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"A servant to all..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:19

FREEDOM IN CHRIST

Paul was a great proponent of “freedom”. He meant that he was no longer legalistic in his outlook and application of faith and life. However, he applied this concept of “freedom” in a unique way.

“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 Jews I became 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.”
1 Corinthians 9:19-20

1. “I am free from all men”

Paul did not find himself bound:

a) By customs

b) By laws

c) By cultural norms

2. “I have made myself a servant to all”

a) His focus was simply “humble service”.

b) His desire was to help people come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. “To the Jews”

a) Though Paul did not feel the need to keep the laws and practices of the Jews.

b) Nevertheless, he was prepared to do the things that Jews were expected to do.

i) Going to a synagogue to worship.

ii) Keeping the Sabbath.

iii) Keeping the religious feasts and vows.

4. “Those who are under the law”

a) He understood those who felt constrained to keep the law.

b) He could identify with them.

c) He could help them understand the law better from the teachings of Jesus.

5. “That I might win”

a) The Jews.

b) Those under the law.

c) The word “win” simply means “gain”. (He wants to help as many as possible to find salvation!)