1 Corinthians 9 - Part A

Were not saved by works were saved by God's grace through our faith.

Simply believe in him.

God declares us justified just as if we had never sent. And that's our standing before God.

A lot of Christianity's regulations. It's true have God's command today on connect. Skip examines what it means to have liberty in Christ right now to tell you about a recent that shows God's love and grace empowers you as you look for life is hard and then time is a harsh but accurate philosophy with into this gentle encouragement. But, that's right, in the most difficult circumstances God can intervene as he did for Joseph Joe and through the resurrection of Jesus here.

Skip I think the fact there may not be two more hopeful words than these two words but God because they point us to the great interrupter, the one who can powerfully and graciously interrupt our live with his plans and change our lives forever and help you understand some of the Bible's most profound… You can have more hope for change in your life.*It's 10 message teaching series… Our thanks $35 and more today to help connect more people to the only one who can radically change a life. But God's CD collection today. You get online securely connectwithskip.com/offer or call 892 1888 we were in first: chapter 9 is withdrawing Skip hi to Fort.

We are smack dab in the middle of Paul dealing with the issue of personal liberty. Chapter 1 talk about things offered to idols. We all have knowledge but we really should mingle our knowledge with our love. So what Paul is dealing with and he continues to deal with it is all a set up for chapter 9. He continues to deal with the, the issue of personal Christian liberty. What I can and cannot do as a Christian I remember when I was a young Christian, a brand-new believer. I came to faith when I was 18 years of age. I smoke cigarettes and I started when I was 10 and I was 18 I was focusing a lot of us did backbend and think we did was a vice was a habit wasn't we didn't consider it simple, but it was an issue among other believers who saw bad and had issues with us problems with it and wasn't very long where I just decided all things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. Chapter 6 of first Corinthians all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Also, first Corinthians chapter 6 and 10. All things are lawful for me, but not all things build up or edify first Corinthians chapter 10 so I decided I don't need it, I'll give it up.

I will let it control me, by God's grace I want to control it so it's not like if I continued to smoke I would go to hell because I smoked but but some Christian get video really. You can go to hell. That's all the smoke is anyway so you know fear and do it, go, go for it, but were not saved by works were saved by God's grace through our faith. We simply believe in him. God declares us justified just as if we had never sent.

And that's our standing before God, but is it okay for a Christian to smoke a cigarette. Is it okay for Christians to watch movies.

Is it okay for Christians to listen to certain kinds of music.

These are the questions that we sometimes have we would call them gray areas that are not hard and fast right and wrong, at least in our mind.

So Paul gives us some good biblical counsel of how to deal with now in the days of the New Testament in Corinth. They were asking is okay for Christians to go to movies or listen to certain records. They didn't have records they didn't have movies there big issue was. Can I go down the Blake's pagan burger and have a Zeus burger with Aphrodite cheese on top right of the doubt was the issue meat that was sacrificed idols. Now whenever we ask questions like is it okay for a Christian to do this or that and still be a Christian were asking the wrong question because essentially what were saying is what can I do and still get away with it and still be a Christian is that what are the minimum requirements of the only requirement is the requirement of faith, but why would you ever want to stay at at ABC when you can go on and graduate with your PhD in following the Lord, why would you want to stay back in kindergarten when you can grow up and grow in faith. So the question is, and what can I get away with but what ways in my life. Can I further honor and glorify my Lord and dream big in that suite we are asking the wrong questions. But Paul is dealing with those issues in chapter 8 and on into Chapter 9 he continues this thought our personal liberty. What I can and can't do mixed with the responsibility my personal liberty. My responsibility I can do all things, all things are lawful for me, but I do have a responsibility to others. That's why Paul said look, if my eating meat is going to cause somebody to stumble on.

Never eat meat again. I would rather prefer to show love to them then stumble a weaker brother or sister. He continues in chapter 9 but he is using himself as an example of these can you give an example of his own apostleship that he is certain rights certain privileges in the calling the God has given him as an apostle, and yet because of something that both he feels the Lord put in his heart he would forgo certain privileges that people in the ministry apostles, like Paul, are entitled to.

But he himself did and he said it's fine, Peter doesn't the brothers of the Lord do it other apostles do this, but here's just I have foregone those privileges because something God is put on his heart, and with you to read with that is now I'm setting it all up, but as part of that season used himself as an example, but one thing we read as we go through the first Corinthians and second Corinthians is there were some people in Corinth. Obviously, who had a problem with Paul's authority as an apostle and they questioned his authority as an apostle, and Paul is is in part dealing with that really using himself as an example of liberty.

You'll see how it all ties together so he begins by saying am I not an apostle.

These are rhetorical questions we would say yes Paul you are an apostle. Am I not free yes Paul you are free.

Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord, are you not my work in the Lord, if I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you, for you are my you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. Paula setting out. First of all, the proof of his calling his apostleship. One of the qualifications to be an apostle is you had to have seen the Lord that we know that Paul saw the Lord Win Rd., Damascus Road. He knew he was on the way up to persecute believers. He had a vision of the Lord appearing to him who are you, Lord, the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting and later on he says in that event, I saw the Lord. That was one of the qualifications to be a New Testament apostle. You had to have seen the Lord me take you back to the book of acts you want to turn to. But in acts chapter 1 after Judas died he hung himself. So there's a vacancy in the slot of 12 apostles right ones once gone.

Peter stands up and he says what Judas he croaked he's dead. He killed himself, I'm paraphrasing a little bit of course he didn't say croaked.

But anyway, he kicked the bucket, he's gone and there's a Scripture records a Scripture that it's fulfilled let another take his office. He stands up and says this was anticipated by God, but he said we need to find a replacement and it has to be somebody who saw the risen Lord has seen the risen Lord. Now Paul the apostle was not somebody who filled the slot of those original 12 because Peter said he had to of been with us from the beginning of Jesus ministry at his baptism until his ascension and be a witness of the risen Lord Nepal did see the Lord in the vision to Damascus, but Paul wasn't following with the clan of disciples from the calling of Jesus at the Jordan River till his ascension, so he's not in that list of those 12, but that was one of the qualifications you you have to have seen the Lord. Paul said I meet that qualification. I've seen the Lord. Another qualification is the qualification of signs and wonders in the second Corinthians chapter 12. He says the signs of an apostle were wrought in me out.

Paul is called in Scripture and apostle to the Gentiles and apostle to the Gentiles. Here he says my proof of apostleship is number one I've seen the Lord.

Number two you guys in Corinth. You're the proof of the pudding. I've established churches I've seen the work of God through you.

He says in verse two. You are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. Now that idea of a seal. Let me just explain that in in ancient times. If your cargo and you ship it from one place to another. You would take. They would take a wax seal and take the imprint of the signet ring or the seal it was bigger than a ring and put that in the wax on the cargo so that when it got to port and it was to be reclaimed. You could show by showing that you have the same seal. You could show that I'm the authentic owner or this is the these are the authentic goods that will go to the person on the other end. There was a seal, there was a proof of ownership.

Also seals were put on on title deeds on wills in the book of Revelation, Jesus is the Lamb of God takes this scroll with seven seals and breaks the seals proving that he is the indeed owner of the earth and and takes the title deed and unfurls so Paul says the proof of my apostleship is the fact that I've come to Corinth and this church is been established. You are my CEO you are the proof that I am authentic that I'm the real deal.

Just because you have a business card that says Dr. or Rev. or Nuno minister or whatever that is not proof, the proof is in the results of the gift. So if somebody is called to be an evangelist. How do you know that person is called to be an evangelist very easy.

People get saved if somebody is called to be a pastor teacher, how do you know the really call people get fed. So you you see the results in the this seal that proves the authenticity so he said you are it. You are my seal.

Are you not verse one. Are you not my work in the Lord. This brings up a question about apostleship.

I have been asked this on a few occasions are are the apostles something from the past is apostleship over with, or are there apostles today and and and here's the answer yes or no yes or no. There are no more apostles after the 12 apostles.

Yes, in a functional sense apostleship is a gift that continues in a firm sense in a strict sense, there were only 12 apostles and this is why Peter made a big deal out of getting somebody to succeed Judas in Matthew chapter 19 Jesus told the 12 apostles. He said when the Son of Man in the regeneration when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory. You also will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel, so he promised them a front row seat and a cabinet position in the millennial kingdom next to him. The 12 apostles get to fulfilled that role okay but we have a problem because Judas kicked the bucket, he committed suicide, betrayed the Lord, you know the story so to Peter that vacancy has to be filled.

Jesus made a promise that vacancy has to be fit for has to be filled. So you remember in acts chapter 1 there were two different people one by the name of Joseph also called bar supposed to sir's name was justice that was one guy the other guy Matthias and it's an interesting thing I I I trust the Lord is in a but the cast lots. Instead of let's just pray about it and the Lord revealed to ourselves… Throw the dice and they cast lots in the lot fell on Matthias so he is the one numbered among the 12 that was considered the one adopted in June this place. So in the millennium. I anticipate seeing Matthias on that 12 throne people as they always meant what about Pope Paul the apostle. I believe Paul is an apostle Paul and apostle by the will of God.

He opens most of his letters with and and and there's proof of that. But Paul the apostle isn't the same as the original 12 apostles in the New Testament.

They taught the apostles doctrine. Paul said the foundation of the church was built upon the apostles and the prophets, so I think there are 12 original apostles, and in a firm sense there are no more.

