For the sake of the Gospel-Pt.1!

I think we could agree that it is a common belief here in the United States that it is our right, our freedom to seek and obtain life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That in general you can do what you want as long as you are not hurting anyone. Many have made freedom the greatest good. Look at songs like

Star Spangled Banner - “the land of the free”

My Country tis of thee - “Let freedom ring”

Now let me pose a question, what if your freedom, your liberty is exercising it by not doing something? (consider 1Cor10:23-24)

1 Corinthians 10:23 NASB95

23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

Just because we can, does it mean we should?

Question: What is permissible in our Christian liberty according to 1Cor10:23?

All things are lawful! That means all things are permissible

Now keeping in context check this out, I believe it is important

1 Corinthians 10:23–24 NASB95

23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.

Question: Even though all things are lawful (v.23) what are we to do according to (v.24)?

We are to seek the good of your neighbor.

The premium placed on freedom, personal liberty often does not disappear when we become followers of Christ. In fact the issue Paul is addressing was food issues, eating, not eating, and how it can stumble your brother. Now he offers up illustrations in our passage today regarding Christian liberty, using himself and Barnabas as example. Christian liberty is not following Christ anyway we want as long as we don’t hurt anyone. Christian liberty exercised is considering your brother and how to apply our liberties so to further the gospel.

Paul will offer up

The Set up (1Cor9:1-2)

The intent, his defence (1Cor9:3)

The illustrations in his defence (1Cor9:4-18)

Christian liberty exercised (1Cor9:19-23)

Reason, application of Christian liberty (1Cor9:24-27)

The Set up and defence

There is a connection between chapters 8 and 9, and we need to see the link, so then the questions, the defense, the illustrations will make sense in context.

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.

1 Corinthians 9:1–2 NASB95

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:3 NASB95

3 My defense to those who examine me is this:

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

Question: What is Paul’s point in (1Cor8:13)?

Do not make my brother stumble.

Now I’m pretty confident you are familiar with rhetorical questions, now look at (v.1) what do you think the point of the questions are?

Maybe hold off let me bring in (v.2) and you may have a clearer picture to answer the questions

1 Corinthians 9:1–2 NASB95

Paul is proving his apostleship, and his apostleship to them.

Can you think of anyplace else in scripture where rhetorical questions may have been used? why are they used? To prove a point. Paul is an apostle, one sent with authority, with a message, and even if others challenge it, he is an apostle to them, and they are his seal, proof of apostleship not to him, but in the Lord.

Paul was an apostle one who was sent with a message to help lay the foundation for the growing, multiplying, diversified church.

(Transition) Paul will through this chapter give his defence of his apostleship by displaying Christian liberty in action, all for the greater good

Christian Liberties - defense illustrated

The illustrations offered and embedded with more rhetorical statements to drive home his point about Christian liberties.

Don’t I have a right (1Cor9:4-6)

1 Corinthians 9:4–5 NASB95

4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

1 Corinthians 9:6 NASB95

6 Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?

Question: what is the point of the rhetorical questions in (vv.4-6)?

I have a right to eat, bring a wife, to refrain from working

As an apostle, one with authority, a message, one sent, he was to deliver God’s message, to establish the foundation of the church and had the right to eat, to have a wife, and not to work so to be devoted to the work, the ministry of the word just as Peter noted in (Act6:2-4).

Some people believed if not exercising the rights then there are no rights. and Paul is demonstrating his authority, and his rights in his defense.

Here is a good example, illustration (1Cor9:7)

1 Corinthians 9:7 NASB95

7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?

Question: What does Paul offer up as an illustration in (v.7)?

He offers a soldier, a farmer and a herdsman/shepherd (implied)

Again really rhetorical question for the answer is “no one” these people would be entitled to money, fruit, milk. An everyday soldier or workman is worthy of his pay.

Question: (not on page) - Do you think what Paul is saying is bigger than these rhetorical questions? What is the real issue, or can you see it yet?

Food for thought: Can it be why Paul used these illustrations is that he is an Apostle, a soldier in God’s army. He has already spoken to of the church as a fertile field that needs to be cultivated (hence the farmer) and Jesus speaks of vine, branches and flock. So pretty good imagery isn’t it.

Rights displayed in O.T. Law (1Cor9:8-12)

The O.T. Law was the bible that the N.T. church in 1st century had to go by, to learn from. The N.T. was in the process of being written. Remember those things written before are for our knowledge, edification and hope (Rom15:4)

(Transition) so may we look, see what Paul says, then deduct why Paul said it.

1 Corinthians 9:8–9 NASB95

8 I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He?

1 Corinthians 9:10–11 NASB95

10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

1 Corinthians 9:12 NASB95

12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

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

Question: What does Paul use as the illustration or point to in (v.8)?

