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LAST WEEK
LAST WEEK
We finished Chapter 7
We looked at the value of the Christian, both single and married.
We were reminded of how much God loves us and desires for us to take our calling seriously
Whether we are single or married
God has something special for us in today’s season.
THIS WEEK
THIS WEEK
We are going to look at a very touchy subject.
A subject that sometimes uncovers poor motives
A topic that sometimes people avoid because they are afraid of conflict.
PREFACE
PREFACE
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF A COUPLE THINGS:
I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME AND GONE.
There is a reason they left
Maybe I was too gracious
Maybe I was too fundamental for their liking.
Maybe I ________________________.
How did the conversation go?
What made them decide not to come back?
Was it something I said?
Something I did?
One thing I have realized is that you can have all things in place
A Great Children’s Ministry . . . which we have
A Great Worship Ministry . . . which we have
A Great Hospitality Table . . . which we have
The Teaching is alright.
And people will still
Can you think of a thing that you do that other Christians may look down upon?
I WANT YOU TO CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR A SECOND.
What you eat?
What you drink?
IM GOING TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS AND I WANT YOU TO ANSWER THEM TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE
What you listen to?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IS TRUE?
What you wear?
DO YOU KNOW THAT THE BIBLE DECLARES THAT WE HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD?
Where you go to have fun?
How you spend your money?
DO YOU KNOW THAT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE CALLS US HIS CHILDREN?
What translation you read?
HAS ADOPTED US INTO THIS HOLY FAMILY
DO YOU KNOW THAT THOSE OF US WHO HAVE DECIDED TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST HAVE A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE
What social causes you support?
TO REPRESENT HIM TO ALL PEOPLE
How you vote?
TO BE AN AMBASSADOR OF HIS LOVE AND MESSAGE
DID I LEAVE ANYONE OUT?
FRIENDS, GOD HAS CHOSEN TO WORK THROUGH PEOPLE NOT INDEPENDENT OF THEM
WE LOVE TO JUDGE
HE HAS CHOSEN TO CONTINUE HIS LEGACY THROUGH PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM
WE LOVE TO COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHERS
THOSE WHO KNOW HIM, LOVE HIM AND FOLLOW HIM
THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW HIM, MUST DENY THEMSELVES, PICK UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM.
THE QUESTION IS
HOW SERIOUS ARE WE ABOUT THIS JESUS GUY?
HOW SERIOUS ARE WE ABOUT HIS BUSINESS?
OK, LET’S LOOK AT THIS WEEKS TEXT AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH 1ST CORINTHIANS.
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
PRAY
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
:1
THE CORINTHIAN CULTURE LOVED TO WORSHIP
THEY HAD GOD’S FOR EVERYTHING
AS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, THEY STRUGGLED WITH THE PRESSURES OF THEIR OWN CULTURE, LET ALONE THE PRESSURE FROM THE JEWISH BELIEVERS.
AS PAUL SOUGHT TO PRESENT THE CHRISTIAN WORLD VIEW TO THESE NEW BELIEVERS
HE HAD TO HIT THESE CONTROVERSIAL POINTS WITH A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
“NOW CONCERNING THINGS OFFERED TO IDOLS”
WHAT IS PAUL TALKING ABOUT?
How many of you love a good Carniceria?
Where the meat is always fresh
Steaks have visible marbling
They even have fresh chicharrones for you to sample
In Corinth
This place was known as the Temple
Not the temple where Jews worshipped,
But the temple where pagans worshipped
They had the best meat
The y had the most meat
Corinthians were used to getting their meat from there
They didn’t care that the priest would sacrifice it to idols before cutting it up
They actually saw the purchase of this meat as a form of worship
CONCERNING THESE THINGS, PAUL SAYS “WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE”
Imagine this:
Think about a restaurant you love
You love the food
You love the service
You knew the owner
You even left yelp reviews because you support them so much.
What if you found out that their spiritual life wasn’t the same as yours.
Maybe they tithed
But they tithed in the secular manner
Supporting companies and initiatives that you don’t align with.
Supporting causes that your God isn’t cool with
What would you do?
CONCERNING THESE THINGS, PAUL SAYS “WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE”
WE ALL KNOW WHATS UP
WE ALL KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING
DON’T JUST IGNORE THE ISSUE AND CREATE A NAIVETY THAT PRODUCES COMPROMISE.
USE WHAT YOU KNOW
WE MUST LET LOVE BE OUR MOTIVE
FOR KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP BUT LOVE EDIFIES
He is being a little fecisious here
“We all have knowledge” was a common saying amongst elite Christians
Christians who felt unaccountable to the greater body because of their knowledge and status
They thought they had the answers to all the questions
They thought their way was better
They believed their opinions mattered most
They were unteachable.
ALL IN THE NAME OF LEGALISM AND HYPER HOLY LIVING
PAUL KNEW THAT CORRECTING THE IDOL ISSUE WOULD BE GOOD, BUT CORRECTING THE HEART ISSUE WOULD BE BEST
PAUL KNOWS THAT THIS ISN’T REALLY ABOUT FOOD
IT WAS SOMETHING DEEPER
THESE CHRISTIAN ELITIST HAD LOST THEIR WAY.
They forgot what Paul had said to the Romans
“Their is none good no not one”
They forgot what Solommon said in
20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good
And does not sin.
