"Paul defends His Call to Apostleship" 1 Corinthians Chapter 9
I. Paul defends His Ministry and Apostleship (verses 1-6)
A. Paul claims to be completely free: Paul claims his freedom from both secular and religious bondages which enables him to be fully devoted to the apostleship and ministry to God's people..
{Paul was free as an Apostle to enjoy the fruits of his labor, yet he chose to provide for his own needs, though at times the churches took care of some of his life’s expenses} (vs. 1)
B. He was qualified to be an apostle because he had seen the Lord Jesus. Some argued that he had not..
REASON: [All of the apostles were appointed to be WITNESSES of the life, doctrines, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and that in their "being witnesses" was what gave “UNIQUENESS” of the apostolic office. The other eleven disciples received the “Great Commission” of Matthew 28]. Paul received his commission on the Damascus Road (Acts 9)
C. He was qualified because He organized the Church of Corinth. The church was birthed and the people were converted through his preaching in Corinth. (vs. 2)
D. The existence of the Corinthian church (and the other churches) sealed his apostleship as the converts were no longer “heathens” but converted in the Lord.
Note: Nobody’s conversion is of “human” origin. The preacher cannot save you! Salvation work is God’s and God’s alone. God gave evidence to both Paul and the Corinthian church that He was with him (Paul), and had sent him to them. Many people in the Corinthian Church knew him personally, heard him preach and were acutely, acquainted with his doctrines and manner of life, and be could bear testimony to who he was and what he taught.
[The conversion of sinners is the best evidence to "any minister" that they are sent of God]. It’s not based on how many people are converted under your ministry, but "the fact" that people are converted. The "chosen" minister anointed by the Holy Spirit simply preached the gospel and people came to Christ because of it. The divine blessing on his labors should cheer his heart, and lead him to believe that God has sent and that he approves him. Every minister and layperson should so live and labor, should so deny themselves that they may be able to APPEAL to the people among whom they labor with the Gospel that they are “ministers” Called and laypersons of the Lord Jesus.
II. Paul ‘s right to live like everybody else in the faith (verses 3-6)
A. Right to eat and drink- [that the church gave the pastors financial support as they ministered in thee pastorate or on the missionary field]
Right to lead a sibling, a mate, even other ministers- [that the church take care of pastor and his wife financial needs while they labor in the mission field]
Or in the case of Paul and Barnabas either receive financial support from the church or became “bi-vocational”
B. Apostolic Teaching: Concerning Marriage (Contrary to Roman Catholicism)
(1) Ministers if they chose had the right to marry, The papal doctrine of the celibacy of the clergy is contrary to apostolic example and Scripture.
(2) Missionaries also had a right if they chose to marry, and to take their wives with them to pagan lands. The Apostles were missionaries, and spent their lives in pagan nations as missionaries do now, and there MAY BE as good reasons for missionaries marrying now as there were then.
(3) Yet there are people, like Paul, who can do more good without being married. There ARE circumstances, like his, where it is not advisable to get married and there can be no doubt that Paul regarded the unmarried state for a missionary as preferable and advisable. Probably the same is to be said of most missionaries at the present day, that they could do more good if unmarried, than they can if burdened with the cares of families. Taking care of a family is a ministry in itself.
III. Ministers are to live by the Gospel (several reasons) (verses 7-14)
A. For the Pastor, the work of the ministry is as arduous, and as self-denying, and perhaps as dangerous, as the work of a soldier; and common justice, therefore, a completely dedicated pastorate demands that he who devotes his youth, and health and life to it, for the benefit of others should have a competent support. (Vs.7)
B. In the same manner you would not hinder (muzzle or fail to feed the ox) the ox who labors to plow your field, the minister should not be financially hindered to do all they can to be the best minister/pastor to God’s flock. (Vs.8-9)
C. The minister of God if they put in the diligent work in the mission field and pastorate, they should expect to be compensated. The true laborer for the Lord sows their work in hope that payday will come. (Vs.10)
D. Paul said in essence: "We impart to you, under the divine blessing, the gospel, with all its hopes and consolations. We make you acquainted with God; with the plan of salvation; with the hope of heaven. We instruct your children; we guide you in the path of comfort and peace; we raise you from the degradations of idolatry and of sin; and we open before you the hope of the resurrection of the just, and of all the bliss of heaven; and to do this, we give ourselves to toil and peril by land and by sea. And can it be made a matter of question whether all these high and exalted hopes are of as much value to dying man as the small amount which shall be needful to minister to the needs of those who are the means of imparting these blessings?" (vs.11)
E. In Corinth, they were already supporting other teachers and they demanded it in some ways,
No doubt that the teachers in Corinth urged this right, and received a support. We the apostles; we who have labored for your conversion; who have founded your church; who have been the first, and the most laborious in instructing you, and imparting to you spiritual blessings? Don’t we because of the call to ministry have a greater claim (right) than they? YET, we haven’t capitalized on this right rather, we have forgone it that the Gospel ministry is not hindered. We have subjected ourselves to poverty, want, hunger, thirst, nakedness, rather than urge a "claim" on you, and thus leave the suspicion that we are actuated by mercenary motives. (vs. 12)
F. Even the Levites and the priests were ordained by God to be compensated for the work done in the temple. In the same manner pertaining to the ministers of God, they too should be financially taken care of. They should “live in” the Gospel” that is devote their very lives to it.
