* 1 Cornthians 7:24 - Staying As Called

{1 Corinthians 7:24} Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God. -- RLIV.

DUTIES may at times seem to conflict, but they do not really do so. A Christian's first duty is his hearty acknowledgment of his Creator and Lord, in all his ways. His second duty, if he is a husband and father, is toward his wife and children; or if she is a wife and mother, it is toward her husband and children.... The marriage contract, by divine arrangement, comes in as a first mortgage upon every husband's time and upon every wife's time -- the demands of this mortgage must be reasonably met before anything can be properly done to or for outsiders. -- Based on excerpts from "Questions and Answers", ZWT, June 15, 1889, page 155. 

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The apostle is reminding the brothers in Christ that their consecration does not alter their duties in life in this present evil age. One who is consecrated to God through Christ should not seek any drastic change regarding obligations in life, whether it be martial or other responsibilities. In other words, we are not to try to relieve ourselves from obligations in life to what we may desire, or push aside such obligations in a desire to serve Jehovah and Jesus. Nevertheless, we should use present commitments in harmony with our service to Jesus and our Heavenly Father. In all things, we should seek the Father's will, and let His Word guide us, regardless of what He may permit or sanction for us in this present life. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

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Sadly, there have been some who have misapplied this scripture to make it appear that Paul was speaking of repentance. In other words, some have claimed that repentance is not necessary, and evidently, the claim is that Paul means here that one should continue to sin as he had been before accepting Christ. Such would mean,  for instance, that if one was a thief before accepting Christ, one should remain a thief after accepting Christ, or if one was a fornicator or adulterer before accepting Christ, such should remain so after accepting Christ. Of course, the context shows that this is not what Paul meant, and such an application actually contradicts many statements of Paul elsewhere. Of course, while our flesh does not stop being sinful due to acceptance of Christ, the new creature by spirit is without sin, and the influence of the new creature will affect the flesh to bring forth the fruitage of the spirit rather than the works of the flesh. This, of course, does not mean that the new creature will make the present flesh without sin at all, but it does mean that there is evidence of repentance that can be seen in the flesh. -- Ronald R. Day

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Related Scriptures: Genesis 2:15; Proverbs 10:4,5; Proverbs 12:11; Proverbs 12:24; Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 13:11; Proverbs 14:23; Proverbs 20:13; Proverbs 22:29; Proverbs 31:27; Ecclesiastes 9:10: Ecclesiastes 11:6; Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 3:12-14; Romans 12:11; 1 Corinthians 7:20-23; 1 Corinthians 7:25-31; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 4:24;; Colossians 3:23,24; 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.

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