the trade better than a blue-collared worker? Who can reach singles better than a single? Who can reach high school kids better than a teen? Who can reach the elderly better than a senior citizen? Who can reach NASCAR fans better than another NASCAR fan? Who can reach Muslims better than someone who is from the Middle East?

Don't be ashamed of the way God created you. He didn't make a mistake. You are unique for a reason so use what God has given you for His glory to the best of your ability. If God can use a couple uneducated fishermen (John and Peter) to turn the world upside-down, He can use you as well! Conversion is not the signal to leave your social condition; it is the signal to serve God in the midst of your social condition better than you did before. As someone once said, "We should bloom where we are planted." If all the flowers looked alike and bloomed in the same garden, we would sacrifice much beauty

What matter is obedience

Once again the world has everything backwards. The world makes a big deal about certain occupations, marital status, age, gender, skin color and the list goes on. Humans tend to classify these distinctions as one being better than the other. However in God's eyes any such distinction in the way He created people is not only superficial, but it is also sinful

The world cares about these outward distinctions, but God cares about the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." That's why Paul said, "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God" (1 Cor. 7:19). God is looking for those with a soft heart eager to live holy lives and do His will. And what matters to God should matter to us as well. Any situation in which we find ourselves is an opportunity to serve God by keeping His commandments

Once upon a time there was a stonecutter who lived alone. Though he had acquired great skills he was very poor, he lived in a tiny bamboo hut and wore tattered clothing.

One day as a stonecutter he worked with his hammer and chisel upon a huge stone, and he heard a crowd gathering along the streets. By their shouts he could tell that the King was coming to visit his humble village, and joining in the procession the stonecutter gazed in awe as the king, dressed in marvellous silk, was greeted by his subjects. "Oh, how I wish I had the power and glory of the King," he thought, "He has soldiers at his command, there is no-one more powerful than the King." His cry was heard in heaven, and immediately the humble stonecutter was transformed into a powerful King. He found himself riding on a great horse, waving at the crowds of people who had flocked to see him. "This is power," he thought.

As the summer progressed, however, the new king watched the effects of the heat upon his people. Men and animals became weary in the summer sun, the plants withered under the powerful rays of the sun, and as he looked at the sky the new king realized that the sun was more powerful than the earthly rulers. "How I wish I were as powerful as that," he thought, "I wish I were the sun." Immediately his wish was granted, and the stonecutter relished his new role as the sun. He gloried in the power he felt as he surveyed the kingdoms below. He sent his bright rays to the earth, he watched kings and princes hide under their parasols, he watched as powerful warriors became weak under his gaze; even the crops in the field were under his command.

Then one day a tiny cloud moved over the land, shielding the earth from the sun's bright rays. Seeing that here was something more powerful, he thought: "I want very much to be a cloud." Again his wish was granted, he blocked the sun himself - he felt so important, he gathered all his strength becoming a gigantic cloud, and he began to pour down rain on the earth. Rivers that were formed previously were no more, and water flooded the streets of the cities and the farmland - everything, trees, animals, people, seemed to be awed by his power. Only the massive rocks were unswayed.

Again he had discovered something more powerful than he - "There is nothing," he thought, "as powerful as a rock, how I wish I where a huge stone" - and his wish was granted. As a stone, there he sat in the countryside, motionless and powerful, unmoved by sun or wind or rain - and he felt exempt from all the forces that shaped the existence of those around him.

Then one day a humble man approached carrying a bag. When he stopped, he pulled out a chisel and a hammer, and he began to chip away at the rock. Realizing that the man with the tools was more powerful than any rock, he cried out: "Oh, I want to be a stonecutter." Once again the heavens heard his cry, and he became a stonecutter; once again he lived in a bamboo hut and made his living with hammer and chisel - but this time he was content in his service

We are often like that man. We look about us, and we decide that our lot in life is inferior to others. The swells of ambition roll over us and we set out to change our life according to the world's standards. We climb the ladder of our imagined success only to find that it is leaning against the wrong wall

May we be thankful for the way God created us. And may we use our unique assignment in life to bring Him glory wherever we find ourselves through obedient living