Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 7:17–20
God used Paul to provide guidance to the believers in Corinth regarding where they were before they surrendered to Christ and where they were after they surrendered to Christ. God had Paul write this in 1 Corinthians 7:17–20, “Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.” God was not concerned then and He is not concerned today about certain religious rituals. Obviously, some of the men in Corinth who were now followers of Christ as Lord were struggling with the issue of circumcision. Many circumcised Jews who had come to know Christ as their Lord were teaching that the uncircumcised Gentiles who had surrendered to Christ as Lord still needed to be circumcised for their salvation to be made complete. God made it clear through Paul that it made no difference whether or not a man had been circumcised. The most important thing every Christian in Corinth needed to understand was that as Christians, they were to make sure they obeyed God’s commandments. The same is still true for all Christians today. To show we are surrendered to Christ is by obeying God’s Word.
Challenge & Application
What was the issue God had Paul address according to 1 Corinthians 7:17–19, and why was this an issue?
What does God require of every Christian, and why does He require this? (Also see Micah 6:8, Romans 6:16, and 1 Peter 1:14.)
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!