Bible Study - Identity (6) - Life on Mission - 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 - May 28, 2017

Bible Study – Identity (6) – Life on Mission – May 28, 2017

This is lesson six (6) and our final lesson in our series entitled “Identity: My life of Faith.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Corinthians 9:19-27.

We can better share the gospel when we step into the shoes of others.

I understand what you are dealing with or going through – been there and done that or experienced that or had to deal with that, etc. that is identifying with those to whom you are ministering.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-6:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.

4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so our comfort overflows through Christ.

6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in the endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.

Life with purpose! Life on mission!

The headquarters for the Apostle Paul was Ephesus. Bible scholars believe that Paul wrote his first letter to the Christians in Corinth from Ephesus between 55 and 56 A.D. This first letter or what we refer to as First Corinthians covered a number of issues the church in Corinth was facing e.g. immorality, lawsuits, prostitutes, marriage and Christian liberty.

In discussing Christian liberty, Paul dealt with the issue of food offered to idols, then whether or not those who make up the body of believers should support their pastor e.g. paying him a salary.

Then we come to our focus scripture verses 19-23 which deals with social relationships and verses 24-27 which deals with self-discipline to fulfill GOD’S call. Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 9:19-22:

Free to Serve

19 For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people.

The Apostle Paul had made a decision. He was not obligated to anyone upon earth. He was free in CHRIST to live his life upon earth until he left his earthly body and went to heaven to live eternally with GOD and CHRIST. But Paul had a wealth of experience. He was a Jew and had studied under the best Jewish teacher, Gamaliel as recorded in Acts 22:3:

3 He continued, "I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today,

Who was Gamaliel? Acts 5:34 reveals:

34 A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while.

The Apostle Paul was also a Roman citizen and a zealot for GOD before his conversion to CHRIST on his trip to Damascus to round up Christians.

Paul had experienced much in his life including experiencing and living the truth of JESUS and salvation through faith in JESUS. Thus Paul could fit into the shoes of the Jews, Gentiles and skeptics. He understood what various people wrestled with when they considered placing their faith in JESUS and the truth of the passion of JESUS.   

By the same decision making process, Paul made a decision to become a slave to all people and share the gospel of JESUS to all. He was not obligated to do it but he knew the eternal value JESUS provided for all who place their faith in HIM. Paul did not want anyone to miss that opportunity during his lifetime or the lifetime of those to whom he had opportunity to share the gospel.

When we, as Christians, realize our inheritance, through faith in JESUS the Good News of salvation from sin and its consequence, eternal death, our desire should be to share with all whom GOD gives opportunity.

So why do many of us not have the passion to share JESUS with others?

Often, we are hanging onto the flesh life while trying to be a Christian in our own strength and unwilling to yield our lives to JESUS. It is all about relationship. We must yield our flesh life to GOD through faith in JESUS and trust HIM to lead, direct, guide and provide. That is a calling.

20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law-though I myself am not under the law-to win those under the law.

When Paul was speaking to fellow Jews, he thought like they did. He shared his struggles of dealing with this Christian movement called, The Way.

21 To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law-not being outside God's law, but under the law of Christ-to win those outside the law.

Those outside the Mosaic Law were the Gentiles. Paul quickly pointed out that he was not under the Mosaic Law but under the law of CHRIST or under GOD’S Grace. He was not under the letter of the Mosaic Law but under the Spirit of the Law, which CHRIST fulfilled when JESUS gave HIS life upon the cross. Paul understood this important distinction and could explain it to the Gentiles.

22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.

When Paul was around, among or ministering to those who were weak, he did not do that which he was free to do. He restrained himself out of respect for those who did not believe that they had the freedom to do a certain thing. It is like someone may have the freedom to drink an alcoholic beverage but if you know of a person who is an alcoholic, you refrain from drinking to support the person who has this weakness.

In Paul’s culture, this was in the area of eating food offered to idols. The pagans offered meat to the pagan gods and afterwards that meat was offered in the marketplace at a significant discount. Many of the Christians bought that meat, cooked it, ate it and thought nothing about it. But there were other Christians who consider doing so was a sin and a denial of their relationship with CHRIST. So Paul would abstain from eating meat which he knew had been offered to idols. He did not want to have the wrong influence on those who abstained from eating meat which had been offered to idols. 

Why? In places of pagan worship, they offered the things which appealed to the flesh such as sex to attract worshippers. It was a form of enslavement to the lusts of the flesh and contrary to the worship of the One True GOD, through faith in JESUS.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 9:23-24:

23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, that I may become a partner in its benefits.

Paul disciplined himself to lead others to salvation through faith in JESUS. His joy was seeing others know, embrace and live the truth of faith in JESUS. He knew the eternal value for a person placing his or her faith in JESUS, HIS passion, which included most of all, HIS resurrection as proof of eternal life.

24 Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

Every person is in a race called life. All are participants. Life is terminal. Death/eternity awaits every person in this race. 

JESUS finished this race ahead of every person and HE won. HE conquered sin and it consequence, eternal death. JESUS was the first fruit of being resurrected from the physically dead to eternal life. HE showed each of us what is necessary for each of us to win this race, which is placing our faith in HIM, HIS birth, HIS life, HIS death, HIS burial, HIS resurrection, HIS walking upon earth for 40 days after HIS resurrection, HIS ascension into Heaven, HIS taking of HIS seat at the right hand of GOD, HIS Father, and the Father sending the Holy Spirit to earth to indwell all who place their faith in JESUS to acknowledge, confirm and assure that they have been born Spiritually into the family of GOD and are GOD’S Sons or Daughters.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 9:25-27:

25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. 

However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

There is the physical and the Spiritual. Those who reject JESUS as their Savior will get to the finish line of life, which is physical and eternal death. Those who accept JESUS as their Savior will get to the finish line of physical death but will inherit eternal life through faith in JESUS.

Do you recall last week’s lesson of the sheep and the goats? That is the final judgment. I know some will question, “Is it true?” “Surely a loving GOD will have mercy on me, want HE?” Will HE, when you have been presented the truth and rejected it?

JESUS gave an example when HE was teaching as recorded in Luke 16:19-31:

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 "There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day.

The Jews considered anyone rich had the right relationship with GOD and would be acceptable to GOD because had blessed them with physical wealth.

20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was left at his gate.

The Jews considered that those who were poor or in ill health had sinned and were out of favor with GOD, thus their poor plight in life. GOD was against them and was punishing them.

21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.

22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.

23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side.

24 'Father Abraham!' he called out, 'Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!'

25 " 'Son,' Abraham said, 'remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.

26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.'

27 " 'Father,' he said, 'then I beg you to send him to my father's house-

28 because I have five brothers-to warn them, so they won't also come to this place of torment.'

29 "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.'

We have GOD’S Word, the Bible. It reveals truth and makes clear the path to GOD through faith in JESUS. Do you recall John 14:6? JESUS told HIS disciple Thomas:

6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

30 " 'No, father Abraham,' he said. 'But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

31 "But he told him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.' "

Back to our focus scripture:

26 Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly, or box like one who beats the air.

27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul was not running the race of life without purpose. He was focused on JESUS’/GOD’S calling for his life to share the Good News with those with whom he came into contact. It did not matter about his or her race or background because Paul could relate to anyone because all people were created by GOD and were in need of salvation.

Our attitude can make or break our opportunity to share the Gospel with others. May the Holy Spirit make us and mold us such that when opportunity is available that we, who know the truth of salvation, share it. Life on mission is sharing the message of salvation with those GOD gives us opportunity. May those of us who know the truth have the courage and conviction to share the truth of salvation through faith in JESUS!  Blessings!!!