1 Corinthians 9:19-23

¹⁹ Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Playoff

Win games as many as possible! It is beneficial for basketball teams to win games as many as possible. The more games they win, the higher their standing would be; then, they have better chance to enter the semifinals, then finals if they are bracketed with weaker teams and win playoff games. Win games as many as possible! It’s practical approach that can be applied when preaching the gospel.

To win games as many as possible, this desire increases enthusiasm while playing the game. You want to exert much effort, your best effort.  Similarly, if we desire to win souls as many as possible for Christ, our enthusiasm increases to make disciples for Christ as many as possible. Pray for increase of enthusiasm.

Together, let us seriously reflect on what it declares on Psalm 145:17-20,

¹⁷The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. ¹⁸The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. ¹⁹He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. ²⁰ The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

When we pray for enthusiasm to make disciples as many as possible, are you optimistic that God grants it? Christ mandated us to make disciples; it is the will of God. When we sense desire to make disciples as many as possible, we also sense enthusiasm; it practically proves an inspiration of the Holy Spirit in us.

Apostle Paul had desired in his heart to win souls as many as possible for the gospel of Christ. He exemplified how we should respond to the mandate of Christ. Together, let’s seriously reflect on what Christ instructs in Mark 16:15-16:

¹⁵Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

This command was originally given to the first group of Disciples of Christ. But have you ever pondered upon how exclusively glorious to be called “Disciple of Christ?” The term “disciple” specifically pertains to learner, pupil or student. As Disciples of Christ, we learn from him for sure when we obey his instructions.

Christ told his disciples to preach the gospel, the good news of salvation to all creation. The term creation pertains to everyone, and that includes those who may listen or oppose the gospel. Since we don’t know who may believe or not, we share the gospel to everyone who listens. But if anyone opposes us, we don’t insist on right of speech. Opposition could signal us to approach the next listener.

Inside the church, when the preacher is talking, not everyone is listening. One may be playing his Cellphone. Another is disturbed thinking what to eat for lunch. But if you doze during preaching, you flatter me. I interpret that my voice is gentle lullaby to you. Is it easy to ignore, if dogs are barking simultaneously while preaching is in progress? What can we do? Listen carefully and be prayerful.

We are commanded to preach the gospel to all creation, to everyone else, that should include attentive listeners and those who may disregard the gospel. Apostle Paul encountered aggressive animosity from Jewish community. Still, he desired to win as many as possible. He became like a Jew just to win the Jews.

1.  Become Jews

¹⁹ Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 

Previously, Apostle Paul discussed their right for church support. He made it clear that he did not intend to use their right to receive support from the church. He looked forward to his reward from God; he voluntarily preached the gospel, so he had freedom of preaching the gospel of salvation wherever the Lord led him.

It is possible that most attendees in the Corinthian church were Gentiles. When he told them that he wanted to win as many as possible, whether Gentiles or Jews, he said that he made himself a slave to everyone, why? He obligated himself to preach the good news of salvation to everyone because he anticipated the glorious feeling of being rewarded by the Lord. So, he preached voluntarily.

Apostle Paul preached the good news to his own people, Jewish people. Jewish people indentified themselves with the Law of God given through Moses. They behave and practice their culture and religion according to the Jewish Law.

Apostle Paul was a former Pharisee; and, to identify as Jewish person, he knew exactly that he must practically and strictly follow the Jewish Law. He had to behave like a Jewish person so that Jewish listeners would be attentive to him.

Apostle Paul was arrested in Jerusalem. He testified of his Jewish origin, and the people listened to him. It narrated in Acts 22:1-3, ¹“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” ²When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: ³“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

Apostle Paul identified himself as Jew, and the crowd kept quiet; they paid attention to what he said. If we identify ourselves with certain group of people, they may find interest with what we say. If we identify ourselves as Asian, people who originated from Asia may be interested to hear what we say. Do you agree?

Have you heard someone speaking your dialect at the grocery stores?

Anyway, if you’re immigrant and you’re not born in Canada, it feels nice to hear someone speaking the language or dialect of your native tongue, right? You want to hear what they are talking about. Have you been tempted to connect or indentify with the person speaking in your language or dialect. Why is that?

As social being, we want to commune or connect with someone we can identify with. Apostle Paul was a Jew, and he desired Jewish people to hear the good news of salvation in Christ. He testified that he was a Jew, but he was not under the law. The Jewish Law is spiritual guide but not a burden to him.

Together, let us reflect on what Apostle Paul declared in Galatians 5:1-6:

¹It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ²Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Circumcision is required for Jewish male. Some Jewish Christians required Gentile Christians to be circumcised just like them, and Apostle Paul preached against circumcision. Christians practice some spiritual practices in the Jewish Laws but Apostle Paul particularly preached against circumcision of the flesh.

