Becoming Who You Are

1 Corinthians 1:1–9 ESV

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:19 ESV

19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

1 Corinthians 9:21 ESV

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

“some sins are quite incompatible with life in Christ (sexual immorality, 6:12–20; attending temple feasts, 10:14–22).

This is not law, in the sense of gaining right standing with God. But it is absolute since some behavior is absolutely contradictory to the character of God.

On the other hand, merely religious scruples—circumcision (7:19); marketplace idol food (9:19–23; 10:23–30)—are irrelevant to the believer since they have been done away with in Christ. The only exception is when such behavior offends another (10:31–33).” ~ Gordon Fee