January 12, 2025|Free From Your Freedom
John-Daniel Cutler
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In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul is responding to the statements coming out of Corinth quoted in chapter 8 “all of us possess knowledge”, “an idol has no real existence,” “there is no God but one.”
He says there, 7 However, not all possess this knowledge. and
9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
He finishes with, 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Verse 13 is Paul’s application concerning their rights to eat meat offered to idols. He says, of himself, ‘if exercising my right to eat whatever I want in the Lord, harms a brother, I will not make use of that freedom ever again.’ But Paul wants the Corinthian church to go beyond the surface issue of meat offered to idols, to the root issue, how we think about our freedoms and rights in Christ. In chapter 9’s 27 verses he asks 19 questions, meaning that roughly 70% of this chapter is made up of questions. What is unique about that is not a singular one of them is not asked in a Rhetorical way, Paul knew and expected there was only one right answer to each and everyone of his questions. He leaves no question open ended.
The question for us this morning as we seek to understand God’s words to us through the Apostle Paul’s words to the Church at Corinth is ‘how did Paul use his questions’, ‘what was his goal in asking them?’ What did he want them to see and what does God want us to see through them?
Much like the America church, the Corinthian church seemed to be overly concerned with the exercising of their rights, to the point they were willing to exercise those rights, even if it meant division and even harm to a brother in Christ. Paul is going use himself and his ministry as an example of a different way of living, a way that emulates our Lord Jesus Christ, a possessing rights but not acting on them. BTW, this is not the first time the Apostle Paul has emphasized this way of living. In
1 Corinthians 6 Paul says, concerning lawsuits among brethren.
7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
In that same chapter the Apostle Paul starts to give us guide rails in our thinking about our freedoms. He says quoting what appears to be a Corinthian saying.
1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV) 12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
So something can be lawful for me and not be helpful for me, something can be lawful for me, but not what’s best for me. In our text today Paul is going to give us another guiding principle in the exercising of our Christian freedoms. How does the exercising of my freedoms affect not only my brothers and sisters in Christ, but the advancement of the gospel. If you haven’t already, open your bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. Let’s read verses 1 through the first part of verse 12.
1 Corinthians 9:1–12
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 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.
3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
I want to show you this morning, from our text, three areas Paul addresses concerning his rights, praying that as we hear what Paul has to say concerning his rights, God would speak to us through his word concerning our own rights. From these first 12 verses we find…
THE SUMMARY OF PAUL’S RIGHTS
The Bible is abundantly clear that, in Christ, believers are free.
John 8:34-36
(ESV) 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed
Romans 8:1-2
(ESV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
In a similar discussion to our text today in the book of Romans, Paul highlights the freedom we have to eat meat or not, to keep feast days or not, highlighting the freedom from not only the ceremonial law of Moses concerning food and days, but in regards to this issue of meat sacrificed to idols of which the focus is on in 1 Corinthians. This freedom is where Paul starts chapter 9.
Am I not free? You Corinthians are boasting in your freedoms and rights, if you are free, how much more free am I? Not only as a fellow believer, but as an apostle. Paul then offers a few evidences for his apostleship. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship 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. One, he saw the resurrected Lord and received his commissioning as an apostle from him. Two, the very existence of the Corinthian church owed itself to God’s use of Paul’s apostolic office to proclaim the good news of Christ, accompanied by miracles. He calls them the seal, or the evidence of the genuine of his apostolic call. In the same way a seal would establish the authenticity or genuineness of a document, so the believers that made up the Corinthian church attested to the genuineness of Paul as an apostle to the Gentiles.
Then Paul lists some of the freedoms that are his. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? We should understand this as the right to be supported by the churches financially. Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? The right to marry and support a believing spouse. Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
The way that I understand it, because Paul did not get financial support from the Corinthian church, there were those who were saying, that Paul was not a genuine apostle and he must know it, and that is why he did not take support from the churches like the other apostles. This is what Paul means by ‘this is my defence to those who would examine me’. He essentially says, make no mistake, I have all the same rights as not only other believers, but all the same rights as the other apostles. It is not a question of whether I am free, I am, it is not a question of whether I have these rights, I do. Paul is going to further establish these rights two ways, one from human understanding and one from divine revelation.
First, he says think about it. Remember all of these questions are rhetorical.
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Answer- No one
Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Answer- No one
Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Answer- No one
Just as you wouldn’t expect a soldier to serve at his own expense, or a farmer or shepherd to work for free, someone who labors for the gospel shouldn’t be expected to do it for free.
