By All Means!

The apostle Paul was driven by a conviction many in the church lack today. A scan of 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 reveals an unquenchable fire burned deep inside his heart — a deep love and compassion not only for Christ but also for the immortal souls of men and women. The text says to the Jew he became as a Jew, to the Gentile he became a Gentile, to the weak he became as weak. His purpose? “... that I might win the more ... that I might by all means save some” (vs 19, 22b). No real student of the New Testament would take Paul’s words to mean he ever changed or adapted the gospel message and its demands to fit whatever crowd he happened to be in. He is not arguing that the church should adapt the Gospel so that it will be more acceptable to the culture or people or age we happen to be in (Galatians 1:6-9 * 1 Corinthians 4:17). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow” insofar as His spiritual accomplishments in our behalf, His commands to us in the Gospel, and the promises He holds out to the faithful (Hebrews 13:8). The same gospel system and process that made a Jew a Christian in the first century also made a Gentile a Christian (Acts 15:11 * Romans 10:12 * Mark 16:15-16 * Acts 2:36-38 * Acts 10:47-48). Paul is not saying he changed the gospel to reach Jews or Gentiles. He is saying he wants to make the gospel available to as many people as possible. And he is willing to do anything within the will of God to accommodate himself to that end, his personal customs and conveniences aside! Note again, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” Note Paul said “some.” He was never under the illusion he could bring the whole world to Christ. Some are unwilling to give their lives to Christ no matter what means we use. But that didn’t dampen his passion to bring Christ to the whole world if he could by any means do so.                   

What means have you used to save some? Have you used any?  Are you praying for someone you know is lost? What have you done to bridge the gap between yourself and some lost person so that you might win them to Christ? In a Gospel Advocate magazine article back in October 1989 Don Humphrey wrote an article entitled: “Jonah – An Unwilling Missionary.” His words still sober my soul to this day — “Someone observed that the average member of the church of Christ has heard 4,000 sermons, sung 20,000 songs, participated in 8,000 public prayers, and saved zero sinners. How close to average are you?” I do not mean to indict every member of the body of Christ. The years have taught me there are always Christians with no desire for recognition who are involved in ongoing and intentional efforts to reach their children, neighbors, friends, and co-workers for Christ. They visit, pray, live a Christ-like life before others, regularly invite people to attend worship and Bible study-assemblies. They eagerly share their faith verbally and tactfully, and study the Bible with other people. Many who can’t “go” themselves “become fellow-workers for the truth” (3 John 8) by supporting efforts to reach others, far and near. Behind it all is a passion for souls, a willingness to “by all means save some.” How about it? What means are you using to save some? 

by: Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN