Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

1 Cor 1-6 Paul is addressing issues he has heard about re: issues at the church in Corinth.

1 Cor 7-15 Paul is addressing questions the Corinthians have raised (indicated by “now concerning”) about the church - The people.

1 Cor 7-15 = the gospel in life.

it is important to remember that the Bible was written to specific people in specifc situations and the more we understand the lives of these people and their situations, the better we can understand the truth about God that is being applied to the situation.

This is even more true as we study letters to the church (although many were expected to be read and applied in multiple churches)

I can imagine some of the questions they may have had that led to Paul’s answers we have here:

Paul, how does the gospel play out / inform THIS situation in my life.

Paul, Jesus was single but God in Genesis talks about marriage being good.

Should we marry or not?

Some of our philosophers say it is not good to marry but it is ok to meet with prostitutes because it won’t tie us down.

What does the gospel say? (This may explain some of 6:12-20)

Underlying assumptions:

- Life should change when affected by the gospel

- All of your life should be affected by the gospel (the gospel affects every part of your life)

- The gospel can be and should be applied to wherever you find yourself.

- Even in slavery?

- Even in a difficult marriage?

- not the prosperity gospel!

1 Corinthians 7 (ESV)

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. .

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.

It sounds like this application of gospel to everyday life was not a new thing or unique to the Corinthian church.

In fact, it is not unique concerning us, either.

We need to ask these questions when the gospel is applied to a new culture (polygamy, etc),

ILLUST - new converts in polygamous society seeking counsel on whether to divorce.

or when their are new elements of the culture for the gospel to be applied to:

Can Christians smoke marijuana?

Can a faithful Christian attend a same-sex wedding?

Should a married same-sex couple who become believers get a divorce to stay together?

Now don’t try to guess my answer to these questions based on how we walk through the next several verses — there are always several factors to consider:

Is there a clear prohibition or affirmation in scripture?

(act of homosexuality is a sin)

Is it motivated by and does it move forward the gospel?

Let each person lead the life

Lit, “walk in the way” the Lord has assigned (divided) to him

Paul’s argument here is so similar to Cynic-Stoic teaching that his educated, philosophically inclined readers would probably concede his point respectfully.7:17.

Greek philosophers, especially Stoics, emphasized accepting one’s situation.

But whereas Stoics identified the God who directed their lives with Fate, Paul trusts God as a loving Father.

— IVP Background NT Commentary

* Where do you walk?

* Where has God placed you?

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.

Why would someone want to remove circumcision?

To advance in social status.

Jews were considered as part of a lower class in the Greek city of Corinth.

They could rise in status and gain a better education as a “Greek.”

The bigger question I have is how would anyone know?

Apparently, they would exercise in the nude.

As if going to the gym weren’t awkward enough.

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.

Paul is saying that being circumcised or not does not gain you anything if your desire is for God’s glory and not your own.

Reminder (being circumcised or not was not a sin) Paul is not saying that changing our spiritual walk to be more like Christ gains us nothing; instead, he is saying that changing our daily life to be better liked, to fit in better, etc. gains us nothing in God’s eyes.

Rather, what is important is following God’s commands.

Galatians 3:28 (ESV)

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

He then says it again, “Each one should remain. . .

“

In this church we have teachers, doctors, lawyers, psychologists, scientists, mechanics, handymen, CEOs, managers, farmers, etc. and we are not to think that we need to strive to be something or somewhere other than where God has placed us.

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.)

Paul is not against advancement, especially for advancement for God’s kingdom.

He is, however, against self promotion.

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.

God can meet you and use you where you are right now.

You don’t need the ‘right situation’ in order to experience gospel freedom or fulfill your gospel calling.

Paul has just given us the principle that has already applied earlier in the chapter in response to whatever were the specific questions of the Corinthians.

1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does.

Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.

7 I wish that all were as I myself am.

But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry.

For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.