847 1 Cor.7.17-24 Called to Wholeness
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- “Peace be with you”
Called to Wholeness
Called to Wholeness
Date: 24-11-19 847 Echuca
- Peace be with you
- the disciples are locked away in a house fearing for their lives & Jesus appears in their midst & says, “Peace be with you”
- The beginning of the letters of the apostle Paul begin similarly with…
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
—2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Peace is something that has been bestowed upon us by God
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- Last week, we looked at that statement of Paul’s in v.15 “God has called us to OR in peace”
- To be given God’s peace is to be made whole or to know completeness
- This is very interesting when we consider the meaning of “Shalom”, the Hebrew word for peace
- It can have various shades of meaning, but it carries the idea of being well, experiencing wholeness, completeness
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- I could say with great confidence that there are few people out there in the world who experience wholeness or completeness
- In spite of that classic line from Tom Cruise to his co-star wife in the movie, Jerry McGuire, “you complete me”
- On one level, yes, that is true about your spouse, but without Christ it cannot be true
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- If you want to see this use of Shalom in the OT, you can see it here
—25 So she went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite. 26 “Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ ” And she answered, “It is well.”
25 So she went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite. 26 “Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ ” And she answered, “It is well.”
- Are you sick; has disaster come upon you
- Of course, you aren’t in a whole or complete state if you are ill
- There are so many people, today, who have what is called mental illness, depression, anxiety issues, emotional struggles – not to mention those people who are addicted to drugs
- Some of these issues stem from organic causes, but much, I think, stems from living in a “progressive”, secular society
- The only hope such a society provides is the hope of death & taxes – no wonder there is such inner turmoil in people
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- What we learn from our reading today is that the Christian has been given “peace” from God & are made whole, complete in Him
- The Christian contains within themselves, as a gift from God, the ability to have “peace” in all circumstances
- This is a truism &, I suggest, that if this is not a truism in the Christian, it is not because God hasn’t given it, but most likely, because the Christian hasn’t appropriated it
Q. How to appropriate it? This passage today will explain
1. The Jewel of Contentment
1. The Jewel of Contentment
Q. What are the main drivers of discontentment in modern society?
- We could go over a lot of ground here, but let me raise some points
a) Expectations
a) Expectations
- We are told, by the world, what a “successful” person looks like
- Obviously, wealth is a big one. There are plenty of people who go for the lotto or casket tickets hoping to snag the prize which, to their mind, brings “happiness”
- Likewise, a career that is respected & honoured – someone who has a great paying job
- Often, that is only 1% of the population who reach those expectations
- But those expectations are the expectations of worldly wisdom
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- By the same token, women who refuse to pursue a career because they wish to devote time to their husband & their children while they are young are frowned upon & made to feel second rate by such a choice
- A choice to work can be for the family, but women who frown upon motherhood seem to be the ones represented by the feminist version
- The expectations of our society often come from the ego
b) Fulfilment
b) Fulfilment
- Of course, if society’s expectations are not met, the corollary to that is a lack of fulfilment
- Disappointment, regret, dissatisfaction all stem from a perceived lack of fulfilment
- The question is, can we identify that what secular society says about expectations & fulfilment is just a whole lot of bunk!
- That’s a new word I invented – BUNK – a combination of baloney & junk
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- In this passage today, we are told about, what I’m calling, the jewel of contentment
- 3 times this teaching is repeated & so we better take notice
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.
—17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk...
—19 ...what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.
—24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.
