1 Corinthians 7:24 – Remain As You are Called

I hear the word “bound” to the original spouse for life until death, etc….

15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 21Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

I think the verses following that command are telling also SO if you are repentant or convicted when called on, you repent…you do NOT change the situation. Your REMAIN in the situation which you were in when God called you.

Also does the part “if the unbeliever leaves (which means a lot) LET HIM NO LONGER UNDER BONDAGE…not under bondage-you are NO LONGER BOUND…because HE calls us to PEACE…you can say it doesn’t say you can remarry-I can argue it doesn’t say you CAN’T it ends with that. You are free to believe as you wish as well as I am also.

No longer under bondage in Greek (perfect passive-which refers to present state) Doolou–means no longer “enslaved” …but you are free….what does free mean to you? It means I’m no longer enslaved to that marriage or that person.

Bound (as used in Romans 7:2-3 and I Corinthians 7:39) referring to the “one flesh” is a different Greek word than the word used in I Cor. 7:15 (not under bondage). Yes, in that passage we see that a person is not obligated to be a slave/servant to this person who has chosen to leave/depart. Nowhere in that passage does Paul ever give permission to marry another. If we look back on I Cor. 7:10-11 we will see this same “allowance” given to a woman who has “departed”……….she is to remain UNMARRIED (she is not obligated to serve/be a slave) Or she can reconcile. In neither case does Paul ever state that the marriage is “dissolved” and either are free to marry another. The only place we find such an allowance by Paul is in Rom. 7:2-3 and I Cor. 7:39, where Paul specifically says that DEATH dissolves the ‘one flesh’ bond—-giving right to marry another.

As to repentance, I believe when we are “called”, as sin is made known to us, we are to depart from that sin. Becoming a new creature in Christ does not turn adultery into a lawful union. Staying in “whatever situation we are called in” does not pertain to sinful lifestyles/relationships——-otherwise those homosexuals who come to Christ involved in “marriages” and believe this passage relates to them, have a right to believe such. However, I think we both agree that is NOT what Paul was talking about.

24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

This is not speaking about illicit relationships………….”if you are in adultery, stay in adultery………if you are fornicating, remain fornicating………..that is the condition in which you were called, remain in it”………….surely none would even suggest this is what Paul meant.