BIG IDEA:
THE GOAL OF WINNING SOULS DRIVES US TO RESTRICT OUR FREEDOM IN WAYS THAT WOULD SERVE OTHERS IN LOVE RATHER THAN OFFEND THEM
INTRODUCTION:
Voluntarily restricting our rights and freedoms is no small matter. But a person who has been genuinely converted and filled with the love of Christ will have a heart of compassion for reaching the lost. The main method of evangelism is not some specific program or crusade, but a servant heart that ministers to others in love. We never compromise the message, the commands of Christ or the priority of preaching the gospel (even in confrontational ways). But we make every effort not to unnecessarily offend others as we understand the behavioral and cultural issues that are important in whatever context we are ministering and adapt our behavior accordingly.
I. (:19) THESIS STATED — THE GOAL OF WINNING SOULS DRIVES US TO RESTRICT OUR FREEDOM IN WAYS THAT WOULD SERVE OTHERS IN LOVE RATHER THAN OFFEND THEM
A. Freedom in Christ Understood
“For though I am free from all men,”
No man or no cultural group has Paul as a puppet on a string where they can dictate his behavior. He is free to personally respond to Christ and live in a way that is pleasing to His master.
B. Voluntary Personal Restrictions Regulating Ministry Approach
“I have made myself a slave to all,”
Quite an extraordinary condescension and limitation
C. Goal in Ministry of Maximum Evangelism
“so that I may win more.”
Paul’s heart and priority for soul winning is the key to the passage. Not just people have to adjust to who I am with all of my personal preferences. Instead Paul was willing to be the one to make every necessary adjustment. He was flexible where possible to win others to Christ. He didn’t want anything to unnecessarily hinder the gospel.
II. (:20-22) THESIS ILLUSTRATED – PAUL’S EXAMPLE OF IDENTIFYING WITH THE TARGET GROUP HE IS TRYING TO EVANGELIZE
A. Identifying with Cultural Jews (no matter how serious they were religiously)
1. Target Group
“To the Jews”
2. Strategy of Identification
“I became as a Jew”
3. No Clarification Necessary – Paul still was a cultural Jew
4. Goal in Ministry of Maximum Evangelism
“so that I might win Jews”
B. Identifying with Religious Jews (scrupulous about obeying the Law)
1. Target Group
“to those who are under the Law”
Most commentators take this as just further explanation of the same Jewish category above. I have broken it out because of the parallelism as a somewhat separate emphasis. Some take this to be Gentile converts to Judaism. I would apply it to all Jews who were very scrupulous about the requirements of the Law.
Maclaren: The category which he names next is not composed of different persons from the first, but of the same persons regarded from a somewhat different point of view. ‘Them that are under the law’ describes Jews, not by their race, but by their religion; and Paul was willing to take his place among them, as we have just observed.
2. Strategy of Identification
“as under the Law”
3. Clarification
“though not being myself under the Law”
4. Goal in Ministry of Maximum Evangelism
“so that I might win those who are under the Law”
C. Identifying with Gentiles
1. Target Group
“to those who are without law”
2. Strategy of Identification
“as without law”
3. Clarification
“though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ”
4. Goal in Ministry of Maximum Evangelism
“so that I might win those who are without law.”
MacArthur: In other than moral matters, however, Paul identified as closely as possible with Gentile customs. He ate what they ate, went where they went, and dressed as they dressed.
D.. Identifying with the Weak
1. Target Group
“To the weak”
This illustration seems somewhat ambiguous. The immediate context has been talking of trying to win different cultural groups to Christ . . . so from that perspective this does not sound here like the contrast between the weaker and stronger brother (such as in the example in Chap. 8 of eating meat). This group is weak in the eyes of the world: whether in terms of social status, economic position, educational background, intellectual ability, etc. However, the larger context of the weaker brother from Chap. 8 certainly fits the general thrust of what Paul is trying to communicate about regulating his liberty and modifying his conduct. In that case one would have to modify the meaning of “win” the weak to have the broader connotation of impact them positively for Christ, improving their spiritual position, or gaining a hearing for the teaching Paul is providing.
2. Strategy of Identification
“I became weak”
3. No Clarification Given = Paul’s Humility
4. Goal in Ministry of Maximum Evangelism
“that I might win the weak”
E. Lesson From These Illustrations = Thesis Repeated
1. Target Group
“to all men”
2. Strategy of Identification
“I have become all things”
3. No Clarification Necessary
4. Goal in Ministry of Maximum Evangelism
“so that I may by all means save some.”
III. (:23) THESIS EXTENDED – LIVING A GOSPEL-FOCUSED LIFE ENSURES MY OWN PARTICIPATION IN GOSPEL BENEFITS
A. Freedom in Christ Implied
B. Voluntary Personal Restrictions Regulating Ministry Approach
“I do all things for the sake of the gospel”
C. Goal in Ministry of Maximum Evangelism
“so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”
The gospel is all about denying self, taking up our cross and following after our Lord Jesus Christ who promised to make us “fishers of men.” If we live selfishly and do not have any gospel focus we give evidence that our lives have never been transformed. An authentic Christian will serve others in love for the sake of the gospel and thus demonstrate the fruit of genuine conversion. Only those who live for the gospel actually participate in the benefits of the gospel.