FRIENDS, PAUL IS PRESENTING A BETTER OPTION IN VERSE 3
HE SAY’S IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, BUT THE REALITY THAT YOU ARE KNOWN
“IF YOU LOVE GOD, YOU ARE KNOWN BY GOD”
WITH THIS SAID, LET’S LOOK AT THIS SUBJECT OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
1 COR 8:4-
CONCERNING EATING FOOD SACRIFICED TO IDOLS, PAUL WANTS US TO KNOW ONE THING
BUT I WANT TO PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE
HE REMINDS US OF WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DEALING WITH:
CONCERNING EATING FOOD SACRIFICED TO IDOLS, PAUL WANTS US TO KNOW ONE THING
WHAT IS AN IDOL?
COMPARED TO JESUS
COMPARED THE LORD
AN IDOL IS NOTHING.
THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BUT THE ONE WE SERVE.
SO WHY ARE WE STRESSING OUT?
WHY ARE WE SO WORRIED ABOUT GOING TO AN INDIAN RESTAURANT AND SEEING ALL OF THEIR LITTLE STATUES?
WHY ARE WE SO PHASED BY A BUDDAH AT A CHINESE RESTAURANT?
OR JESUS’ MOM AT A BOMB MEXICAN RESTAURANT?
CHECK OUT WHAT PAUL SAYS
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
EVEN IF THEY WERE SO CALLED GODS
THEY AIN’T THE LORD GOD
FOR US, THERE IS ONE GOD
THE FATHER
OF WHOM ARE ALL THINGS AND WE FOR HIM
ONE LORD JESUS
THROUGH WHOM ARE ALL THINGS
THROUGH WHOM WE LIVE
CHURCH
IT AIN’T EVEN FAIR
TO COMPARE THE WORLDLY IDOLS TO THE GOD OF THE BIBLE
THEY AIN’T EVEN ON HIS LEVEL
FOR THERE IS NO ONE LIKE HIM
THERE IS NONE COMPARABLE TO HIM
BEFORE WE START WORRYING ABOUT THE FOOD SACRIFICED TO IDOLS, MAYBE WE SHOULD REMIND OURSELVES THAT GOD CREATED THE ANIMALS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND ALL OF CREATION WILL SING HIS PRAISES
BUT PAUL DIGRESSES
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
PAUL BEGINS TO TRANSITION TO HIS SECOND POINT
THE REALITY IS THAT WITHIN THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH
THERE WERE WEAK CHRISTIANS AND STRONG CHRISTIANS
CHRISTIANS THAT WOULD BE EFFECTED BY EATING MEAT FROM THE TEMPLE
AND CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD BE UNPHASED BY THIS MEAT, FOR THEY KNEW THAT GOD WAS GREATER THAN THOSE SO CALLED IDOLS.
TO SETTLE THE CROWD PAUL SAYS
WHAT WE EAT DOES NOT COMMEND US TO GOD
IF WE EAT THE MEAT FROM THE TEMPLE, WE ARE NOT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE
IF WE ABSTAIN, WE ARE NOT WORSE THAN ANYONE ELSE.
THEN WHAT IS THE POINT?
AGAIN, THIS ISN’T ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO
IT IS DEEPER THAN THAT.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
1 COR 8:9
FRIENDS REMEMBER HOW WE BEGUN THIS SERMON?
REMEMBERING OUR WORTH IN CHRIST
REMEMBERING HOW VALUABLE OUR TESTIMONY IS
AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD
1 COR 8:
AS THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS
WE MUST BEWARE
WE MUST BE ON WATCH
AS MY MOM WOULD SAY “PONTE TRUCHA”
FOR WHAT?
THAT YOUR LIBERTY MAY BECOME A STUMBLING BLOCK TO THOSE WHO ARE WEAK
THIS COMMAND CREATES TENSION
FOR THE WEAK CHRISTIAN, THE TENSION IS IN TRYING TO EXPEDITE MATURITY
THEY WANT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY TOO WILL BE STRONG
BUT WHAT THEY DON’T REALIZE IS THAT MATURITY CAN’T BE FORCED.
FOR THE STRONG CHRISTIAN, THE TENSION IS IN DENYING ONESELF FOR THE SAKE OF THE LEGACY OF CHRIST.
SAKE OF THE LEGACY OF CHRIST.
THE TENSION HERE IS IN THE QUESTION:
“WHY DO I HAVE TO SUFFER FOR THE WEAK ONES?”
“WHY DO I HAVE TO CHANGE MY LIFESTYLE?”
“COME ONE PASTOR, ME ABSTAINING FROM ALCOHOL ISN’T GOING TO HELP SOMEONE COME TO JESUS?”
YOU ARE RIGHT
IT MAY NOT
BUT IT WILL HELP ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE WEAK TO STAY IN BONDAGE TO THE SAME INGREDIENT YOU CALL LIBERTY.
FRIENDS, WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE GOSPEL
SHOULD SHAPE OUR PRACTICE
SHOULD IMPACT OUR LIFESTYLE
WHY?
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING
OUR KIDS ARE WATCHING
THEY WON’T DO WHAT WE SAY
BUT THEY WILL DO WHAT WE DO.
AS PARENTS WE ARE LEAVING A LEGACY.
AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
WE ARE LEAVING A LEGACY.
12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.