A FACT FINDER OR AN ABUSER?

A CAREFUL STUDY OF THIS ISSUE DESCRIBING WHO OUR BRAND NEW APOSTLE WAS IN RELATION TO TEMPLE-THING ISSUE  AS A CONTINUING PRACTICE IN OUR MODERN-DAY CHRISTENDOM  

By: Albert B. Gran


1 Corinthians 9

1Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.


Let’s be steadfast in holding the pure presentation of grace doctrine in view of questioning the authority that we hold unto for the continuing propagation of the alternative grace teaching to combat the traditional doctrines called for obedience based upon the principles of law contrast to the principle of grace whereby every believer was called to stand firmly amidst the traditional walk being viewed as a matter of walking in the flesh as not anymore in the Spirit. Let everyone assert the truth for purity in doctrine as Paul our very own apostle instructed us to teach no other doctrine.


1 Timothy 1:3

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they TEACH NO OTHER DOCTRINE, 


While this stress simply called for purity in grace doctrine through Pauline approach Satan’s wiles contravene the pureness of Paul’s doctrine by mixing up doctrines in the Bible assuming accurateness by simply Scriptural even if not dispensational. Rightly dividing falls in the application of the latter while to be Scriptural was the majorities’ basis of having a foundational standpoint. 
The first two verses, particularly verses 1 and 2 introduced Paul’s counter statements on the alleged question arose from the outsiders or even one from among the church at Corinth regarding the veracity of his apostleship, freedom, divine commission and fruit of his service.

Those who put lighter significance to the heavenly commission of Paul especially when not recognized the special revelation given by God for us through him today has actions showing corruption by mixing doctrines, putting emphasis to other doctrines contrary to us aside from the essence of God’s saving grace in walk and practice which he already nailed at the cross of calvary (Col. 2:14). 

In this chapter Paul explains clearly his ministerial purpose and objective to preach the gospel as free of charge without charging anyone (1 Cor. 9:18) for he himself receive the dispensation of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:17) pertinent to our walk and practice apart from dispute and argument. 

It certifies our avid trust to the sole giver of this message involving whole body of truth in the dispensation of the gospel exclusively given to Paul under this dispensation of grace with purity presentation apart from mixing other doctrines in time past economy may it spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets in the Old Testament and 12 apostles. 

3. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,


It’s important to consider that many believers, Bible teachers and scholars even question Paul’s apostleship signifying the issues presented in his introduction. Let’s consider how Paul confronted these issues. 
Power of eating and drinking issue:


4. Have we not power to eat and to drink?


The traditionalist believer also must consider this eating and drinking authority if they themselves took so much authority in their denomination and Jewish religious observance concerning the monetry support, temple or altar, and tithes issues way back in the Old Testament times.
Power of leading an earthly kingdom law abider people in this recent Body of Christ Program issue:
5.Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, 
and Cephas?


This is a considerable issue based from this statement of the apostle Paul explaining his power to lead even the kingdom saints or apostle in this recent program whereby God called him as truth bearer for this dispensation of grace. This is his considerable statement suffice to determine our pure standpoint to rely in this current message of grace given to the apostle Paul. In this connection, if a grace believer have had this perfect or mature understanding of grace doctrine which is the power to lead a sister, a wife, even other ministers (or even today’s modern Pastors) who are hoping in the earthly kingdom same as such those characters mentioned atop as among kingdom apostles and saints. Paul have the power to lead them in this mystery truth or information unrevealed in time past.

Ministers Power to prevent from labor and eat the sources in the temple as also in accord to the law issue: 


6. Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7. Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8. Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

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?


10. Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

I would like to clearly put emphasis this idea whereby the traditionalist religious ministers through governing principle abreast much this power about temple-thing or altar issue. This is their noted obvious stronghold of upholding issues about temple principle considering that it was taught and applied by Paul during his time. This overused authority refrain our modern-day Christian ministers to the extreme by not allowing them to work and labour with their own hands except flow to the mainstream and exclusivity of a Pastoral work for living and  survival. In such case it's a means to walk by sight and not by faith. Let’s see if their profound religious doctrine not holds water based from Paul’s judgment concerning this temple issue. For everybody’s information temple issue has conclusive idea whereby the modern-day religious ministers obliged anyone to support them as a church norm or standard in accordance to Biblical principle. This lawful scheme exhibit  falsity to objectively refrain them from being in touched by the world's affairs of livelihood activities (as secular employment or paid up job skills) for doing so was an attempt to worldliness and a hindrance to serve the Lord. This is the fact of the entire perspective that the traditionalists viewed much in the context of their ministering or pastoring principle. 

Paul was right when he said he has the power to forbear working and will do that which was in accordance to that power to reap the carnal things or things of the temple for such was also applied under the law. Prior to this verse 7, Paul clearly emphasized different examples of the field of works relative to infantry, farming, livestock, etc. where any traditional minister can be refrained if he has to do the Lord’s work.

They insisted to tell us today that even Paul himself stressed much this issue and that truly it was in conformity with God’s will. Paul has this phrase, “HAVE WE NOT POWER so on and so forth…..”, that's what they exclaimed.

The gainsayers indeed are rejoicing for this power. They’re hungry for this power to be exercised in their churches and undermining man’s role most especially to the heads of the family including including religious leaders themselves to provide the needs of their own house and eat their own bread so they will not be chargeable of eating other man’s bread. 

Clearly these gainsayers stressed a lot in  verse 9 as a continuing premise of the exercised power in accordance to the law. No one questioning this very sense for that was a verifiable statement regarding the power to forbear working and only rely from the sustenance or income in the temple.

This issue has been an existing issue whereby some legalists questioned first the authority of Paul’s apostleship including the issue of his followers and his authority whether or not he has the power to govern the things in the temple or reap the carnal things as they sow the spiritual things. Thus he affirmed by this question in the introductory part of verse 12 as it states: 
(12.a) If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? 


This is but the more excessive stress where traditionalists fight for their utmost privilege in response to Paul’s answer who question his authority governing temple things issue. However, there was a big “BUT” with their claims for they never consider this ministerial governing principle involved in matters of leadership, local church management, and most importantly Paul’s mode of settlement to answer those alleged accusation when they questioned Paul’s authority or power regarding the temple thing issue. This separate statement as the other half of the verse clearly shows Paul’s verdict and that with all pureness of mind shall be our judgment also when we serve the Lord doing for his service without being a burden and burdensome to our fellow saints in the Body of Christ. Consider this personal declaration of Paul as an approach of grace and not after the law. 

PAUL’S RESPONSE TO THE SUPPOSED TEMPLE THING POWER AS NOT HIS POWER AT ALL.


(12.b) NEVERTHELESS WE HAVE NOT USED THIS POWER; BUT SUFFER ALL THINGS, LEST WE SHOULD HINDER THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.




This is the most neglected statement of Paul which they must consider and apply in their ministries. The point is this: THOUGH PAUL HAVE POWER BUT IT APPEARS THAT HE HAS NO POWER AT ALL FOR THE GOSPEL’S SAKE. What wonderful manifestation of an exemplary servant of God who has a spirit-filled ministerial disposition void of negative thoughts and false impressions.

Contrarily, the continued licentiousness governing temple-thing issue was the major focus of the traditionalists and or gainsayers ,and the best example for that is the crave to apply the tenth giving as a fixed amount of giving aside from the available goods in the temple. This is an example of a Levithical tithe as it has been also taught under the law.


I wished you gleaned insights from hinges of true servant responsibility ascribed to those who were worthy of God's grace by applying the principle of grace.




Grace and Peace to you!