Sinners Made Saints: Our Liberty — All to the Glory of God

One more time we’re going to dive into topic of Christian liberty. When I outlined my preaching schedule of 1 Corinthians, I had not planned on preaching four sermons on the topic. Paul, however, gives me no choice in the matter. When the Apostle spends three entire chapters on the issue it must be pretty important. So it should be important to us.

In Paul’s day the issue of Christian liberty was should a Christian eat meat that had been offered to idols? Two thousand years later, the Church still finds itself divided over issues that come down to Christian liberty. In our day the issue of Christian liberty is should a Christian use alcoholic beverages? Is it wrong to enjoy a glass of wine at dinner or a bottle of beer at a ball game? There are others ...

Should Christians homeschool their children or send them to public schools?

Should Christians use social media?

Should Churches have Sunday School?

In the late 19th century, the Christian liberty issue facing Flat Creek Baptist Church — my first pastorate out of college — was, should a Christian play croquet on Sunday? The church by-laws said “no”, doing so was cause for dismissal.

Some of these seem like trivial issues, and it’s easy to roll our eyes and think What’s the rub, bub? For many believers, however, these are not side issues or unimportant issues, and so the Church must speak to the issue of Christian liberty from time-to-time.

I. WE REALLY DO HAVE LIBERTY

1. the Apostle writes

““All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12, ESV)

“”All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.” (1 Corinthians 10:23, ESV)

a. one of the implications of the gospel is the believer’s freedom in Christ

1) it was a regular part of Paul’s preaching everywhere he went, and was an issue close to his heart

a) after all, Paul had been by his own admission “a Pharisee among Pharisees” and he understood the spiritual slavery of the fence that they had erected around the Law

b) hundreds and hundreds of rules and regulations guided every aspect of his daily living ... from how many step he could take on the Sabbath to how to wash his hand correctly

2) in Christ, Paul had been set free from all of it

3) for Paul, Christian liberty means that those who come to God in faith no longer have to do so through an elaborate scheme of rituals, good works, and obedience to a plethora of religious rules and regulations, but by faith in Christ alone

ILLUS. Edward Mote encapsulated the gospel when he wrote ...

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Refrain:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

3) a simple act of faith expressed in the profession “ ... 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.” (Romans 10:9, ESV) is all that God requires for entrance into his kingdom

ILLUS. It’s a confession so profound that it can keep a theologian busy for the rest of his life. It’s a confession so simple that a child can understand it, and come into the kingdom

2. our freedom in Christ also has a second aspect to it, and is what Paul has been dealing with for three chapters now

a. Paul sets forth the principle that Christians are free to do whatever Scripture does not forbid as being morally wrong

1) some in the church at Corinth had seized Paul’s teaching on their freedom in Christ as a creed to live by

2) if anyone ever questioned their behavior their response was “all things are lawful for me”

ILLUS. In our day we find this theology among those believers who take God’s grace to an extreme. Their attitude is, “Hey, I’m saved by grace which means I can do anything I want, and still have forgiveness.”

b. the apostles response is, “Yeah, you’re technically correct. If you are truly in Christ there is no sin that we might commit which is not atoned for. But your attitude stinks, and some of you are using your freedom in Christ as an excuse for indulging the flesh”

3. the problem is that some of the strong brethren had become cavalier in their attitude toward the weaker brethren

a. Paul reveals this in 1 Corinthians 10:29-30

“ ... For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?” (1 Corinthians 10:29–30, ESV)

ILLUS. I’m thankful that I learned a lesson about this very early in my Christian walk. When I went off to college, I got actively involved in the Baptist Student Union. In my Sophomore year a bunch of us decided that, for those of us who stayed on campus over the weekends, a fun way to pass the time would be to have a weekly spades tournament on Friday evenings. For several months about a dozen of us would gather at the BSU to play cards, and fellowship. One Tuesday night at the weekly bible study, someone mentioned that a previously active member named Connie had not attended for some weeks. When the BSU director asked if anyone knew why, someone said, “It’s because some of you are playing cards on Friday night. Connie was brought up in a Christian home where card playing in considered sinful. Your card-playing has offended her.” For Connie, playing cards at the BSU was like playing poker in the church fellowship hall. It was just wrong.

Some of us who were part of the spades-playing group got a little indignant. Our attitude was like that expressed in 1 Corinthians 10:30, “If we participate in card-playing with thankfulness, why are we denounced because of that for which I give thanks?” (Now, honestly, I don’t know that any of us had really “expressed thanks” for the liberty of playing spades in the BSU. But that was our reasoning).

Thankfully more spiritually mature heads prevailed and I learned the principles that Paul lays down in his discourse on Christian liberty. We apologized to Connie, and she became active in the BSU again.

4. the apostle’s correction to the Corinthians errant attitude is found in 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 1 Corinthians 10:23

a. Christian liberty is real ... Our freedom in Christ is true ... All things not expressly prohibited by the Scriptures are lawful for us

b. however — and this is a big however — not everything I’m at liberty to do is helpful for my sanctification in Christ, especially if it proves addictive in some way

1) this is what the apostle means when he says I will not be dominated by anything

c. not everything I am at liberty to do edifies me, that is not everything builds us up in the faith

A. PAUL’S PRINCIPLES IN CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

1. Principle #1: You May Have Christian Liberty to Do Something, but If it Harms a Fellow Believer’s Conscience Don’t Do it (chapter 8)

a. the apostle calls for those who feel free to eat meat sacrificed to idols to put on a servant’s heart towards those who don’t posses the same freedom

1) this is exactly where Paul inserts the gospel

b. what would convince the proud Corinthians to deny themselves a freedom simply because someone else does not possess the same freedom?

