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In 1 Cor 9:19-27 we begin to discover both how hard Paul was willing to work to cross cultural barriers and identify with other people needing salvation as well as how far Paul was willing to go to do so.  Athletic training for a big event, like the Olympic Games, gives us a vivid picture of how hard Paul was willing to work to be all kinds of things to all kinds of people.  No doubt it was difficult to live as if he were under the law of Moses to win Jews and to live as if he were outside the law of Moses to win Gentiles.  But insofar as it was humanly and ethically possible to do so he would identify fully with the various cultures he encountered.  I say “humanly” because he could not change his gender or ethnicity or race.  And we will look at the ethical limitations in the verses that come after this passage.  We too should have so much passion and determination to see others saved that we will do almost whatever it takes to become one of them to be able to win some of them.  But our reward is far better than any prize in a race.

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