For the sake of the Gospel - Pt. II

Patterns are more than what you use to sew a dress, shirt, skirt or pants. There are some patterns in scripture that help us in growing and others to help us in knowing so to further the gospel and also how to receive the crown of life. Our lesson this morning is part 2 of looking at “for the sake of the gospel” patterns Paul uses to help the church at Corinth, and in turn us too.

(Christian Liberty Picture inserted here)

Not exercising Christian liberties so not to stumble a brother (1Cor8:13)

Food sacrificed to idols, no idols at all, don’t stumble the weaker brother with what you are at liberty to do because of your faith.

(Below is not on the screen)

1 Corinthians 8:13 NASB95

13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

Christian liberty displayed in pattern of self-denial (1Cor9:1-18)

Paul with all the authority as an Apostle appointed by Christ does not exercise it for the sake of the gospel

He uses money as the illustration, seems you want to get peoples attention, the pocketbook is a way to get it. In Paul’s case it was not hitting it.

Today: Christian liberty in a pattern of serving all men and encouraging all to strive for the crown.

Pattern set for sinners sake (1Cor9:19-23)

Pattern for personal sake (1Cor9:24-27)

For Sinners Sake

For the sake of the gospel, Paul, in order to “win some” to Christ, to save sinners he, while not compromising, would be a servant to all, so to win more.

Something to consider as we get ready to look at the passage. (v.22) has the term “all things to all men” and the world has twisted what Paul meant to mean a variety of things including changing the message, changing the method to try to win people to Christ. In other words to compromise the truth. (i.e. preaching hot topics but not the bible; being an entertainer vs a proclaimer. . .)

Paul speaks in a paradox in this section, he is free from all men (v.19) but makes himself a servant to all men (v.19) Paul says he makes himself, as well as the other Apostles, as freemen, to be slaves, bondservants of Christ (note down 2Cor4:5 in your notes for it is not on your outline)

2 Corinthians 4:5 NASB95

5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.

(Transition) So now may we break open the bread of life together and then discuss it together.

1 Corinthians 9:19–20 NASB95

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;

1 Corinthians 9:21–22 NASB95

21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

1 Corinthians 9:23–24 NASB95

23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?

Help me to fill in some blanks and we will talk along the way.

To the Jews I became a Jew, so to win Jews (v.20)

Paul had a heart for his people, the Jews

Romans 9:1–2 NASB95

1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.

Romans 9:3 NASB95

3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

Paul would wish himself accursed for the sake of his brethren (the Jews) (Rom9:3)

Romans 10:1 NASB95

1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

It was Paul’s desire was for their (the Jews) salvation (Rom10:1)

Paul knew that his calling was to the Gentiles, but it did not stop him from preaching to the Jews too, to preach the gospel where it had not been preached before (you can look at (Eph3:8; Rom15:10) write those down in your notes

To those without the law, without the law, to win those . . . (v.21)

(bridges not walls picture inserted here)

The separation between Jews and Gentiles was the Law and the covenants (see Eph2:11-15) and that separation was done away with by God ‘s grace through faith.

Paul lived in such a way to not to offend the Jews by parading his liberty not being under the law any more, nor the Gentiles by imposing the Law on them.

For the sake of the Gospel Paul would taylor the delivery of the message to the group he has addressing, but not compromise the message of Christ and Him crucified.

To the Jews he would start with the Patriarchs and the prophets

To the Gentiles with the God of creation.

but a side note, so did Jesus do this methodology too.

To the highly, the education Nicodemus (Jn3) he spoke of spiritual birth

To the woman at the well (Jn4) he spoke of living water. He spoke in a manner that would mean something to both.

We need to build bridges not walls, the wall of separation is gone and we need to remember that and look at building relationships that help build bridges, not walls to separate us.

(Transition) May we reflect back just for a moment that when this whole portion of scripture started back in chapter 8 it was about food, meat sacrificed to idols, walls about what is acceptable and what is not, exercising freedom/liberty in Christ at the cost of a weak believer. As stated a few weeks ago on this, the issue is much more than food, we are talking about building bridges so reach and save more. just what Paul is putting across now, and he is not done yet.

To the weak, I became weak, that by all means save some. (v.23)

Paul desired to reach all for the gospel sake, and that he may partake with all, those who eat meat and those who don’t. It takes decision and dedication to put aside your personal liberties to serve one another in Christ. To the weak, to the strong, to the legalistic and to the liberal, Paul will continue now with speaking to the Corinthians in other ways they would understand. He speaks of his own sake but the sake of all to learn.