—24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
—24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
- The point here is that if you were called as a single person & you are able to glorify God as a single person, don’t panic about having to be married, because God will use you as the single person
- If you’re married to an unbeliever when God called you to Christ, stay married to the unbeliever
- If you’re two Christians & married, stay married if that is what you were when God called you to Christ
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- There are other situations in life that Paul raises here too
- The Jewish & Gentile person & the slave
c) Jew/Gentile
c) Jew/Gentile
- Circumcision was the mark of whether you were accepted by God into His Covenant
- Now that Christ has come, we are under a NC which renders circumcision redundant
- God did away with the identity politics that separated Jews & Gentiles
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- Actually, when Paul says that if one was circumcised when called, he should not become uncircumcised, I thought that he surely must be speaking metaphorically
- But he’s not – there was a medical procedure whereby a circumcised person could be made to fool someone into thinking that he was uncircumcised
- Here in the book of Maccabees from about 150 BC – prior to Christ
- Jews were feeling the pressure of Alexander the Great’s policy of imposing Greek culture on everyone
- Some of the Jews caved in to this pressure & became uncircumcised, earning the scorn of the more faithful Jews
15 They disguised their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
—15 They disguised their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
—15 They disguised their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
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- Under the NC, however, identity politics has no place
- God does not show favouritism but accepts everyone from whatever nationality he or she may be
- If you recall, the apostle Peter got himself into hot water after visiting the house of a Gentile (Cornelius)
- Even though the Jewish council were Christian, they had lived so long as Jews, they found it difficult to accept the truth that God, in Christ, welcomes all men & women to Himself
—2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying,
2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying,
- After explaining how God made the breakthrough with Peter’s own prejudice against Gentiles, we come to this point in their proceedings...
17 “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
—17 “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
- What a staggering moment & what a lot of humble hearts in those Jews – that is not the usual reaction you get from the Jews of this time
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- Likewise, the apostle Paul also maintains that social politics or identity politics are irrelevant with God
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
- We will get to the new creation shortly
- We will get to the new creation shortly
d) Slaves
d) Slaves
- The other social malady which was felt by people were those who were slaves – probably a large number of the Corinthians were slaves
- To be owned by someone certainly gave you a lesser status than a free man
- But even here, the apostle says that if you were called by God to come to Christ while a slave, then don’t panic, God will & does use you as a slave
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- So much of our contentment is wrapped up in what social status we have in society
- The social mores in society can really make us feel terrible if we are not living up to those mores
- No wonder there is depression & the like
- But Paul adds some comments here to reverse this notion
—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.
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.
- If you belong to the world, you will think like the world, but if you belong to Christ, then you will think like Christ
- If you belong to the world, you will think like the world, but if you belong to Christ, then you will think like Christ
- In this letter, the apostle has spoken in depth about how the wisdom of the world is contrary to God’s ways
- The wisdom of the world thinks the Gospel foolishness &, no doubt, those who follow Christ as fools
- But there is a warning here in this passage about following the thoughts & ways of the world
—23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
- If you are a slave, then glorify God as a slave – your social status means zilch in the sight of God
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
—26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
- Don’t become slaves to the ideas, goals, values & motivations of godless men & women
- Don’t become slaves to the ideas, goals, values & motivations of godless men & women
- They will lead you astray; they will cause you no end of trouble
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- The jewel of contentment, then, is in realising that in no matter what circumstance you find yourself, when God called you, God wants you to remain in that situation & glorify Him there - you don’t need to leave it for all God’s blessings to be yours
- If you want to change jobs or vocation, then fine – but don’t think your move up in some kind of social ladder gives you any better standing with God – in fact, if you think this way, it’s probably a step in the other direction
2. What Matters in the Christian Life
2. What Matters in the Christian Life
Q. The question we really need to be asking is what matters to God?
Q. Is it a change of social status or change in careers or jobs?
- Again, it’s not that those changes are wrong, in themselves, it’s only wrong if you think that somehow, you will be in a better place with God through those changes
- C. K. Barrett put it really well - “A man is not called to a new occupation; his old occupation is given new significance”
- This is an important lesson for all of us
- Christ in you, the hope of glory - & if Christ is in us, no matter what we do in life, we live as someone who has been bought with a price
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- I agree that some people are called while in a terrible situation
- There are people in some mighty difficult environments, but this teaching here says that God will be with you in all such environments
- The apostle is not commanding that we stay in the situation we were in, when God called us to Christ, but that He has given us wholeness even in that situation
- If God has called you in a particular situation, it’s like that is where He wants to use you
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Q. If social status or favourable life circumstances is not the issue for the Christian, then what is?
- I think there are two things noted here in this passage
1) Don’t become slaves to the opinions & viewpoints of godless men & women – don’t swallow their stuff hook, line & sinker!
