SERIES: PRESCRIPTIONS FOR A HEALTHY & HOLY CHURCH:
A Study in 1 Corinthians Applied To The Church Today
III. MAINTAINING PROPER DIET & EXERCISE
B.) FREEDOM TO CHOOSE FITNESS
“NO PAIN, NO GAIN” (1 Cor. 9:19-27)
Rev. Todd G. Leupold, Perth Bible Church, May 3, 2009 AM
1.) WHICH IS MORE PRODUCTIVE: FREEDOM OR SERVILITY?
Sounds like a simple question, doesn’t it?
But is it? What does it really mean to have personal freedom? How does this truly compare to servility to a good and great Master?
Who is truly better off: the sharecropper who has personal freedom but can barely feed his family, or the servant who has has given up personal freedom but serves a good Master who treats him like family and provides him with fine housing, clothes, food and a guaranteed, steady income?
What does this have to do with any of us today – citizens of a ’free country’?
EVERYTHING!!! Our lives – whoever we may be - are futile wastes of time and resources unless they produce something meaningful. The more meaningful and lasting our production, the more significant and worthwhile are our lives. The more significant and worthwhile are our lives, the greater our hope, joy, confidence and victories even in the midst of great difficulty, injustice, or outside uncertainty.
God’s Word, which we will look at this morning, has the answer that is not only True, but that brings an eternal retirement like none other!
PRAYER
a.) SERVILITY (v. 19)
Legally, religiously, morally, and by all ’rights’ the apostle Paul is a completely free man.
As such, he willfully has made used that freedom to submit himself as a servant to all people!
He can do this amazing and self-less thing, because personal freedom is not his ultimate goal or what he most values. Instead, it is the salvation from sins of all others!
And, as we have already seen in this inspired letter, True Freedom is a paradox. As human beings, we are really most free when we submit ourselves to servility under Christ our Lord!
Personal freedom is extremely limited and, in fact, only a freedom from responsibility and accountability. We yet remain enslaved to our own weaknesses, mistakes, ignorance, needs, desires, insecurity and sin.
Only in servility under Jesus Christ our Lord can we be free from all of these things, plus freedom from human pressure, influence, demands, politics and affection!
And only then, can we have the freedom to be used of God to ’win’ souls for His Kingdom and their eternal freedom!
b.) TO CULTURE (vv. 20-21)
As a servant of Christ dedicated to the salvation of others, we must also be servants to their culture without sacrificing one’s own purity and integrity.
The issue here of the “law” and Jews versus Gentiles is largely one of culture and preference.
It is very important to understand that when Paul here speaks of “the law” he is NOT referring to the whole law of God, but to those areas of Old Testament law that have been made no longer necessary for salvation because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Nor is Paul declaring that he has freedom in Christ to do whatever he wants. Much to the contrary! The specific wording and grammar he uses refers specifically to not being “under” the law (that is, it’s own authority or saving work) but instead is “under” Jesus Christ and His will and teachings!
Dr. Ironside writes:
“He was not under the law nor was he without the law. He was neither subject to some legal ritual nor was he lawless . . . Neither under law nor without law, but legitimately subject to Christ.” (pg. 259).
Dr. Gordon Fee describes it this way:
“The difference, therefore, between his own behavior and that of his social companions is not in the behavior itself, which will be identical to the observer, but in the reasons for it. The latter abstain because they are ’under the law’; it is a matter of religious obligation. Paul abstains because he loves those under the law and wants to win them to Christ.” (NICNT, pg. 429).
The point is our motive and application of the principles of the law not the letters themselves. In Trinidad, most biblical Christians don’t go to the movies. In America, most do. Depending on the content, neither tradition is objectively right or wrong. When ministering in Trinidad, we follow their custom to avoid the movie theaters. When ministering in America, there are times we may even encourage Christians to go to the movies and invite their friends (Fireproof).
c.) WITH PERSONAL SACRIFICE (v. 22)
Again, Paul gives up/sacrifices his own concern for how he is received, perceived or treated in order to have the best possible chance to see others delivered from their sins and unto our gracious LORD!
If that means he is seen as being weak, poor, or foolish, then so be it!
Whatever it takes to see souls delivered and Christ glorified he will do it, give it up, and/or make the personal sacrifice. Why? Because the final and eternal reward is infinitely more important and valuable than anything he could ever sacrifice – including his own freedom!
Verse 22 MUST be understood in connection with this whole passage, especially verse 23.
d.) FOR GOD’S GLORY (v. 23)
According to Scripture, becoming “all things to all people . . . by all means” is intrinsically tied to the purpose to “save some” to effectively and properly communicate “the gospel,” and therefore “become a partner in its benefits.” “Its benefits” refers to seeing and sharing in God’s glory.
2.) WHO WINS: TORTOISE OR HARE? (vv. 24-27)
You remember the fable don’t you? Who won? The tortoise. Why? Because though slower, he ran the most consistent and disciplined race never stopping, never thinking of his own needs outside of the race, and never wavering off course.
With this in mind, further consider these words of Scripture.
Inspired by God, Paul refers not to the tortoise and the hare but to the Isthmian Games - sister event to the Olympics and held in Corinth. In order to participate in these Games it was required that one first had to prove that he was of pure Greek parentage and second had to take an oath to train hard and unceasingly for the full ten months leading up to the race. The main event of the Games was the foot race. The Games Champions were rewarded with a pine branch wreath. Even though these wreaths did not typically last very long, they were the most coveted prize in the Empire next to the olive wreathes which were awarded at the Olympics and decayed even quicker!
Living a life in service to Christ (in particular as witnesses and ambassadors of His Good News), is metaphorically contrasted to the great race of the Isthmian Games.
To run in God’s Great Race, one must be a citizen of His Kingdom.
To run in such a way that you may have a chance of finishing, one must first train hard and then run with self-control in every area throughout every inch of the race.
In addition, one must run with a firm, unflinching and solid purpose and not aimlessly, without focus or direction.
Even having done all of these things, one must be careful not to be “disqualified” from the race. Be careful, this is NOT a reference to one’s salvation but rather to one’s fulfilling God’s call and purpose for their lives which He Himself sacrificed all for.
Dr. Ironside explains:
“... Lest he be disapproved, lest the Lord shall say to him some day, ’Paul, I had a crown for you, I was counting on you, and for a while you ran well. What hindered you? You became self-indulgent and careless, and you broke down and brought dishonor upon My name. I cannot crown you, Paul; you will have to stand to one side and let some one else have the crown.’ To be set to one side when they are giving out the crowns! God grant that you and I may not have to endure this great disappointment. Have you not known of those who ran well for years and then little by little began to let down?” (pg. 274)
THE FINAL ANALYSIS:
How would you describe your service to Jesus:
First personal freedom, then freedom for others OR Others first, then self?
I settle for what I can do and receive easily OR I welcome the pain that brings gain?
Flexible to please OR flexible to rescue?
A “sole proprietor” of God’s gifts, OR a ’partner’?
Random and spontaneous in my service, OR focused and disciplined?
A temporary champion OR an eternal champion?
