1st Corinthians 9:1-27
NO VIDEO FOR THIS SERMON
Paul is going to continue in chapter 9 his defense against the abuse of Christian freedom. We talked last week about grey areas, areas where the Bible is not explicitly black and white on a particular issue. Some of the more mature believers in Corinth were flaunting their freedom to eat food that had been offered to pagan idols, but this was doing damage to those new in the faith, especially those who had been saved out of pagan worship practices, and who might be tempted to go back to that lifestyle. So, Paul continues by talking about his own rights as a Christian, but how he has given them up for the sake of the gospel.
We are going to break this chapter into 3 sections this morning:
1. Paul gives up his right to compensation as a minister of the gospel (1-18)
2. Paul gives up his right to personal freedom to better proclaim the gospel (19-23)
3. Paul’s commitment to the work of the gospel (24-27)
Big Idea: We should be willing to do whatever it takes to proclaim the gospel
Read 1st Corinthians 9:1-18
1. Paul gives up his right to compensation as a minister of the gospel (1-18)
A. Paul’s defense of Apostleship (1-3)
It would seem, based on Paul’s defense here, that there were some who were claiming that he was not in fact an apostle. There were certain requirements in the early church for one to gain apostleship. They had to be witness to the resurrected Christ, as well as being commissioned by Christ for the work of the ministry. Some were trying to discredit Paul’s teaching and influence, so he begins with this defense.
“Am I not free in Christ? Have I not met the qualifications for apostleship? Have I not seen the resurrected Lord? Have I not been commissioned by Him to preach the gospel? Are you not evidence of my apostleship?” Of course the answer to all of these questions is a resounding “YES!” “Therefore, what I have to say should carry weight as an apostle, and more specifically as your father in the faith.”
So of all people who understand the freedom we have been afforded in Christ, Paul was among the greatest. But, there were those in the church at Corinth who were arguing, “well, if Paul isn’t an apostle, then he shouldn’t be receiving compensation for his work.”
B. Paul’s defense of compensation (4-14)
Again, through a series of questions, Paul proves his right as an apostle, as a minister of the gospel, to financial support from the church. “Do I not have the right to put food on my table? Are Barnabas and I the only ones who have to work a separate job AND do the work of the ministry?” And then I love these 3 occupations that he mentions, because I think they line up metaphorically with the work of the gospel:
Soldier - One who goes to battle to defend what he believes in
Farmer - One who plants, waters and cultivates
Shepherd - One who takes care of the sheep
If these 3 deserve compensation for their physical labor, how much more the one who works spiritually, with much greater weight behind the work! And Paul makes it clear, these aren’t his words. He’s not speaking on his authority to try and get them to start giving to the ministry, in fact we’ll see the contrary in just a few moments. But he brings up this Old Testament passage about the ox being muzzled while treading the grain. If you muzzle an ox, that means he can’t eat while he works. That means he grows tired, frustrated, angry, and eventually will stop working. He must be provided for so that the work can continue.
So Paul’s like “listen, the apostles, the ministers of the gospel are doing important work, and the way that they continue in gospel work is by being supported in their daily provisions. Don’t take my word for it. The Lord is the one who said it!”
Even so. Even though there is Scriptural justification for supporting Paul’s ministry, even though he has a right as a minister of the gospel, he gives up that right for the sake of the gospel. (Vs. 12) If there are some who would look at Paul and get the wrong idea about why he’s preaching, he’d rather endure anything than get in the way of them receiving it. If any were to say that Paul was preaching for financial gain, then he would rather be broke than be a hindrance to them. His attitude is just amazing. I mean, those who work in the temple are provided for! Those who serve at the altar are provided for! And while it isn’t explicit in the gospels, Jesus does allude to this when he says “the laborer is worthy of his wages,” and “the worker is worthy of his support.” So why not Paul?!
But…
C. Paul gives up his rights for the gospel (15-18)
From verse 15-23, Paul uses the word “gospel” 4 times, and the word “win” 5 times. We see the word “preach” multiple times. I mean what do you think Paul’s primary focus was? His own personal rights and freedoms did not matter. He would rather die than have anything get in the way of his proclaiming the gospel. His primary goal was to win the lost to Christ.
“If I preach the gospel, I have no grounds for boasting.” He understands that it isn’t his power, but the power of the Holy Spirit preaching through him.
“Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.” He understand that there is no greater calling than to preach the gospel.
“I am entrusted with a stewardship.” Paul understands the great weight and responsibility of preaching the gospel.