Second, he goes to scripture. Specifically,Deuteronomy 25:4
“You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Paul says, do you think that God only said this because he is solely concerned for the oxen? Of course not. It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
The plowman plows in hope, the threshers threshes in hope, each understanding that their labor will be rewarded by sharing in the crop that comes as a result of their labor. In the same way, Paul has labored in the establishment and support of the Corinthian church, does he not, even more than those laboring among them now, have a rightful claim to expect material support from the church?
I have been fortunate that in the churches that I have labored in, I have received monetary support. It has not always been enough and I have sometimes, gladly, had to be bi-vocational, work a full time job and serve the church full time, but it was never because they did not want to, sometimes they just could not. But I have heard many stories of churches that seemed to think that a pastor should be poorly paid, if paid at all, ignoring the clear scriptural teachings of our Lord, echoed by Paul here, verse 14. In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Paul is of course addressing his own rights as an apostle, preacher, and believer, because that is his situation, but his application goes far beyond those in vocational ministry. He is not denying that those in Corinth claiming they have a right to marry or not marry, the right to have cases judged fairly, or the right to eat meat or not eat meat, do not have those rights, he is confirming that they indeed do have those rights. He is also reminding them that he has all of the same rights, and more as an apostle. But what he desperately wants his spiritual children in Corinth to see is the possessing of a right does not necessarily mean you must exercise that right. In fact, there are times we should willingly choose not to exercise our rights. Which brings us to the next area concerning Paul’s rights.
THE SURRENDER OF PAUL’S RIGHTS
Let’s pick up with the second part of verse 12.
1 Corinthians 9:12–18 Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
Paul is going to zero in on his right to be supported by the churches that he labors in, so that is what we are going to focus on.
After summarizing, or establishing his rights, Paul says, twice, once using the plural ‘we’ and once using ‘I’ have made no use of these rights. Paul says, although I most certainly have them, I have surrendered them. I have not asked for anything and when I labored among you, I supported myself. Why did Paul surrender his rights?
He says we would endure anything, including supporting ourselves, rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel. He then reminds them that God has always taken care of those employed in his work from those who benefit from it.
13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
When God establishes His people and His sacrificial system, the priests and levites were not given land to make a living, rather they received a portion of the food and offerings that were made. There are many places where this is dealt with in the Old Testament, but one in particular speaks plainly to it.
Deuteronomy 18:1-5
(ESV) 1 “The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the LORD’S food offerings as their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them. 3 And this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 5 For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for all time.
To understand then why Paul would call His making use of this right an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ, we need to understand two things. One, Paul’s particular calling as an apostle to the Gentiles and two, the culture of the time. Let’s start with the culture. Traveling speakers and teachers were common in Paul’s day. These speakers and teachers would often use their skills in order to build wealth. Not that different than the prosperity preachers of our day. Others, claiming to despise worldliness would pocket large sums of money from individuals they were calling to renounce material things. Paul did not want anyone to confuse his ministry or message with that of these kinds of people. Paul wanted the gospel message to be unhindered by keeping it unassociated from these kinds of immoral means of gain. Second, and perhaps more importantly, we must understand that Paul’s ministry was primarily to Gentiles, those who were used to religion being used to gain notoriety, status, and wealth.
As a Corinthian, can you imagine a traveling evangelist coming into town, him immediately going to work as a tentmaker and then using that labor to support his preaching ministry, not asking his hearers for anything? According to Acts chapter 18, this is exactly what Paul did, for over a year and a half. Working by day, preaching by night.
So Paul could say, I present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make use of my right in the gospel. It also seems that Paul indicates this is one of the reasons that Paul did not exercise his right to marry a believing spouse. Having a spouse and family to support would have inevitably been too much for Paul to support and would have had to make some use of his right to be supported by the church.
But, and I love this Paul-ness of this statement, essentially, he says, don’t mistake me, I am not writing you to secure anything from you, I would rather die than have you deprive me of this glorious opportunity to proclaim the gospel free of charge! It reminds me of something Abraham said after gaining victory in battle. In Genesis 14 we are told that some kings had joined forces and taken everything from Sodom and Gomorra, including Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Upon hearing this, Abraham took 318 men, defeated these forces and brought back the things that had been taken, as well as Lot. Abraham was certainly due much, if not all of the spoil, but listen to what he says when the King of Sodom tells him he can keep all of the goods.
Genesis 14:22-23 (ESV) 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
God had promised to prosper Abraham and he wanted to make sure that no one could claim any credit for what God had done. Abraham surrendered any right he had to those goods because he wanted to make sure that God got all the glory for his prosperity. In the same way, Paul surrendered his right to be supported so not only could no one say that they were responsible for his missionary successes but that no one would be able to accuse him or prospering off of the gospel.