Pattern for personal sake

Familiar things. I think you would agree that it is best if trying to communicate with someone to speak in ways, means that are familiar that they can relate to. In this section Paul speaks in some very familiar terms that mean something to church at Corinth physically but have some great spiritual application too.

1 Corinthians 9:24–25 NASB95

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1 Corinthians 9:26–27 NASB95

26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

The Corinthians without a doubt would be familiar with the terminology that Paul uses since they knew of the Greek Olympic Games and they were the hosts of their own Isthmian games. Paul delves into personal discipline like an athlete in this section.

In order to win lost souls Paul gives up, or disciplines himself for the cause. He was willing to pay the price (give up his personal liberties) in an effort to receive the imperishable prize. Now we don’t run the race in order to get to heaven, we run the race to help others to get to heaven. But first we need to follow the rules (keep My Commands as Jesus said). It was only the Greeks that could participate in the games, it is only Christians that race for the imperishable prize. To the Greek who did not follow the rules would be disqualified, to the Christian who refuses the rules can be disqualified from entering heaven. Now may we go to the passage and break it down some

Run the race in such a way to may receive the prize (v.24)

We know that not all who start the race complete the race, many get distracted, detoured, discouraged, dismayed. Maybe take a look at (Mt7:21; Mt13:20-22; Mt7:13-14)

Not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter the kingdom

The seed that is not rooted when trouble comes he stumbles, or the ones overtake by the thorns of the cares of this world choke it out and become unfruitful.

The gate is narrow in which we must enter, for wide is the gate, broad is the road that leads to destruction. Difficult is the way which leads to life.

Sounds like it takes some discipline doesn’t it? As Christians we are to strive, press on for the prize.

As a Christian press on (Php3:12-14)

Philippians 3:12 NASB95

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Press on so that I may lay hold of that which laid hold of me (v.12)

Philippians 3:13 NASB95

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

Reach forward to what lies ahead (v.13)

Philippians 3:14 NASB95

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Press on toward to goal, for the prize! (v.14)

(Transition) so what is that prize? Turn back to our passage 1Cor9:24-27, focus on (v.25)

1 Corinthians 9:25 NASB95

25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Compete to receive an imperishable wreath/crown

Question: According to (v.25) everyone who competes exercises self-control, self-discipline. What kind of self-control, self discipline do we need to practice as Christians?

(Stop discuss that some) - then go on to say like athletes we need to discipline our life for the race set before us, devoting ourselves to maturing, to serving, to sacrificing for the gospel message to continue to be carried out. We are striving, contending for the victors crown

Strive, contend for victors crown

Crown of life (Jm1:12)

James 1:12 NASB95

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Question: Who is the one who receives the crown, and how do they get it? (Jm1:12)?

The one who loves Him; the one who perseveres is the one who is blessed with the promised crown.

Crown of righteousness (2Tim4:8)

2 Timothy 4:8 NASB95

8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

In 2Tim4:8 it is also the one who loves, or it says loved, meaning a life of love lived. Jesus says they will be known by their fruit and how the love one another, to that one there is the crown of righteousness!

Paul continues with another athletic analogy

1 Corinthians 9:26 NASB95

26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;

Because there is so much at stake, don’t run without aim. Don’t just beat the air (v.26).

Remember Paul was putting aside his Christian liberties for a purpose, to “win more” (emphasis that)

Do we want to win more? We need to be willing to pay the price, to discipline ourselves first so to help others.

1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB95

27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul disciplined his life to make it my slave.

Disqualified witness by being a hypocrite

Disqualified witness by not loving one another and being willing to lay aside personal liberties so not to stumble you brother.

Paul considered himself a herald (a proclaimer) who laid out the rules of the contest. Shared the truth of the Gospel and what to do to be saved and also how to grow in Christ. He also considered himself a runner in the race, a participant who needed to discipline himself in his race to be an example to others and not disqualify his witness. Now some may say this is a salvation thing, but in the context I don’t think so, for we are talking about Christian liberty not salvation.

We are qualified to run the race by our faith, for we are citizens of heaven (Php3:20)

We are called walk in a worthy manner as citizens of heaven (Eph4:1)

We need to think, consider others (Php2:4)

So be willing to set aside personal liberties for sake of others (1Cor8-9)!

(Pray) (Exit)

Related Media

Related Sermons