All things to all men

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

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.

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.

In today’s text Paul says:  I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.   This is a verse that is often taken out of context by people to justify their participation in unrighteousness or their preference for being in places where sin and unrighteousness is prevalent. There is almost no limit to what people will do and participate in, in the name of sharing the gospel. In context Paul says: 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; 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. 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.    So Paul is speaking of not causing boundaries based on differences in doctrine or heritage. He says: I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.   We cannot sin, nor condone sin for the sake of the gospel. To be all things to all people, is to not restrict anyone one based on their national or spiritual origin. But to do all things for the sake of the gospel is to hold fast to and not compromise Jesus words in John 14:6:  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”   

Jesus Himself was often criticized for associating and fellowshipping with outcasts and sinners, but He never participated or condoned sin. In Luke 5:32, responding to the criticism of associating with these outcast and sinners, Jesus says:  "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."   Jesus purpose was not to have sinners remain in sin, but to call them to repentance. In Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus says:   “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”   Our actions and our interaction with the world should look different than the world. We should shine as a light in the darkness of the world. If we become like the darkness, where will the light be.

Paul continues saying:  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. 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. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.   If we preach to others, while we ourselves participate and continue in sin, we will be disqualified. Jesus continues in Matthew 5:17-20, saying:   “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”   So if we continue in sin, if we think that because of grace or for the sake of grace we can disregard God’s righteousness, if we by our words, our actions or our consent teach others to continue in sin, what we will be disqualified from is entering the kingdom of heaven.  

Paul says:  Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 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.”  Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 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.     Jesus also used examples of judgment in the Old Testament to warn those under the New Covenant against sin. In Matthew 11:20-24 it says:  Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Paul ends saying:  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.  Through the cross of Christ our sins are forgiven, all sin, once for all. But Paul doesn’t say that are sins are forgiven. He says that we are given a way out of every temptation. The power of the cross redeems us from sin. The filling and the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, given to those who believe, empowers us to resist temptation. The Holy Spirit is the very person of God. If we yield to the Spirit we cannot continue in sin. 1 John 1:5-7 says:   This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.    We can be all things to all people, but if we would be like Jesus, if we would do all things for the sake of the gospel, if we would, like Jesus call others to repentance, we cannot be darkness, we must be light.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit thank You for the power of the cross which redeemed me from sin and for the power of the Holy Spirit which enables me to live free from sin and temptation. May I be all things to all people. May I exclude no one from the love and grace of the cross, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, may I do all things for the sake of the gospel. May I be light. In Jesus name, Amen.