And nothing was going to stop him; Not false accusations against him. Not a denial of his apostleship. Not his right to compensation. Not his Christian freedoms. Paul would not allow ANYTHING to get in the way of the gospel being proclaimed. He continues…
Read 1st Corinthians 9:19-23
2. Paul gives up his right to personal freedom to better proclaim the gospel (19-23)
Sacrificing his own rights and freedoms so that he might win more to Christ! Martin Luther said, “A Christian man is a free lord over all things and subject to nobody. A Christian man is a ministering servant in all things, subject to everybody.” Paul was the epitome of this.
A. Paul’s ministry to the Jews (20)
It was Paul’s custom to enter into the Jewish synagogue first whenever he would enter a new city.
Acts 18 - Paul became as a Jew by taking a Nazarite vow.
He ate the foods which the Jewish people ate and refrained from eating such things as pork which were forbidden to them.
John MacArthur says it well: “Within the limits of God’s Word and his Christian conscience, Paul would be as culturally and socially Jewish as necessary when witnessing to Jews
B. Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles (21)
In the same way, “to the Gentiles he behaved himself as if he himself had been a Gentile. He would forego the observance of Levitical Law, since the Gentiles never followed it to begin with. In 1st Corinthians 10 we see that Paul ate meat offered to idols in the presence of unbelieving Gentiles.
C. Paul’s ministry to the new believers (22)
He would get down on their level theologically. Teach simply and clearly. He would abstain from eating meat offered to idols in their presence so as not to confuse their faith. So with Gentile unbelievers he would eat the meat. With new believers he would not. ALL things to ALL people. This is what he says at the end of verse 22.
D. Paul’s ministry to ALL (22-23)
So that he might save some. Now, Paul understood that it wasn’t his own power that saved, it was Christ alone. But he also understood his responsibility in proclaiming the gospel and God using him, through the Holy Spirit, to draw people in. But this is the most important verse for us this morning.
“I do it ALL for the sake of the gospel.” And it’s not easy. In fact that’s where Paul goes next. Read 1st Corinthians 9:24-27
3. Paul’s commitment to the work of the gospel (24-27)
The work is hard. The work requires sacrifice. The work hurts. The work requires commitment. Like a runner who trains relentlessly for the goal set before them. Like a boxer sparring and getting hit in the face, in the stomach, not shadow boxing but painful bruising and bleeding, the work of gospel ministry is hard work. So train well. Remain disciplined to the work. Remain steadfast in truth. Remain controlled by the Holy Spirit and not by human reason. Beat anything out of your life that would distract others from the gospel. Why? Because gospel proclamation is the single greatest and most important work we will ever be a part of.
Application
This long, meaty passage offers up so much application for us, but I want us to go back to the Big Idea that I posed at the beginning:
Big Idea: We should be willing to do whatever it takes to proclaim the gospel
This is what Paul is saying. Remember, he’s fresh off challenging the mature believers about abusing their rights, their Christian freedoms. He uses his own life as an example. The rights that Paul had as a follower of Jesus meant nothing to him if they got in the way of him sharing the gospel.
And so one question that results is, “what am I not willing to give up for the sake of the gospel?” Are there certain comforts? Are there certain rights that we have that we hold onto, maybe too tightly? 2 Timothy 4:2 provides a good reminder to our calling as Christians: “Preach the word: be ready in season and out of season.” In other words, be ready at all times to preach the gospel, especially and even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. Maybe comfort isn’t the right word to use. Maybe convenience is better.
“I really enjoy my Friday nights, so I’ll just talk to my neighbor tomorrow. I really value my Sunday afternoon naps, so even though everyone is outside hanging out in the cul-de-sac, and it would be a great opportunity to build some relationships, I really need my sleep.” Maybe it’s at work. “I really value my lunch break, so I’m going to just head off on my own for some quiet time alone…” when maybe you could invite an unbelieving coworker to lunch with you. Maybe it’s a Friday night kickback with your friends, but instead you call the unbeliever and try to make plans with them instead.
I think another question we need to ask ourselves is, “what environment do I need to step into to build my influence for the gospel?” Paul took on the customs and traditions of the Jews, of the Gentiles. Paul became all things to all men. And while this probably has more of a global missions flavor to it, let’s be reminded that the nations are here, in our neighborhoods and communities. Share a meal with your Muslim neighbor during Ramadan. Share a meal with your Hindu neighbor during Diwali. Teenagers, if you have an unbelieving friend that skates, go to the skate park with them. Go be a part of their world. Learn about them. Learn about their lives. And participate with them as far as it doesn’t dishonor the Lord.
