Tuesday: All Things to All Men
Take a close look at the references to law in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. What is Paul saying here? Why such a strong emphasis on law?
God’s desire is that all people accept His gift of eternal life and become citizens of His everlasting kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul reveals his method of attracting people to God’s kingdom. He understands that there are cultural barriers that hinder people from making a decision for the gospel. Paul is willing to adapt to the culture of the group to whom he was witnessing for the sole purpose of seeing them saved.
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
Ultimately, all who become a part of God’s kingdom will be subject to His law. Consequently, those who minister for God must also be in line with God’s will. Paul is quick to state that although he uses innovative methods to reach people, he is always careful to remain under the dictates of God’s law. His desire to see people saved will not allow him to compromise the laws of the God he is asking them to serve. He may adapt to cultural laws but only if there is no conflict with the ultimate law. The principle that governs his method is the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21, NASB).
We can also understand Paul’s reference to the law of Christ
as the method that Christ used. It was a method based on love for all people and not for just a select few. Paul does not intend for the law of Christ to be seen as an alternative to the law of God. The two work harmoniously together as the loving law of Christ is used to introduce those saved by grace to the law of a loving God. In fact, the entire section, in which Paul so openly explains all that He is willing to do in order to reach the lost, is a perfect example of the kind of self-sacrificing love that is revealed in the law of Christ.
How much self are you willing to deny in order to reach others for Christ? How much self have you already denied in reaching out to others? How much of the law of Christ
do you follow?
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[Moderator's note: Please use full names when commenting.Thank you.]
What a beautiful and encouraging reminder of the methodology we must adopt when reaching lost and weary souls for God's Kingdom. When witnessing to the community many have made the remark that " I am not like the usual Seventh Day Adventist" but I lift up God's name and give Him the glory. It's Jesus Christ in us that does the work! Thank you God
In dealing with 1Cor 9:21 it seems that there is that confusing thing about two laws again only this time Paul says that his attitude is not as though he abandoned law with respect to God but that he was under law with respect to Christ. Seventh-day Adventists have traditionally always had trouble with the term “under law” because many Christians think that what Paul says in Rom 6:14-15 is that the law was done away with by Christ.
We each have our own God given gift that enables us to witness to the community or simply to our unbelieving family members. Not every Seventh Day Adventist can look the same or even act the same, it’s what’s in our heart that counts, and our personal relationship with Jesus. Upon reading 1 Corinthians I was confused when reading verse 20. As I continued to read I realized that what Paul was saying, is that we often need to meet others within their own culture in order to connect with them, so by doing this God can work through us. This will enable us to be as weak as they are in order to bring them to Christ. I like verse 22 where he says “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means to same some”.
thank u Jesus for having come to redeem us. indeed its Gods wish that we all turn away from our evil ways follow Him and hav eternal life. whichever method we use in winning souls to Christ should notcompromise with Gods laws.
Be born again of heaven
Be born again of water
Be born again of The Spirit.
Be born again at the cross.
Be born again of the love of God
John 3:1-16.
Then you will be in line with Gods will.
"Feed My sheep"
The law then becomes a barometer of your relationship with Christ.
The law is the ten commandments plus Christ's New-Old Testement laws. Again the cereimonial laws were done away with at the cross.
SDA church was entrusted with the message of the sanctuary. It would be good for us to get a complete understanding of this message in order to explain to others the Law and it's eternal purpose ( including its usage in the judgment.)
Which one is God's Law and Christ Law? I do know there is only one law. Please some one help me. Thanyou.
I have read1 Coronthians 9:19-23 in reference to the law and it is very confusing to me and I dont fuly understand the verse. Can someone break this down into laymans terms.
Let me see if I can help. Chapter 9 is talking about winning souls to Christ by all means except for giving up Christian principles. Maybe Miss Johnson is a Baptist and Miss Smith is interested in telling her more about Adventism , supose that the best way is to go with her to church. Miss Smith still goes to church on the Seventh day also, and does not go to her churches dance. Miss Johnson is a good Baptist, so Miss Smith does not worry about having to turn her down to getting better aquointed at the local bar. Now I do think that Miss Smith had a greater oppertunity to share her faith then if she had never gone to church with Miss Johnson. We are admonished to be well grounded in our faith when witnessing to others of different faiths.
1 Chor 9:19-23 is saying that Paul had the freedom to do whatever he liked but he decided to place himself in a position of service to others; to win souls to Jesus. Unto the jews i became a jew to gain the jews etc etc simply means that Paul sought common ground with the people he met irrespective of their background; he exhibited humility and not a know it all attitude and by so doing gained there acceptance; and could win some souls therefore. in essence he dropped self to gain some souls for Jesus.
Thanks very much for your response Nago. The way in which you have explained this verse is very clear. I understand it more fully. Have a blessed day. God bless. xx
Question: Which one is God's Law and Christ Law? I do know there is only one law. Please some one help me. Thanyou.
Answer: Gods law may refer to the ten commandments and possibly words of the Prophets, however Christ's law may refer to the 2 commandments pronounced by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40 though also earlier stated in Deuteronomy for which he said On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Gods Law). in essence Gods law and Christ law are the same.
Law of God = “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” or Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.
Law of Christ = Love each other as I have loved you.
Emphasis on 'as i have loved you'. that the subtle difference. an amplification of the original...an elevation..an attempt at doing more than the target.
Lest we forget there were ceremonial laws before Christ died on the cross. May I refer you back to lesson one of this quarter on Tuesday.
Though instituted by Jesus, the ceremonial system was meant to function only as a type, a symbol of a future reality—the coming of Jesus and His death and High Priestly ministry. Once He completed His work on earth, this old system—along with its sacrifices and rituals and feasts—no longer was needed (see Heb. 9:9–12). Though we no longer keep the ceremonial law today, by studying it we can garner insights into the plan of salvation.