That does not continue today but in a functional sense it does because did you know that the term apostle shows up about 75 times in the New Testament and it doesn't just refer to the 12. Sometimes Paul is called an apostle sometimes Barnabas is called an apostle sometimes Timothy is called an apostle.

On one occasion Andronicus and Julia are called apostles. So there are names of other people besides the 12 and besides, even Paul that are also called apostles to single what what is that mean exactly in a functional sense. I believe a modern apostle is a missionary somebody who was sent out from a church usually goes into an area of plants and sows and works in an area spiritually speaking and and that's how the New Testament I believe treated that functional gift of apostleship. So for example, there was a document after the New Testament called the D.K I'm some of you have heard me refer to that over the years that the did a key or the D.K it's set in Greek the D.K is a document that is considered the teaching of of of the apostles and it was an instruction manual for local churches on how to spot a true prophet from a false prophet, a true missionary.

It is called an the idea of an somebody sent out who is a missionary and how to spot a true or false one. So in a functional sense. I think a missionary fulfills an apostolic role so know there are more, no more apostles. Yes, there are many more apostles that make sense okay and by nine apostleship you are verse two if I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you, I came to your area of Corinth spent 18 months in that area lead people to Christ planted a church taught you, and then moved on my defense to those who examined me, is this, do we have no right to eat and drink, do we have no right to take along a believing wife as you also the other apostles the brothers of the Lord and Cephas or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working.

This is sarcasm easy Zeneca making a sarcastic remark look all the other people that are even sent out by you have certain rights and privileges.

Is it only myself. Paul and Barnabas, who have no rights whatsoever, except we have to work in provide for ourselves now. Paul did work when he came to Corinth were told the story next chapter 18 he comes to Corinth he meets a couple who got kicked out of Rome. They were tentmakers by trade other name was Priscilla and Aquila, Paul met them. He was a tent maker skiing up Paul Yost is the Greek word, somebody who works with hides and cards them up and makes tense, usually out of either cloth or most typically hides.

That's what he worked with Paul was professionally worked in the secular field is the tentmakers so he came into that area. Worked with temps worked in that tent Guild with that couple and and and provided for himself. Here he gives a defense.

Don't we have the right to eat or drink. That is, don't we have the right as apostles. Those sent out church planters missionary do we have the right to be supported by the flock or by the church so that we can eat and drink in that provision.

I do we do we have the right are no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles the brothers of the Lord and Cephas now Cephas or Peter is mentioned there is no record that Peter ever went to Corinth, but because there was a following in Corinth, people followed Peter.

We learned that in chapter 1 into some said I am of Paul. I am of Cephas. I am of Apollo, so there was the knowledge of Peter and some people gravitated toward him as a natural leader, the New Testament indicates that Peter was married men interesting. The first Pope was married II say that tongue-in-cheek. We know in the New Testament that Peter's wife's mother fell sick in Jesus healed her. So apparently after the resurrection. When Peter would travel and do his ministry. He took along his wife and his wife is supported along with Peter and that was the practice of the other ones were sent out the other apostles, even the brothers of the Lord. They took their believing wives and the churches took care of them, gave them financial remuneration.

Paul said that is my right as well. Now he's going to give in the next few verses for arguments and then he's gonna bring it back. He's we get for arguments why those in the ministry, including himself as an apostle have the right to be supported by the people that they that they work with, or are sent out from you for arguments. The first argument is in verse one, and that is the argument of comparison.

Hey, I'm in a compare myself to Peter to the other apostles. They have the right if they have the right than I have the right, that's the first argument. The argument of comparison comparing himself to other servants of the Lord. The second argument is in verse seven that's the argument from human experience. Here is whoever goes to war at his own expense, who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit, or who attends a flock and does not drink of the mill of the four that concludes give hi to his message from the series expound first Corinthians you Skip this year.

You can keep these messages coming your way and connect others around the world with God's truth. The Bible is full of God's promises, but if you want to know them, you have to study Scripture well. Our goal is to connect friends like you with truth found in God's word. That's why we share these Bible teachings on-air and online into your gift today.

You can help keep these messages that you love coming to you and connect more people around the world to the Bible here so you can give right now.

Visit connectwithskip.com/donate to give a gift that's connectwithskip.com/donate or call 800-922-1888, 800-922-1888. Thank you for your generosity and come back tomorrow. Skip Heitzigs and shares how you can balance love and knowledge to encourage others in their faith member will be read in chapter 8 I can do everything but for the sake of love. I will do certain things if it means eating meat because it is so I will say no to a certain privilege that I have, even though I know that there is no such thing as an idol is not a real God calls God, so I have that knowledge might balance out my knowledge