Remain As You are Called
1 Corinthians 7:24
Comment/question
I hear the word "bound" to the original spouse for life until death,
etc....
15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman
is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do
you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord
assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay
down in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was
called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when
he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing
and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.
20Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God
called him. 21Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it
trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For he who
was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman;
similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.
23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24Brothers,
each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God
called him to.
I think the verses following that command are telling also SO if you are
repentant or convicted when called on, you repent...you do NOT change
the situation. Your REMAIN in the situation which you were in when God
called you.
Also does the part "if the unbeliever leaves (which means a lot) LET HIM
NO LONGER UNDER BONDAGE...not under bondage-you are NO LONGER
BOUND...because HE calls us to PEACE...you can say it doesn't say you
can remarry-I can argue it doesn't say you CAN'T it ends with that. You
are free to believe as you wish as well as I am also.
No longer under bondage in Greek (perfect passive-which refers to
present state) Doolou--means no longer "enslaved" ...but you are
free....what does free mean to you? It means I'm no longer enslaved to
that marriage or that person.
Response
Bound (as used in
As to repentance, I believe when we are "called", as sin is made known
to us, we are to depart from that sin. Becoming a new creature in Christ
does not turn adultery into a lawful union. Staying in "whatever
situation we are called in" does not pertain to sinful
lifestyles/relationships-------otherwise those homosexuals who come to
Christ involved in "marriages" and believe this passage relates to them,
have a right to believe such. However, I think we both agree that is NOT
what Paul was talking about.
Comment/question
24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him
remain with God.
Response
This is not speaking about illicit
relationships............."if you are in adultery, stay in
adultery.........if you are fornicating, remain
fornicating...........that is the condition in which you were called,
remain in it".............surely none would even suggest this is what
Paul meant.