Weaver1has's Blog

7^th July 2020

Other Believers states

Let us look at these collecting points;

1. Circumcision and uncircumcision
2. Slave or free

¹⁷ 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.
²¹ Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. ²² For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. ²³  You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Verses 17 through to 20 talk about circumcision.  Paul says just stay in the state you are!   Paul was at a theological war with some of the other Apostles over this.  Let me clarify; Peter for example sided with the Judaizers and was expecting Gentile believers to be forced to get circumcised.  St Paul said No!   I am not going to go into the details of this, but it is found in the book of Galatians.   We need to respect and love our Jewish Christian brothers and sisters with their traditions, but they also need to respect the Gentile believers.  This has something also to say about those who have converted from Muslim backgrounds.  They have come to faith in Christ, but if they/we choose to carry on with some traditions, as Western Christians, we don’t have all the answers, let us show love and respect for all aspects, not only for circumcision and uncircumcision but also dietary traditions  that might be followed.  Whether someone follows some extra rules, from my point of view doesn’t make any difference to faith.  The important thing is that we believe and serve the Lord Jesus.

This entry was posted on July 7, 2020 at 5:00 am and is filed under 1 Corinthians Course. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.