Become all things to all men... yet without sin.

1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

¹⁹ For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. ²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; ²¹ to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. ²² To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. ²³ I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; ²⁷ but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Avoid Israel’s Mistakes

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; ² and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³ and all ate the same spiritual food; ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. ⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” ⁸ Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. ⁹ Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. ¹⁰ Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Paul says:  I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. This is one of the greatest challenges we face as followers of Christ. How do we relate to the world, to people of other cultures and belief systems? Paul says that he has become like them. He also says though, “ but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” So Paul is finding a way to relate to all people but he is not participating in their unholy behavior. It really comes back to finding the perfect balance that Jesus had, being able to love the sinner, while living righteously and hating sin. Too often we, in the church have a tendency to either hate the sinner along with the sin or we embrace both sinner and their sin.

Like Paul, we should not change what we believe. We should not compromise ourselves or our values to reach other people. If we participate in their sin our testimony of the change that Christ has made in our lives is lost. Paul says: “ I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” We cannot sin for the sake of the gospel. Jesus says:

let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Remembering that it is the Holy Spirit who is responsible for convicting people regarding sin and righteousness (John 16:8), we relate to them where they are at. Like Jesus we interact with all people, we love and accept all people, for the sake of the gospel. Look at the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:4-11.

“Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. ⁵ Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” ⁶ They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. ⁷ But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. ⁹ When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. ¹⁰ Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” ¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

Can we also through our lives and our love say to the world,, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more”?

In the second part of today’s text Paul writes about our need to learn from the examples we read about in scripture. One of the greatest things about the Bible is how it shows us the humanity of others. It tells of both the tremendous accomplishments and the faith of those who lived and served God before us, but it also reveals their failures and their falling. We have a choice in our own lives. We can in many cases spare ourselves the difficulties and consequences that come with making poor decisions and not following God, if we will learn from the examples of those who have gone before us.

Paul says: “ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man”. There is no new sin and so there is no new temptation.    Hebrews 4:15 says: we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One (Jesus) who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. We should not look on the scriptural accounts of the failures and weaknesses of other to judge them. Rather we should learn from their mistakes, lest as Paul says, we who stand in judgment may ourselves fall. This same principle and truth applies to those we see in our own times who fall. We should, neither glory in the failure and falling of others, nor judge them. Galatians 6:1 tells us how to respond when someone has fallen.

 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

That’s the heart of the gospel message, redemption and restoration. Saying to those who have fallen, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” Meeting people where they are, being all things to all people, so that Christ, may by all means save some.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit thank You for all that You have done in my life. Thank You for the examples of both faith and failure that You have given in Your word. Help me to learn from both. Holy Spirit guide me and teach me. Help me to be all things to all people, to, like Jesus love sinners, yet hate sin. May I, through my life and by Your love be an agent of redemption and restoration, that others may see and give glory to You Father.     Amen