If Only... - 1 Cor. 7:17-24

Introduction  Have you ever found yourself captured by the tyranny of the If Only? It goes something like this: if only [insert different circumstance in life], I could serve the Lord better.  The possibilities are virtually endless. We can come up with almost anything for our own If Only. That is where the Corinthian Christians were. They found themselves virtually paralyzed in their walk with the Lord because their hope was in a change of circumstances rather than in the Christ who called them to salvation in whatever circumstances they were in. Some who were married wanted to be unmarried in the hope that that would make them "better" Christians. Others thought that being married would make them "better" Christians. Paul insists that it is not the circumstances of life that make one a "better" or "worse" Christian. It is Christ and him alone that makes one thrive in life, independently of circumstances.  In this passage Paul makes two very important points that must be essential elements of our thinking:  Right where you are in your life, you have everything you need to be a fully functioning servant of Christ because Christ is there with you. You are right now where God wants you to be in order for Christ to be magnified in your life.  Why are these two propositions true? They are true because God has called you with the effectual call of the Gospel.  I. The Main Point of This Passage Is the Calling of God in the Life of a Christian.  A. The words call, called, calling are used eight times in these eight verses.  B. In all but one case, these words refer to God's calling us to himself through Jesus Christ as the Spirit works through the Gospel.  II. The Effectual Call of the Gospel  WLC 67 – What is effectual calling? Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty power and grace, whereby (out of his free and especial love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto) he does, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his Word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin,) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.  A. It is the work of God's almighty power and grace – not ours.  B. God draws us to Jesus Christ by means of his Word and Spirit.  C. God savingly enlightens us and renews and determines our will so that we are made able to embrace his grace.  III. Slavery to Christ Brings True Freedom.  A. Free to be circumcised or uncircumcised, 18-19.  B. Free to be slave or freedman, 21-22.  C. So experience your freedom in Christ and serve him in the circumstance you find yourself in, 20.  D. We do not need to be slaves to the man-made tyranny of the If Only, 23.  Application & Conclusion  Your situation in life does not have to change for you to live out the freedom that you have in Jesus Christ. Things don't have to be different in order for you to live out God's calling in Jesus Christ. In the midst of your messed up family life, you can be a CHRISTian. In your financial struggles Christ can reign supreme. In whatever state you are in, you can love, serve, and glorify Christ.  http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2013/03/if-only-1-cor-717-24.html

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