God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, April 29th, 2012
1 Corinthians 9:19-23[1]
Last week I was making the point that the poor give more than the rich. This is proven in several studies. UC Berkeley in 2010 found that poor gave more[2]. Independent Sector, a nonprofit organization focused on charitable giving, found that households earning less than $25,000 a year gave away an average of 4.2 percent of their incomes; those with earnings of more than $75,000 gave away 2.7 percent[3].
But my story of a rich man who left the church and did not affect the giving was unbalanced. I left it sounding like they didn't give at all; that is not true. They didn't evidently give regularly to the church, but they gave generously to people in other ways. I left it sounding like 'wealthy people don't give regularly'. Many wealthy people do give faithfully to God. It was an unbalanced illustration, and I apologize for that, and trust you'll forgive me.
Today we're back in 1 Corinthians 9, and your bulletin says we'll cover verses 19-27, but my notes say we'll only get through verse 23 today. Let's read that passage…
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
(Prayer)
What Will You Do for the Sake of the Gospel? What will love drive you to do in order to save others?
1 Corinthians 9 is in the middle of three chapters Paul writes about food offered to idols, and causing your brother to stumble. This entire chapter is a 'take me, for instance'.
Verses 19-23 Describes Paul's call and motive to cross-cultural missions. He set out to reach those who weren't like him. To become: to begin to be, come into existence, to receive being. Also: to arise, to appear in history. To become like them meant to, as John Piper put it, "adapt as much as he can in non-sinful ways".[4] When you go to the Wano tribe you learn their language and their customs in order to translate the Bible and share the gospel with them. You don't kill women whose families got sick because you think she might have a demon. When you go to the people of Guinea you learn their language and customs and you fit in as much as possible so as to not un-necessarily give offense to them. If they play soccer, you play soccer and cheer with them for their team. But you don't dress immodestly just because they do. When Paul writes, "I have become all things to all men" he doesn't mean that he transgressed God's holiness to do God's work. You adapt as much as possible in non-sinful ways.
Now in Paul's 'becoming' or adapting, the law was mentioned three times…
He became like those under the law. It is likely he wore his Pharisee robes into synagogues.
He became like those not under the law. He ate with Gentiles without asking was it pork. We know he ate with them from Galatians 2. We know he discoursed with Jews in Athens in their style of public discourse.
He was under the law of Christ. Here is what guided and even motivated his 'becoming' – the law of Christ. What law is that, you ask? It is a good question. Let's call it a command…
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Gal 5:13-14 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
The law of Christ is love. Love for your fellow man moves you to adapt in order to reach. So in the context of the subject, Paul was free from all to become a slave to all out of love for all to bring the gospel to all. Love for his fellow man was the first motive implied. The second motive was clear… "23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings."
He adapted to win and to save. Win them to what, or to who? To Christ, the Messiah, Anointed One! To God who alone is Love, and who gives grace, pardon, adoption, and redemption through His Son Jesus! To win them to God and from sin!
Save them from what? Let's read what he wrote in other places…
Rom 5:9. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
1 Thess 1:9b-10 how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Let me say again today – have you considered the wrath of God, the punishment of eternal penalty of hell? Paul went to people because he firmly believed in God's wrath, His righteous indignation against the insolent rebellion of man.
He adapted to share in gospel blessings. He did it 'all for the sake of the gospel'. He was motivated by love for them, love for the gospel, and a strong desire to persevere to the end of his obedience to Christ. In 2 Tim 2:10 he wrote, "Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." Paul was free from all to become a slave to all out of love for all to bring the gospel to all to see God save some and to share in the benefit of it with them.
My brothers and sisters, What Will You Do for the Sake of the Gospel? What will love drive you to do in order to save others?
Love has driven some in this church to leave their comfort and go to unreached people with the gospel. Todd Hansen is in Mongolia right now sharing Christ with fellow teachers and students. The Von Ruedens are in Guinea to translate the Bible for a people group. Are you using your gift to build up the body? Are your freedoms being laid down to serve others? Christ certainly laid His freedom down to give you life. Let us pray.
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
[4] A phrase John Piper used in his 1996 sermon on 1 Cor 9:19-23. Accessed at www.desiringgod.org
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