2) In whatever situation we find ourselves, we keep the commandments of God – in short, we live the Christian life
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- This sounds a bit like the OT here with it’s emphasis on keeping commandments of God
- But it’s somewhat different from the OT
- Jesus gave us one central & really important commandment
—23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
- The law doesn’t rule God’s people, love does
- The law doesn’t rule God’s people, love does
- This is about doing the will of God from the heart in whatever circumstance you find yourself
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- The big difference is that the Christian possesses the Holy Spirit of God & can rise above the circumstances of life
- Jesus didn’t say it would be easy, but He said that He would be with us as we go through life
- The Spirit of God is His empowering presence, as one writer puts it
- His Spirit regulates the believer from within, not from a set of rules
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- When the believer comes against tough circumstances, the Spirit gives him or her the self control to honour God in that tough environment
- In fact, if you really want to know the working of God – it is not in the conditions that come our way, but in the way the Spirit works in us, in those conditions
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- Back biting, malicious gossip, things that tear others down, does not come from the Holy Spirit no matter how much we convince ourselves that we are in the right
- Too often, we justify lashing out or being spiteful towards another person, or by manipulating a situation in our favour, by the fact that we think we are in the right &, therefore, justified to say or do what we do
- I can be excused for my wicked behaviour because I’m in the right
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
—16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
—18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
—18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
- This “leading” by the Spirit does not come with God giving you directions – like a dog trying to lead you somewhere
- This “leading” by the Spirit does not come with God giving you directions – like a dog trying to lead you somewhere
- This leading means that a person is being motivated by the Holy Spirit to live in such & such a way - & we do know what that way is, don’t we
—22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
- This is about living out the Gospel in everyday life – dying to self, putting off the old, putting on the new & walking in newness of life
- This is about living out the Gospel in everyday life – dying to self, putting off the old person, putting on the new person & walking in newness of life
- This goes for every environment in which we find ourselves
- That’s why we do not need to abandon that condition in life when we were called to follow Christ
3. Living the Future in the Present
3. Living the Future in the Present
Q. What do you think it means to live as a bondservant of Christ?
—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. ESV
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.
- One of great blessings of God is that, in Christ, we have been set free
- One of great blessings of God is that, in Christ, we have been set free
- We are a new creation in Christ – the old has gone, the new has come!
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- We appropriate this “peace” (wholeness, completeness) given us by God through living the future in the present
- Marking these facts in our lives
- That Jesus bought us with His precious blood
- He suffered, died & rose again to free us from the penalty of sin, the punishment of sin & the power of sin
- Too often, we Christians totally believe in the first two: the penalty & punishment - & don’t often believe that we have been freed from the power of sin
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- Interestingly, in this statement of Paul’s, we find that we are a bondservant of someone – whether to our own sin, or whether to Christ, who freed us from our sin
- The difference here is in masters – everyone has a master – the question is who is your master?
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- The journey for the Christian starts when he or she turns to Christ in faith & is baptised into the name of the Lord
- In this process, a person allegiance changes – sin & self is not your master/owner, but Jesus becomes the Christian’s master & owner
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- Jesus described this process of faith as being born anew, born again or born from above
- Nicodemus, one of the Jewish rulers couldn’t get his head around that, although, he may well had become a born again follower of Jesus after His resurrection
A boy asked his mother how he was born, she said a stork brought him. He asked his mother how she was born & she said a stalk brought her.
He asked his grandmother how she was born & she also said that a stalk brought her.
When at school he had to write a paper on birth & he said that there hasn’t been a natural birth in his family for 3 generations.
- Being born of God is a divine miracle where God grants a person the repentance that leads to life
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- When Jesus was speaking with the Jews about how He could set them free, they argued black & blue that they were never in bondage
23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 26 “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”
23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 26 “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.” 27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 26 “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”
27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
31-36
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27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
—23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 26 “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”
27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 26 “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”
27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
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- It is rather oxemoronic...
- To be free from the master of sin & the evil spiritual forces, you surrender your life to Christ whereby He becomes your master
- As you continue in His word, you are truly disciples/followers of Christ
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- Today’s passage says to us that you don’t need to change conditions in life, in order to live the Christian life
- You live the Christian life in whatever circumstance you find yourself in
- Christ is our Lord whether we are washing dishes, cleaning toilets, hammering nails, shifting papers on a desk, or working on wall street
- Being spiritual is, in fact, not escaping from the realities of life, but walking in the Spirit in every circumstance we find ourselves in