19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
V. 19 - “For though I am free from all men” - Paul is not beholden to any person on earth.
“I have made myself a slave to all’ - Still, Paul serves every man he meets. He tells of Christ and Him crucified.
V. 20 - “To the Jews I became as a Jew” - Paul was a Jew, and a Roman citizen. He did not abdicate from being a Jew when he believed and accepted Christ as Savior. As we read through Acts we see the first place Paul goes when he enters a new city is the synagogue. Being a Jew and a Pharisee he immediately relates and has a connection with the people in the synagogue. He is not a ‘stranger’. He is able to start with the Law - familiar ground for those in the synagogue - and explain how Jesus fulfills the Law and the Messianic prophecies.
V. 21 - “to those who are without law” - He was not stymied when speaking and teaching to Gentiles. God’s love and forgiveness is available to all.
“under the law of Christ” - No longer bound to the Law - as revealed in the Pentateuch - but committed to the ‘new’ law as revealed by Jesus Christ. The question was asked of Jesus: "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" Jesus said to him, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:36-40. See also - Deut. 6:5; Lev.19:18) This is the Law we are now ‘under’.
All of the apostles understood the ‘new’ Law - “Then he brought them outside and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.’ " (Acts 16:30-31) I think the jailer was more concerned for his physical life, for it was forfeit if prisoners escaped his custody. Paul elevates the answer to a new level of understanding. Note the ‘Law’ is never mentioned in this instance. Salvation was found in no one else. (See Acts 4:12)
All of the apostles understood their mission: “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.’ ” (Mark 16:15-16)
The apostles debated and came to the same conclusion, that it was faith, not obedience to the Law that saved. “After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are.’ " (Acts 15:7-11)
Paul was called to go to the Gentiles and spread the gospel, without encumbering them with Levitical law. Peter and the other leaders of the early church came to the same opinion - Salvation is in faith in Christ alone. “Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. For the scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9-13)
V. 22 - “I have become all things to all men” - This is not about being wishy-washy, spineless or go-with-the-flow, letting others determine what you believe. Paul wants to use the most effective approach to every person he meets in order to win all to Christ.
V. 23 - “I do all things for the sake of the gospel” - No half measures for Paul. Whatever it takes being led by the Holy Spirit to win souls to Christ.
“so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” - If Paul did not preach the gospel to everyone he meets, then he would be disobedient to his calling. Rather than standing for the gospel, he would be working against the gospel. But being in the gospel, sharing and teaching the gospel to all comers he is fully involved in the gospel. When Paul talks of being a “partaker” of the gospel, he is not discussing his personal salvation. He is taking part in preaching and teaching the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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