Paul teaches us here that just because we have rights, it does not mean that one, we must exercise them, but two, that sometimes it is better for us to surrender them. The question becomes then, why? Why should I surrender my rights? Why should you surrender your rights? What is more important than exercising your total freedom in Christ? This brings us to the final area concerning Paul’s rights.
THE SUBSERVIENCE OF PAUL’S RIGHTS
Let’s pick up in verse 19 of chapter 9.
1 Corinthians 9:19–23 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
What is more important than our rights? What takes precedence over the exercising of them?
Paul sums it up in verse 23- I do it all for the sake of the gospel.
In these verses Paul uses language that may offend the most theologically minded people among us. What do you mean that you win men to Christ, what do you mean that you might save some? Spurgeon, addressing this very thing in a sermon on
1 Corinthians 9 says,
The Apostle did not intend to insinuate that he could save anybody by his own power and no one thought that he could. He used expressions without guarding them because he was writing to people who mixed candor with their knowledge of doctrine and would not willfully misunderstand him. He did not write for those who must have all the creed in every sermon and require all statements of the Truth of God to be cut into one shape. The doctrine that salvation is of God, alone, and is the work of the Holy Spirit was dear to him as life, itself, and having often proclaimed it, he was not afraid of being misunderstood.
Paul’s emphasis here is not to be found in the idea of winning or saving souls, as though he believed he could, but rather on his willingness to be the most useful instrument in the hands of the one who could. The matter is that God in his own wisdom and for his own means has ordained men to be saved by the proclamation of his gospel by men. God uses men to bring men to himself.
It seems to me that the apostle Paul’s desire was to be the most moldable and adaptable soldier in the master’s army of witnesses. So much so that he would surrender his rights in subservience to the gospel. What did this look like in the Apostle Paul’s life?
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
Paul was absolutely and totally free in Christ, and yet would willingly lay that freedom aside if it meant reaching a brother with the gospel. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.
This is the most interesting one, because the Apostle Paul was a Jew by birth. What is he saying? If he needed to surrender his freedom in Christ and not eat things that the Jews considered unclean, he would not eat things the Jews considered unclean. If he thought encouraging his disciple Timothy to be circumcised so that they might be in a better position to reach Jews, he would. If he needed to keep temple vows in accordance to Jewish customs, he would. Paul knew that there was nothing in Judaism that garnered favor with God, and yet he would willingly put himself into the bondage of it, if it meant reaching a fellow Jew.
He says it a different way. To those under the law I became as one under the law. Paul knew that the law did not produce life and that in Christ he was free from the ceremonial law but even though he was not himself under the law and held no illusions that the law produced life, he would gladly live as one under the law, if it meant he could reach those under the law with the gospel.
On the other hand, Paul was a Jew by birth and was in no way ashamed of his heritage and that he belonged to the nation of people God had established. But even though it was his right to live as a Jew, he would break the dietary and ceremonial laws and live as a gentile if it meant he could reach those outside the law.
To the weak, I became weak. This goes back to what he said in chapter 8. He says that there are those, who although they are free in Christ, have not fully come to the place where they understand it. They do not have that knowledge yet. So their conscience is weak when it comes to the food offered to idols, so Paul says, if food makes my (weaker) brother stumble, I will never eat meat.
He summarizes his attitude this way, using a play on the word all. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
Paul had such a strong desire to see God save men, whether they were Jew or Gentile, that he was free from his freedom. Friends, what is the most important thing in your life? Can you say above all else, it is to see men and women saved?
Or is it, like so many people, that you get your way, that you get what you want, that no one hinders you from exercising your rights and freedoms?
The Apostle Paul reminds us here that the beauty of our freedom in Christ is not that it is an unchecked license to do what we want, but rather the true beauty of our freedom is found when we understand our freedoms in light of our responsibilities to be used by God to share the gospel message with a lost and dying world.
Think about it, the very heart of the gospel is that our Lord, gave up his rights for our sake. He willingly humbled himself, not only by entering his creation, but by dying a death he did not deserve so that through his sacrificial love we might live. This is the picture Paul kept firmly established in his mind and this is the picture that I would pray that we see today.
Like Paul, like the Corinthians, if you are in Christ, you are free in Christ. You have freedom, but the call of the Christian is to not use your freedom as an opportunity to satisfy the flesh, but through love serve one another. How might you surrender your rights in subservience to the advancement of the gospel? What rights could you surrender that would make you a more moldable and useful instrument in the hands of the one who can save to the uttermost? May God help us evaluate our lives in light of his truth this morning. Let us pray.
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