Gentiles or non-Jewish people, we become Christians by the grace of God through faith in Christ and not by practice or behavior required by Jewish Laws.

Apostle Paul was a Pharisee; he had doctoral studies on Jewish Laws, but Christ appointed him as apostle to the Gentiles, why? The Lord knows the future including this situation when Jewish Christians pressured Gentiles Christians to be circumcised. And, Apostle Paul used his expertise in the Jewish Law to refute; he explained plainly that God does not require believers to be circumcised in flesh. God exclusively required the Israelites only to be circumcised in the flesh.

Apostle Paul was circumcised Jew, but he did not require circumcision of the Gentiles. He did not discriminate anyone. He wanted to save everyone, Jew or Gentile. He became Jew to the Jews; he became Gentile to the Gentiles.

2.  Become Gentiles

²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

If you are not a Jew, you are Gentile. Jewish Law requires circumcision for Jewish male. For sure, circumcision is never a requirement to be saved from eternal torture. But, Gentiles may choose to be circumcised or not circumcised.

What did Apostle Paul imply when he said, “I became like one not having the law so as to win those not having the law?” Gentiles are those not having the law. Apostle Paul became like Gentile to win Gentiles. He clarified also that he’s not free from God’s law but he was under Christ’s law. What’s the law of Christ?

Someone may ask: “What did Apostle Paul imply when he testified being under Christ’s law, since it’s by the grace of God we’re saved through faith in Christ?”

Together, let us learn from a conversation of Jesus with an expert in the law in Luke 10:25-28, ²⁵On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶“What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” Jesus replied.  ²⁷He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”

²⁸ “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” Jesus replied. 

It requires perfection to follow the great commandments, and no sinful human being can perfectly obey the great commandments. What did Christ imply when he said that we should obey the great commandments to inherit eternal life? How should we interpret what Christ declared about inheriting eternal life?

Christ promised eternal life to all who believe in him. Christians are called to follow his commands. Let us reflect on what it declares in 1 Peter 2:21-25,

²¹To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ²²“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” ²³When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ²⁵For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

By faith, we believe that the Lord took all our sins and crucified them with Christ. Therefore, living in righteousness practically proves that we died to sin. And Apostle Paul testified that he became all things to all people; became weak to win the weak for the sake of the gospel. What did he mean becoming weak?

3. Become Weak

²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

As a former Pharisee, Apostle Paul had deep knowledge of the Scripture and practices of Jewish people. He can classify commands of God specifically required for Jewish people only like circumcision. God required the Israelites also not to inter-marry with Canaanites. Jewish people interpreted it that they do not associate with Gentiles. But Apostle Paul became all things to all people. For the sake of the gospel, he became weak to win the weak. What did he mean by that?

Did Apostle Paul eat with Gentiles in their homes? Did he ignore Gentile friends when they participate in festivals or activities not acceptable to the Jews?

Cephas (Aramaic for Rock)

Together, let us reflect on what Apostle Paul did when Apostle Peter ate with Gentiles in Galatians 2:11-16, ¹¹When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. ¹³ The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

¹⁴ When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? ¹⁵ “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles ¹⁶ know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Certain men from James belonged to circumcision faction at Jerusalem church. When Peter saw them, he pretended as if he did not associate with the Gentiles. His pretension led even Barnabas to pretend and follow his hypocrisy.

Apostle Paul did not rebuke Peter eating with the Gentiles. He rebuked Peter for hypocrisy. Apostle Paul said that he became weak to win the weak; he encouraged Peter and Jewish Christians to associate with Gentiles Christians.

Let us learn from the example of Jesus Christ that was narrated in John 4:7-9:

⁷When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” ⁸ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) ⁹The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

The Samaritan woman came to draw water at the well of Jacob. She may have expected no one to be there, since it was high noon. But, Jesus was sitting there by the well of Jacob, and he also asked her for a drink. Later, his disciples arrived and saw Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well, a public place.

Jewish leaders would have criticized Jesus if they saw him talking to a woman, much more a Samaritan. Jesus exemplified that God wanted everyone to be saved without prejudice, whatever ethnicity a person has, Jew or Gentile.

When Apostle Paul rebuked Peter for hypocrisy, how did Peter respond? He learned from that experienced; he wrote in 2 Peter 3:9, ⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

By all possible means, we might save some for the sake of the gospel. We have to become all things to all people, to everyone. We pray to win as many as possible and expect blessings included in the mandate of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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