A Different View of Freedom

1 Corinthians 9 A Different View of Freedom

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”

1 Corinthians 8: “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” (v.9) • This week: Paul’s “Rights-Consciousness” • A Different view of Freedom… 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?”

An Apostle, with authority… 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?” Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 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 9:1-2

An Apostle, with authority… With certain unalienable rights… 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?” 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? Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? 1 Corinthians 9:5-6 My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we not have a right to eat and drink? 1 Corinthians 9:3-4

An Apostle, with authority… With certain unalienable rights… With earned rights… 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?” 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? 1 Corinthians 9:7

An Apostle, with authority… With certain unalienable rights… With earned rights… With legal rights… I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? 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 9:8-9 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(v.10) 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?”

An Apostle, with authority… With certain unalienable rights… With earned rights… With legal rights… The Corinthians owed Paul! 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?” If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 1 Corinthians 9:11

An Apostle, with authority… With certain unalienable rights… With earned rights… With legal rights… The Corinthians owed Paul money! Even the Pagan priests get better treatment! 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?” Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? 1 Cor. 9:13

An Apostle, with authority… With certain unalienable rights… With earned rights… With legal rights… The Corinthians owed Paul money! Even the Pagan priests get better treatment! Even Jesus commanded these rights… 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?” So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. 1 Cor. 9:14

An Apostle, with authority… With certain unalienable rights… With earned rights… With legal rights… The Corinthians owed Paul money! Even the Pagan priests get better treatment! Even Jesus commanded these rights… And Paul surrendered these rights… 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?” Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.1 Cor. 9:15

An Apostle, with authority… With certain unalienable rights… With earned rights… With legal rights… The Corinthians owed Paul money! Even the Pagan priests get better treatment! Even Jesus commanded these rights… And Paul surrendered these rights… 1 Cor. 9 “Am I not free?” What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News. 1 Cor.9:18 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! 1 Cor. 9:16 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 1 Cor. 9:17

“I have become a slave to all people…” 1 Cor. 9 “Redefined Freedom” Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 1 Cor. 9:19

“I have become a slave to all people…” • Even people who persecuted him…! 1 Cor. 9 “Redefined Freedom” When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 1 Cor. 9:20

“I have become a slave to all people…” • Even people who persecuted him…! • Even people from different cultures! 1 Cor. 9 “Redefined Freedom” When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 1 Cor.9:21

“I have become a slave to all people…” • Even people who persecuted him…! • Even people from different cultures! • Anyone and everyone! 1 Cor. 9 “Redefined Freedom” When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. 1 Cor. 9:22-23

“I have become a slave to all people…” Because God opened a wide door of freedom! 1 Cor. 9 “Redefined Freedom” Reasonable: “I’m RICH!” For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6

“I have become a slave to all people…” Because God opened a wide door of freedom! It means living under a “new law” 1 Cor. 9 “Redefined Freedom” I obey the law of Christ. 1 Cor.9:21 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

“I have become a slave to all people…” Because God opened a wide door of freedom! It means living under a “new law” Reflecting God’s Character… 1 Cor. 9 “Redefined Freedom” But “who is my neighbor?” I obey the law of Christ. 1 Cor.9:21 Let no one seek his own good,but that of his neighbor.1 Corinthians 10:23-24

But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. Studies in “The Law of Christ”: Luke 10

"And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Studies in “The Law of Christ”: Luke 10 The problem with religion:“My ritual are moreimportant than people.”

"But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. Studies in “The Law of Christ”: Luke 10 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! Luke 6:32-33 Met his needs! At personal expense!

“On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.‘” Studies in “The Law of Christ”: Luke 10 Not a “token” effort Real concern!

"Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same.“ Studies in “The Law of Christ”: Luke 10

We are like the “helpless man”… • We are like the Levite and priest… • “Love…neighbor” is anyone in need! • It doesn’t depend on the other person’s appeal, interests, background, ethnicity, personality... Studies in “The Law of Christ”: Luke 10

We are like the “helpless man”… We are like the Levite and priest… “Love…neighbor” is anyone in need! Love is a FREE CHOICE! Studies in “The Law of Christ”: Luke 10 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 1 Corinthians 9:19

“To do what I want any old time…” “Free…to become a slave of all” • Free to play… • Alienated from the Life & Love of God. • Always need more… • Frustration • Free to love… • Learning & livingthe Love of God. • Giving from surplus… • Fulfillment Two Definitions of “Freedom”

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 1 Corinthians 9:19 Free to Love Anyone Especially Those in Need! Our Freedom in Christ “a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;Colossians 3:11-12

A Different View of Freedom