Paul
the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “unto
the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that
are under the law, as under the law”.
His desired was to “gain”
each of them in the “gospel of Jesus
Christ”,
and in chapter nine and verse twenty-one
of First Corinthians, Paul told
the Corinthians what he did with, “them
that are without law” where
we read:
To
them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to
God,
but
under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without
law.
The
verse begins, “To
them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to
God,
but
under the law to Christ,)” Paul
began with the words, “to them”
which refers to “toward the people” “that
are without law” or
“who are destitute of the Mosaic law, the Gentiles or those
departing from the law who are violators of the law, lawless and
wicked”, “(being not without law”
which means “who exist destitute of the Mosaic law, as Gentiles or
those departing from the law and as violators of the law, lawless and
wicked” “to God”
which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised
of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “but”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was just stated “under
the law”
or “who are subject and lawful” “to
Christ”
which refers to “the anointed one, the Messiah and the Son of
God)”, “as without law”
or “those not having the Mosaic law who were Gentiles and violators
of the law, lawless and wicked”. Paul also ministered the “gospel
of Jesus Christ”
to those who did not have the “law of God – Moses' law”.
The
verse goes on to say, “that
I might gain them that are without law.”
Paul
continued with the words, “that I
might gain” or
“so Paul might acquire Christ's favor and fellowship with” “them”
which means “the people” “that
are without law”
which means “who are destitute of the Mosaic law, the Gentiles or
those departing from the law who are violators of the law, lawless
and wicked”. Paul's desire was to win people to Jesus Christ who
were not exposed to the “law of God”.
When
we consider these words from Paul, we see his desire was to reach
every person possible regardless of their social or religious
background. Some people were not exposed to God's law, and they lived
in opposition to God's rule. Paul desired to “gain” or
“acquire” them into “Christ's favor and fellowship” which
meant sharing the “good news” of salvation through Jesus Christ
with them. Oh that God might put within us the same desire to see all
people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and when that
passion arises within us, let us be as Paul and “gain” as
many as possible regardless of their background for the Kingdom of
God.
Next
time Paul tells the church members that he was, “made
all things to all men, that I might by all means save some”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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