1 Corinthians 9 Gives Us Some Answers to Acts 21:26

1 Corinthians 9 Gives Us Some Answers to Acts 21:26

St Paul participates in Purification Ceremony in The Temple @ Jerusalem

Acts 21:26 GNT

So Paul took the men and the next day performed the ceremony of purification with them. Then he went into the Temple and gave notice of how many days it would be until the end of the period of purification, when a sacrifice would be offered for each one of them. 
 

Many Christians are criticizing St Paul just like the Pharisees and Sadducees did. They were upset that St Paul took company with the Gentiles. They wanted to deny St Paul his heritage as a Jew. As do many modern Christians deny the writings of Paul. Many say, “How could Paul who speaks so boldly against the Jewish Law, be will to participate in it?” Here we have St Paul participating in a purification ceremony. What could he possible be thinking?

Let's take a look at 1 Corinthians 9:19-27. This may give us some clues to the mindset of St Paul.

1 Cor 9:19-27

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And 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, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 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.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

After looking at that passage we can see how determined St Paul was to reach out to both the Jews and the Gentiles. We can see that Paul considers himself all things to all men. Why? To save some. From what? Eternal Death. Paul wishes that all men to hear the message of the Gospel.

We can see how determined St Paul is. In the first part of 1 Cor 9 Paul writes about who he is as if to answer his accusers. He writes about the rewards and blessings he is entitled too but does not claim as his reward. He claims the reward in others hearing the Gospel and reaching salvation. And that he should be a participant in this reward as the oxen plows the field and should be able to eat some of the food., as stated in verse 9, “For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?”

Yet as hard as St Paul works and preaches the word he still fears that he may become an outcast. An outcast of what? The Kingdom of God, what else. He seeks the incorruptible crown as opposed to the corruptible crown made of laurels that are won in a race. By participating in the salvation of others he prays and hopes for his own salvation.

This episode of the purification ceremony takes the rest of the book of Acts to find the outcome. However, it was all in Gods plan to bring Paul to Rome and to clear his name. I we take the time to read what Paul says in defense of himself, you will find some pretty heavy answers. Just take a look.

Acts 24:14

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Jesus never abolished the law or the words of the Prophets as stated in Matt 5:17, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Here we see an answer from St Paul to King Agrippa in in his own defense.

Acts 26:19-20

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

We see here that Paul certainly includes words for repentance and this is taken directly out of the King James Version of the Bible. So the Gentiles are not to be void of works, but are not bound by the works of the Law.

Again we see the commitment of St Paul to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Acts 28:28

28Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

Acts 14:2
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Here we see how St Paul thought it necessary that he undergo a tribulation or suffering process in order just to enter the Kingdom of God.

Philippians 2:11-13
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Here we see how we need to work on our salvation, we need to take this process seriously.

2 Thessalonians 1:5

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Ephesians 5:5

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Galatians 5:21

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

We see that many Protestants will say that works don't matter when it comes to Salvation, however, will point the finger at fellow Protestants and/or Catholics for works that are supposedly not in the Bible.

If works don't matter than why even be concerned with them? Protestants then explain this by stating the the Faith was not authentic in the first place and use the bad fruit as evidence. By even admitting this fact is a confirmation on the role works plays in salvation.

I Love my Protestant Brothers, but it apparent to me that Salvation by Faith Alone and the Once Saved Always Saved Doctrine is Man Made Tradition and not authentic Bible Teaching.

Jesus is very clear in the Gospels. As he said in John 5:28-29,” Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

This verse also indicate that Salvation is even possible after death. But I won't get into that right now as it is off subject.

Although we may disagree on the role Good Fruits plays in Salvation. Let's agree on two things. 1.That those of Good Faith will need to serve others and perform Good Works in order to save some. Just like St Paul, be All Things To All. 2. That through the Grace and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ all men are redeemed. Amen and God Bless You!