Our Lord Jesus Christ didn’t
claim his rights to be honored and respected but gave up all the rights and further
obeyed the Father even to the point of death for the sake of the gospel. It is
the way to life through the cross of Calvary where our Lord Jesus Christ became
nothing. There is no other way to enter into eternal life except through the
way of the cross where all the facades and pretenses are nakedly exposed and
revealed. God sees and knows all, so he cannot be deceived. What he accepts is
the blood of the Son Jesus Christ only because it not only reveals the deep
things of humanity but heals the wounds and scars of man to be blameless and
holy before God. However, unless we accept the way of the cross, we shall not
enter into true freedom in Christ.
“Though I am free and belong to
no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 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. 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. 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. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its
blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
Apostle Paul said that although
he had the rights to be supported and to have a family he didn’t want to use
them but gave up for the sake of the gospel of Christ. Further, he is saying
that although he is free indeed and belongs to no one but Christ the Lord he
wants to make himself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible. This is
exactly what our Lord Jesus did that he did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He who was God in vary
nature did not consider equality with God something to be used for his own
advantage, but made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant for
all mankind (Philippians 2:6-7). Although he was the Judge of all when the
people hurled their insults at him he did not retaliate and when he suffered he
made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to the Father in heaven who
judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).
To the Jews Apostle Paul became
like a Jew to win the Jews. What does it mean? He was a Jew but said he became
like a Jew. The Jews received the law through Moses, so they were under the
law. To be like a Jew means to become like under the law though he himself was
not under the law, so as to win those under the law. The Jews circumcised every
male child on the eight day by the law. For example, Apostle Paul let Timothy
to be circumcised after he was converted. His mother was a Jew and his father
was a Greek. Paul circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area (Acts
16:3). He didn’t have to circumcise him at all because the salvation doesn’t
lie on the physical circumcision but on the circumcision in heart. But he did
it because all knew that his father was a Greek. That’s what it means to become
like a Jew though he was not under the law.
To those not having the law he
became like one not having the law though he was not free from God’s law but
was under Christ’s law so as to win those not having the law. What does it
mean? Those not having the law indicate the Gentiles who did not receive the
law of Moses. For example, there is no food restrictions for those not having
the law. There are very strict restrictions for the Jews on food so-called the kosher
diet. Besides, there are many appointed feasts and festivals like New Moon and
Sabbath day. These are equivalent to Christmas celebration and Sunday service
to modern Christians. There are none of those religious feasts to the Gentiles.
The people in the city of
Corinth and almost every elsewhere around the world enjoyed the meat which was
presented to the idols in the pagan temples without being guilty of conscience.
However, it bothered a great deal to some Christians, especially new converts
who seriously thought that it was given to the idols. But Apostle Paul argues
that idols are nothing in the world and there is no God but one and there is
but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we
live.
“So then, about eating food sacrificed
to idols: We know that ‘An idol is nothing at all in the world’ and that ‘There
is no God but one.’ For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or
on earth (as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’), yet for us there
is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and
there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through
whom we live.” (1 Corinthians 8:4-6)
Our Lord Jesus says that all
foods are clean and never defile people but what comes out of a person does
(Mark 7:14-19). It is perfectly okay to eat any meat whether it was presented
to the idols. However, it is also better not to eat it in the presence of the
weak in the faith for the sake of the gospel. Now, Apostle Paul is free and not
guilty of conscience at all in eating like those not having the law. Yet, he is
not free from God’s law but is under Christ’s law. What’s does it mean? It
means that God sees and knows our hearts. God is interested in not what to do
but how to do. As a free man in Christ, he may eat the food presented to the
idols and may not eat it. Both are right and acceptable to God.
That’s what it means that he is
not free from God’s law but is under Christ’s law. The Scripture says whatever
we eat or drink we shall do for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Likewise,
whether becoming like those not under the law or not, we shall do for the glory
of God because no one can escape from the judgment call of God. Christ’s law is
superior and higher than anything in heaven and on earth because without him
nothing has been made that has been made. He holds everything together in order
and harmony and is before all things (Colossians 1:17). He is above feasts,
food, religion because in him all things were created.
“Do you not know that in a race
all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get
the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They
do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will
last forever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not
fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it
my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be
disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
Here, Apostle Paul is giving a
practical example in expounding what is the most supreme thing to remember and
never forget as a free man in Christ. We’re like runners who are running to get
the prize. Anyone who runs to get the prize shall run in such a way that only
one gets the prize. So, everyone who competes in the games goes into strict
training like Olympians go into strict training four years long. They go into
strict training to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown
that will last forever. It gives us true hope kept in heaven, which does not perish,
spoil, or fade away (1 Peter 1:4).
So, Apostle Paul is saying that
he does not run like someone aimlessly. He does not fight like a boxer beating
the air. That’s all waste. Instead, he strikes a blow to his body and make it
his salve so that after he preached to others, he himself will not be disqualified
for the prize. Life is never like playing a game. Rather, it is a serious
business, resulting in either life or death. Aimless numerous punches are
useless and ineffective but one aimful blow does the work effectively. What
does it mean by striking a blow to his body and making it his slave? It means
that the preachers and teachers of the Scriptures shall not only teach them but
also obey them. Otherwise, they will be disqualified for the prize.
For example, the Pharisees and
the teachers of the law who vehemently opposed the Son of Man in the first century.
Jesus says to them that they refused to come to him to have life regardless of
diligent studies of the Scriptures. “You study the Scriptures diligently
because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very
Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
(John 5:39-40) They prayed and fasted regularly and taught the people of Israel
to follow the laws of God. Yet, they did not even lift up their fingers to help
others. They are the hypocrites. The Lord Jesus warns them, saying “And you
experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they
can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.”
(Luke 11:46)
The reason Apostle Paul strikes
a blow to his body to make it his slave is that there is nothing to count on
the flesh, the seat of sin. The desires of the flesh is always against the
desires of the Spirit. It is the lump of pride and self-righteousness. It never
obeys the law of the Spirit at all. That’s why our Lord Jesus died on the cross
when the Father made who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Prayer: Thank you Father in
heaven for teaching us the truth that there is nothing we can count on our
flesh which is always against the Spirit. It’s not the physical circumcision
but the circumcision in heart that is acceptable to God who sees and knows our
heart. So, may we obey Christ Jesus, striking a blow to our body to make it our
slave and thus may we not be disqualified for the prize. In Christ’s name.
Amen.
July 13, 2016
© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All
Rights Reserved.
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