(vs.13-14)
IV. Paul Defends His Ministry (verses 15-18)
A. Paul chose to work for himself so that money issues with the church would not become “stumbling block” and the members in anger calling Him a “jack-legged” preacher. Paul said he rather die than allow any man to try to void his apostleship. (vs. 15)
B. Paul preached the gospel out of necessity and a “woe” (He was called by Christ Himself) not to glorify himself or to be glorified by men. A “woe” would fall upon him if he didn’t preach. There is a great danger on any person who doesn’t answer their God given calling.(vs. 16)
Important facts about the “Call” to the Gospel Ministry
(1) All ministers who are “duly called” to the work answers out of necessity. God will make your life miserable until you answer HIS call. You would be wretched in any other calling. Your conscience would constantly harass you. You wouldn’t have no interest in the plans of the world; in wealth schemes, and pleasure, and fame. Your heart is in the ministry work, alone no matter what the circumstances. Whether though poverty, persecution, nakedness, cold, peril, sickness, you won’t find comfort In any other calling, Whether surrounded by affluence, friends, wealth, honors, pleasures, gaiety, fashion, you’d still be miserable.
(2) A person whose heart is not in the ministry, and who would be as happy in any other calling, is not fit to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ. Unless your HEART is there, and you prefer that to any other calling, you should never think of preaching the gospel.
(3) People who LEAVE the ministry, and voluntarily devote themselves to some other calling when they might preach, never had the proper spirit of an ambassador of Jesus.
If you leave the call to minister for the sake of ease or gain; to avoid the cares and anxieties of a pastor’s life leave to make money, or secure money when made; to cultivate a farm (if you live in the rural), to teach a school, to write a book, to live upon an estate, or to "enjoy life," they lay aside the ministry, it is proof that you never had a call to the work.
(4) If you choose to reject the call to ministry after you know beyond a shadow of a doubt God did call you, God will see to it that you will be "miserable" in your “other endeavors.
C. Paul said the Gospel ministry was “laid” upon him and he answered willingly.
Here are some of his responses to this revelation:
1. If I answer willingly, there is a reward awaiting me.
2. If I don’t, there is a “woe” punishment I’ll have to face from God. (vs.17)
3. If I do it but my heart isn’t in it, there is no reward for me, yet because God place this mantle on me, I got to do the work anyway! (vs. 18)
4. As a “reward”, when I preach the gospel, I will do it free of charge and become (bi-vocational)= I’ll work to support my personal needs and not burden the Corinthian church with personal money issues. (vs. 18)
V. The “Methods” and Rewards” Of True Ministry (verses 19-27)
A. Paul’s Methods of True Ministry (verses 19-23)
1. Though I’m free in Christ, I chose (volunteered) to become His servant to you.
a. I labor to promote their welfare.
b. I submit to the work without charge.
d. I comply with the prejudices, habits, customs, and opinions of others as far as I can with a good conscience unless it is immoral or unmoral. Paul says that he had voluntarily put himself into this condition, a condition making it necessary for him to suit himself to the opinions, prejudices, caprices, and feelings of all people, so far as he could do it with a good conscience, in order that he might cause them to confess Jesus Christ and be saved, and that I might gain Christ the more. (drawn nearer in fellowship and communion with)
e. To the Jews, I became as a Jew (in compliance to their customs, rites, prejudices as far as the law was concerned and as far as his conscience would allow to win them to Christ).
To the Gentile, I complied with them under the grace (Law of Christ), omitt5ing the ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic Law to win them to Christ.
To the weak (those weak in the faith). Paul; became weak: I did not shock them. I complied with their customs. I conformed to them in my dress, habits, manner of life, and even in the services of religion. I abstained from food which they deemed it their duty to abstain from; and where, if I had partaken of it, I should have offended them. Paul did not do this to gratify himself, or them, but to do them good. And Paul's example should teach us not to make it the main business of life to gratify ourselves, and it should teach us not to lacerate the feelings of others; not to excite their prejudices needlessly; not to offend them where it will do no good. If truth offends people, we cannot help it. But in matters of ceremony, and dress, and habits, and customs, and forms, we should be willing to conform to them, as far as can be done, and for the sole purpose of saving their souls.
f. I became (was made) all things to all men, I made whatever social adjustments I needed to make without compromising my values in Jesus Christ in order to win some of them to Christ. (Paul wasn’t going to win them all) AND NEITHER WILL WE.
B.. The Rewards of True Ministry (verses 24-27)
1. Run and finish the Christian Race to receive the prize. (vs.25)
Give yourself completely to God
Lay aside every weight and the sin that hinders you
Stay focus on the goals of Christianity, don’t get sidetracked by the cares of this world.
Don’t grow weary
Keep your eyes on Jesus as the example. (the Author and finisher of our faith)
2. Strive for the mastery of the faith and Ministry (vs.26)
3. Fight the good fight of faith to win
4. Live by Example. Keep my body under subjection, maintaining self-control. (vs.27)
Don't allow your misconduct and fleshly passions ensnare you and render yuou ineffective as a witness and soldier on the battlefield for the souls of men for christ jesus.