He uses the law

The early church had the law to refer back to, it was their scripture as mentioned before. The early church turned to the law for guidance, so Paul in making his defence of his apostleship and freedom, points to the law. So now let’s look at what aspect, from where he is drawing from.

1 Corinthians 9:9–10 NASB95

9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? 10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops.

Question: in looking at (vv.9-10) are you able to see the illustration of the law, the ox, plowman is more than just a simple illustration (consider the quote Deu25:4; 1Tim5:17-18)

Principle: The worker (the ox) is not to be muzzled, and God is concerned more about man (the worker) then the ox. He is not speaking of the ox, or the plowman, it was known, expected that the ox could eat and the plowman would be able to share in the crops too.

Paul refers back to (Deu25:4) to prove the point, and pointing forward Paul using it with Timothy (1Tim5:17-18)

1 Timothy 5:17–18 NASB95

17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

The principle is found in 1Tim5:18, that the laborer is worthy of his wages.

(Transition) So, when it comes to Christian liberty, is it about it is only fair to pay? No, wait, that is not what Paul’s point is, you need to keep everything in context, so we need to press on.

1 Corinthians 9:11–12 NASB95

11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

Question: In (v.11) Paul speaks of sowing and reaping, sowing what, reaping what?

So spiritual, reap material

Paul had spent a year there sowing spiritually to them, growing them, tilling the ground there

Paul was worthy of being supported in his ministry work.

We have seen this principle of being sown spiritually before and giving materially in return

(other scriptures referenced: Rom15:25-27; Gal6:9-10)

Look at this

Romans 15:25–26 NASB95

25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

Romans 15:27 NASB95

27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

There was a famine as prophesied by Agabus (Act11:27) in all the world, it was especially hard in Judea, in Jerusalem and help was collected and help was sent. Why because Jerusalem was where their help had come from to spiritually seed the church there so they fed those who fed them.

May we look at Gal6:6-10 together and glean from it together.

Galatians 6:6–7 NASB95

6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

According to (Gal6:6) what are we to do for the one who teaches the word?

Share all good things (v.6)

Now look at (v.7) what do you see?

You reap what you sow. (v.7)

Galatians 6:8–9 NASB95

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

So what does this all have to do with Christian liberty for the sake of the gospel? Hold on we are getting there. Paul was one who sowed in the Spirit in Corinth, in Galatia, Philippi, Colossi, Ephesus.

Galatians 6:10 NASB95

10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

So, when we have opportunity, do good, especially to those of the faith.

(Transition) Well, i thought we were going to do the whole chapter, silly me, what was I thinking, lol. Having said that ay we look at the rest of this section to start to see the real thing, Christian liberty and freedom that Paul is talking about.

1 Corinthians 9:15 NASB95

15 But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one.

1 Corinthians 9:16 NASB95

16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:17 NASB95

17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

1 Corinthians 9:18 NASB95

18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

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

A general observation, and I wish I could claim this one as my own, but it is a quote from Jon Courson.

On the basis of apostolic authority, human logic, Old Testament law, present custom, Old Testament community, and Jesus’ command, Paul makes a persuasive and powerful case that he had the right to be supported in ministry.

So, now let’s look together at these verses and see now we know what Paul is saying, but now why is he saying it, what does he want them to know and for us to learn from?

1 Corinthians 9:15 NASB95

15 But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one.

Question: Paul has authority and reason to be paid, but what does he imply in (v.15)?

I have used none (received no, taken no money).

He did not want to stumble his brethren in being a burden to them, costing them. Paul laid aside his right, his authority so not to wound, stumble the weak.

(Twisted theology picture inserted here)

There are those who take this vere to build a theology on that no preacher, elder or others should get paid, or have no right to support for their work. - but that is not what paul is saying, in this instance, to these people he is waving his rights for the sake of the gospel. He was getting support from other churches to keep him in the ministry (note down 2Cor11:8).

2 Corinthians 11:8 ESV

8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.

now let’s press on

1 Corinthians 9:16 NASB95

16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

Question: look at the end of the verse what is the end result if Paul did not preach the gospel?

For woe is me if I do not preach.

Expand on this above, personal story (check the time though first)

Paul does not glory in himself, or his deeds by not taking what is due to him, he does not want to stumble anyone by boasting, but by example of not exercising his liberty he is better to able to serve them.

1 Corinthians 9:17–18 NASB95

17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. 18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Paul was willing to lay aside his rights for the sake of the gospel, he uses being paid as the example, so not to stumble the weaker (remember tat food was the original issue brought up).

(for the sake of the gospel picture inserted here)

(Closing remark) What about you, what are you willing to lay aside for the sake of the gospel.