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"He who is called in the Lord..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 7:22

TREASURING OUR CALLING IN THE LORD

The calling of God was not something that was well-understood, in the days of Paul, and even now! We lose much when we are not able to fathom and appreciate our calling.

“For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is
the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called
while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at
a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren,
let each one remain with God in that state in which
he was called.”
1 Corinthians 7:22-24

1. “Called in the Lord”

The believer now enters into a very special and privileged relationship with the Lord.

a) He may have been a slave when he was “called” (that is, he was saved and is now a child of God).

b) He may have been a freedman when he was “called”.

2. The new relationship should be the new key focus

a) He is in the Lord.

b) For the slave, he is “freed” (he is freed to be a slave to the Lord).

c) For the freedman, he is a “slave” to the Lord!

3. “You were bought at a price”

a) Paul mentioned this earlier (1 Corinthians 6:20).

b) He reminded his readers of this great truth!

c) If Christ paid with His life to give us redemption, how should we respond to Him?

4. “Do not become slaves of men”

a) How do we become slaves of men?

i) When we are conscious of serving only the earthly master.

ii) When we do not consciously serve the Lord Jesus Christ as our Master.

b) The challenge

i) To become slaves of the Lord Jesus Christ.

ii) All the apostles of Christ saw themselves as “slaves of Christ”.

This is usually indicated at the beginning of the Epistles written (Romans 1:1; James 1:1; etc).

5. “Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called”

a) There was no need for the slave to feel that he needs to be a freedman in order to serve the Lord.

b) The challenge was for the freedman to serve as a slave of God, even though he was “free!”