1 Corinthians 9:19-27 - Relating with the Lost to Win Them

1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Serving All Men

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Striving for a Crown

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Building on the previous half of this chapter, Paul expands on his rights and responsibilities in proclaiming the gospel in the face of opposition and religious controversy.  He begins by stating his freedom from others in Christ yet quickly follows up with his willing service to them for Christ’s and the gospel’s sake.  He stayed true to what he believed and did not compromise the truth, yet was a cultural chameleon in that he related to the Jews as a fellow Jew and those under the law as one ruled by grace under the moral law while adhering to ritual observance of the ceremonial law where it did not compromise the intent God meant.  He likely looked like a Jew outwardly to these whom he was reaching with the gospel, yet not under the same bondage to the rules of the law in the freedom for which he was set free (Galatians 5:1) in the Lord.  He likewise fit in with the those not under the law, yet not living with lawlessness.  He followed the intent and commands of the moral law in the Ten Commandments written on his heart (2 Corinthians 3:3) while reaching those outside the Jewish system of strict adherence to their interpretation of the law that he might win them to Christ.  He empathized with the weak to win them to the Lord as well, not bragging in his strength but admitting his own frailty to come alongside them just as with the strict Jews and Gentiles alike in walking with and speaking with them and not at them in a superior attitude based on his own intellectual and religious background (Acts 22:3, 2 Corinthians 11:22, Philippians 3:3-5) or achievements in life.  This is the principle of becoming all things to all men in order to bring as many as possible to see and know Christ as are appointed to eternal life (Acts 2:47, 13:48) without himself getting in the way of the gospel message by the way he carefully carried himself and respectfully cared for others in love and concern.  This is for our example as well to not compromise the truth or share in their sins, yet still associate and relate culturally to others that they may stop to hear the good news we bring that we may fellowship with them from all backgrounds, walks of life, religious traditions, and cultures who come from those into Christ with us.  This commitment to proclaiming the gospel of truth in love was painted by the apostle as a race (Philippians 3:12-14) with a prize that gives glory to God and not a plaque for our future abode in the New Jerusalem.  We are urged to run this race towards Jesus Christ to win that prize of His glory like the elders bowing and giving their crowns they earned to their Lord in Revelation 4:10-11 in praise and worship.  We do this with self-control while striving for the eternal that endure like enduring jewels in a crown and not running after the temporal treasures and accolades which turn to dust (1 Corinthians 3:12-14) and are lost to the fire in light of eternity.  We therefore must follow Paul’s example and pleadings to run with certainty and fight the good fight (1 Timothy 1:18, 6:12) with targeted purpose and resolve.  This is not shadow boxing but the real deal as we discipline our bodies and souls to the task to avoid being disqualified from the race of the upward call of Jesus Christ in our sanctification and service of the gospel as we are reminded in 1 Peter 3:15-16 by another apostle.  This is relating with the lost to win them to know Christ in all we do for God’s glory while under why it is necessary to be Relating with the Lost to Win Them while keeping firm to the truth and righteousness.