When challenged ,defend your faith
When challenged, defend your Faith
1 Corinthians 9:1-6
Are you Biblically and experientially prepared to defend your Christianity? As a Christian, you have the right to claim a spiritual relationship with God in defense for all your daily activities. When Paul defended his leadership position, he used this approach.
First, he asked, “Am I not an apostle?” He held the title of an apostle that was verified from church to church. It could not be denied that Paul was speaking and writing as God instructed. Now, start thinking about the titles that God has given you. Are you a teacher, helper, administrator, mercy giver, giver of money, pastor, exhorter, soldier, ambassador, joint heir, or disciple. Everyone can claim to be a child of God. What has God called you to be after your salvation?
Second, he asked, “Am I not free?” At one time, Paul was a Jewish Rabbi who lived under the full Mosaic Law. After his salvation, his relationship with Christ freed him from the law and gave him new liberties. In your defense, you too are freed from the law, therefore use you new liberties to serve Him. (1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any). Now, you serve God by love rather than by rules – your salvations is by grace rather than by works.
Third, he said, “Have I not seen Jesus Christ our lord?” (Acts 9:1-9). With this statement, Paul declares that just like the other apostle, he too has seen Christ. Likewise, those who claim to be Christians have a common and verifiable testimony about their salvation. We all agree that there is one God, one spirit, one faith, one baptism, and way to heaven. We all agree that after salvation, understanding this world has a new meaning (2 Cor 5:17).
Lastly, Paul wrote, “Are you not my work in the Lord?” Paul was the founding father of the Corinthian church and he led many of them to Christ. In his defense, he points to them as proof of his apostleship. Okay, start thinking about what part you have played in bringing someone to Christ. Did you plant the spiritual seed? Did you keep the ground fertile by your lifestyle? Did you share the gospel message? Did you bring that person to church to hear the gospel message? You had a part and your part defenses your claim as a Christian.
Apparently, someone challenged Paul’s right to live as an apostle and to share in all its privileges especially in financial support. His whole argument defenses his right to live and to travel like all the other apostles. He wrote that just like other apostles were free to eat and to drink and to takes their wife with them, so was he. Question – do you not have the right to live as a Christian equally as those who are not? Do you not have the same rights to share your faith, as the atheist has the right to remain silent?
I found it interesting that Paul never had a negative comment about the apostles who married and traveled with their wife. He believed that it would be more advantageous to minister as a bachelor, but he never contemned his fellow apostles who married.
Do you know and appreciate who you are in Christ? When you know who you are in Christ and what titles He has given you, you will discover challenges to your calling are rewarding and edifying. Remember, that if you hide your faith, it is hidden to those who are lost.