Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
3 sermons cite this verse
… epistles. Paul in 1 Corinthians 9 and in verse 19 says, Though I am free, I belong to no man. I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To win as many as possible. What are you doing, Paul? Well, I'm trying to win as many as possible. What do you mean? Well, I'm trying to see unbelieving people become committed followers of Jesus Christ. Why? So that they might prove themselves to be the worshipers from John 4 that the Father seeks. Why? So that God, who created us for the praise of his glory, is praised and glorified in all that we are and all that we do. And for that reason, and since it is such a compelling issue for me, says Paul, I'm prepared to make myself a slave in order that people might become the worshipers of God. He actually makes the very same point in another way when he writes to the Galatians in chapter 5, and I think in verse 13. And he says, you, my brothers, were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. …
… Though I am free, I belong to no one. I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews, I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law, though I myself am not under the law, so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law, I became like one not having the law, though I am not free from God's law, but am under Christ's law, so as to win those not having the law. To the weak, I became weak to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings. The phrase, I have become all things to all people, has sometimes been misunderstood. It can sound like manipulation. Like Paul is saying, I'll say whatever people want to hear if it gets results. …
… And I have a couple of verses and then I'll be done. Let me start with 1 Corinthians chapter 9. That's going to be the first passage I want to take a look at, 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 19 through 23. And I want to encourage you to look for the opportunity to engage with that person out in some meaningful way, in some meaningful environment. Here's 1 Corinthians 9. The Apostle Paul is talking to the church in Corinth, and he says to them, I want you to get a hold of this. Here's what the Apostle Paul says to the Corinthian church because, again, he wants them to be actively involved in winning people to the Lord. And he says this, For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win the more. And to the Jew, I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews. To those who are under the law, has under the law, that I might win those who are under the law. …