The truth is, that when I preach the New Word, I give the New Word of Christ without charge, so that I don’t abuse my power in the New Word. And though I am free from everyone, still I have made myself worker to all, so that my reward will be greater.
On Self-Control
[20-27] And to the Jews I became like a Jew, that I might win over the Jews; to those who are bound by the Law, as though I were bound by the Law, that I might win those who are bound by the Law; And to those who are without law, as without law, (not being without law to God, but under the Law to Christ,) that I might win those who are without law.
To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak: I am made everything to everybody, so that I might in some way save some. And I do this for the New Word's sake, that I might be one who has taken part in it with you. Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but only one wins the prize? So run to win. And everyone that wants to win is paced in everything. Now they do it to get a prize that won’t last; but we work for an everlasting prize. I so run with a purpose; and I fight, not as one that only swings at the air: But I use self-control: in case in some way, after I’ve preached to others, I myself would be rejected.
Examples of Sin from the Old Testament
10 [1-13] Besides this, Christians, I wouldn’t want you to be ignorant of how all our ancestors walked under the cloud, and walked through the sea; And all of them were baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And all of them ate the same spiritual food; And all drank the same spiritual drink because they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But God wasn’t pleased with many of them because they died out in the countryside.
Now these were our examples, so that we wouldn’t want the evil things that they wanted. So don’t be like those who worship falsely, as were some of them; as the Word says, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to fool around. So don’t join in sexual sin, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand of them fell in one day. And don’t tempt Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. And don’t whisper complaints, as some of them did, and were killed by the one who destroys all.
Now all this happened to them for our example: and they’re written for our warning, on us who the end of the world now comes. So let those who thinks they stand be careful in case they fall. You will face no temptation but what is common to all humanity: but God is faithful, who won’t let you be tempted more than what you’re able to handle; but will make a way for you to escape along with the temptation, so that you will be able to handle it.
On False Worship
[14-24] So, my dear loved ones, stop worshiping falsely. I speak as to the wise; so judge what I say. Isn’t the communion of the blood of Christ the cup of blessing which we bless? Isn’t the communion of the body of Christ the bread which we break? And we being many are one bread, and one body, because we are all one who have taken part of that one bread. Look at Israel: aren’t those who eat of the sacrifices those who have taken part in the worship at the altar? What am I saying then? That something worshiped falsely is anything, or what is offered in sacrifice to statues is anything? But what I am saying is, that the things which the other peoples sacrifice, they sacrifice to evil spirits, and not to God: and I don’t want you to have anything to do with evil spirits.
You can’t drink the cup of Christ, and the cup of evil spirits: you can’t be one who has taken part in God's table, and in the table of evil spirits. Aren’t we provoking God to jealousy? Are we stronger than God? I have a right to do anything, but everything isn’t necessary: And though I have a right to do anything, everything isn’t for the best. Don’t look to your own good, but everyone should look for the good of one another.
