You probably know this by now, but I really do love the way Paul (the apostle) writes, and I especially like the way he communicates what he writes. He has a way of slipping in the most unlikely comments at the most inopportune times. I guess I should not be surprised because he did make it very clear that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not suppose anyone would be, however, if he truly believed the gospel that Paul believed, and Paul believed it so strongly that he refused to compromise—regardless of the consequences. As a result, he can come up with some of the most unorthodox comments. He must have been on a mission to irritate the religious people of this day. Whether or not he was on such a mission, he certainly did irritate them! Please join me as I take you on a brief tour of some of his unorthodox comments: (1) Grace to you and peace (Romans 1:7).
(2) The kindness of God leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4).
(3) There is no partiality with God (Romans 2:11).
(4) He is not a Jew who is one outwardly (Romans 2:28).
(5) There is none righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10).
(6) Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).
(7) Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account (Romans 4:8).
(8) While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
(9) Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20).
(10) Sin shall not be master over you (Romans 6:14).
(11) We have been released from the Law (Romans 7:6).
(12) Apart from the Law sin is dead (Romans 7:8).
(13) I am no longer am I the one doing it (Romans 7:20).
(14) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
(15) God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28).
(16) For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ (Romans 9:3).
(17) I will have mercy on whom I have mercy (Romans 9:15).
(18) He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens who He desires (Romans 9:18).
(19) Let love be without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9).
(20) Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another (Romans 13:8).
Although the list could go on and on, I will stop with these; however, I do so only because I want to highlight this one: All things are lawful for me (1Corinthians 6:12). Can you imagine anyone having the courage to make such a statement, especially to a group of Christians who have been thoroughly convinced that keeping the law is the way to please God? Well, whether or not you can, Paul did it. As you know, many of the Christians in the Corinthian church were deeply involved in various sins and they were so, even though they knew better.
In the midst of this epidemic of sin, Paul arrives in town and, right out of the chute, he announces that all things are lawful for him. He must have been crazy! I can only imagine what the leaders thought. Whatever else they might have thought, they certainly thought that the epidemic was about to become pandemic. This crazy man had just announced that all things were lawful for him, and if you read on a bit further you will find that he said almost the same thing again—All things are lawful (1 Corinthians 10:23). This time he omitted the word “me” and simply made it all-inclusive! All things are lawful—period! Had he gone “mad”?
May it never be! He knew what most never know (apart from the Law sin is dead), and he was simply putting into practice what he knew to be truth. He knew well that the only hope the Corinthian church had of overcoming this epidemic of sin was for them to be released from the Law. He knew that the Law is the power (strength) of sin, and he knew, just as well, that he had to release them from that power.
Most evangelists would have come into town and immediately purposed to put the people under the Law by telling them that God would never be pleased with them as long as they continued to live such reckless lives. They would have heaped judgment and condemnation upon them, rather than upon their behavior. The result would have been tragic! The epidemic would have, indeed, become pandemic.
Paul was much too wise for such foolishness. He pointed out the sin, to be sure, but he also made it clear that not one of the sins could separate them from God or from His love. Talk about unlikely comments at inopportune times!
Think about it! There is an epidemic of sin running wild through the church, immorality is rampant, and Paul’s fix is this: Everything is lawful!
All I know to say is this: God’s ways are definitely not our ways.
Your Pastor
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