1) answer: the cross of Jesus Christ — the cross makes our self-sacrifice on any issue make perfect sense

2. Principle #2: You May Have Christian Liberty to Do Something, but If it Harms your Christian Witness Don’t Do it (chapter 9)

a. although Christians are free to do whatever Scripture does not forbid as being morally wrong, if we love as God calls us to love, we will limit our liberty for the sake of weaker believers

1) in chapter 9 Paul illustrates this limitation from his own life and ministry

b. to keep from giving anyone in Corinth reason to think he was preaching for the money, he accepted no wages from those to whom he was ministering

3. Principle #3: You May Have Christian Liberty to Do Something, but If it Has Potential for Harming Us or Addicting Us Don’t Do It (chapter 10)

a. in chapter 10 illustrates how our use of freedom affects our own lives

1) in verses 1–13 Paul shows how misuse of liberty can disqualify us from effective service to Christ

b. Paul knew that idolatry was and is a real temptation

1) it takes many forms

2) he knew that it was necessary to use our liberty to “become all things to all men” for the sake of the gospel, but he also knew that this freedom could lead to temptation to return to old ways — old idols

c. so, he passionately commanded these beloved brothers to flee idolatry

4. Principle #4: You May Have Christian Liberty to Do Something, but If it Doesn’t Edify You or Your Christian Brother Don’t Do It

5. Principle #5: You May Have Christian Liberty to Do Something, but If it Doesn’t Bring Glory to God Don’t Do It

a. let those two sink in ... we’ll get back to it in a little bit

B. PAUL LIMITED HIS LIBERTIES WHEN NECESSARY

1. the issue Paul deals with in 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 is this: Are we bound to surrender our freedom of conscience to the conscience of any other person who may disagree with us?

a. are we really to concede our freedom on matters which God does not prohibit simply because another is offended?

b. should we limit our freedom every time someone has the slightest problem?

1) are their times when to do so is a compromise?

c. to whom should we be willing to surrender our freedom?

1) more specifically, who is this “weaker” brother Paul has in mind?

2) this last question is crucial in working through all these questions.

2. Paul is not talking about acquiescing to a fallen culture’s immoral whims

a. no where does Paul call for believers to change our beliefs or our convictions on issues simply because someone does not share it

1) the apostle is not asking us to submit our conscience to the conscience of every person who lands on the opposite side of a non-moral issue

2) he is asking us to use caution with our liberty when the moment calls for it

3. many assume – wrongly – that the “weaker” brother includes any Christian who disagrees with us or is offended by our freedom

a. but, this is not whom Paul has in mind when he refers to the weaker brother

4. Paul’s concern is very specific

a. the “weaker” brother is that individual who cannot handle the freedom of “eating meat” and not merely a person who disagrees with our position

b. quite literally, the weaker brother cannot disassociate his previous lifestyle in paganism from the practice of eating meat sacrificed to an idol

1) knowingly eating meat sacrificed to idols could lead him back into the idolatry of his previous life where eating meat was part of pagan ceremonialism

5. Paul’s point is clear — if we carelessly exercise our freedom in front of this kind of believer we could inadvertently lead them back into sin

a. in living so callously among the body of Christ we may actually “sin against our brother,” and possibly cause his ruination

b. this is wrong and recklessly inconsiderate

1) this leads Paul to say, “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” (1 Corinthians 8:13, ESV)

6. the greatest freedom we possess is the freedom to surrender our rights

a. love for the brethren always trumps our personal liberty

“Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1, ESV)

II. WE REALLY SHOULDN’T USE OUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY TO GIVE OFFENSE

“Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:32–33, ESV)

1. in the era of the “cancel culture” this is not an unimportant problem

ILLUS. We live in a society where any overt display of the Christian faith in the public sector can get you canceled. Fly the Christian flag in your front yard, put a Scripture verse on your computer’s screen saver at work, criticize or disparage the LGBTQ+ “sensitivity training” at your workplace, and others will attempt to silence, banish, or punish you. In our day, however, this "cancelling" goes beyond condemning offending behavior, or choosing not to support the person. It frequently extends to demands they be fired from their job, dissociated from their peers, silenced or banished from public view, and so forth. At times, modern cancel culture includes deliberately opening the offender up to stalking or physical violence, by highlighting or distributing personal information.

2. how do we fulfill 1 Corinthians 10:23?

A. WE SHOULDN’T KNOWINGLY OFFEND OTHERS WITH OUR BEHAVIOR

1. 1st, a spiritually mature Christian does not need to alter their convictions so as not to offend the conscience of a weaker brother

“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”” (1 Corinthians 10:25–26, ESV)

a. if you’re invited to dinner, don’t ask a lot of questions

“If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.” (1 Corinthians 10:27, ESV)

b. however, he does need to alter his behavior when in the weaker brother’s presence

“But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—” (1 Corinthians 10:28, ESV)

1) we are to modify our actions for the sake of others, but we are not to modify our convictions

2) the legalism of a weaker brother should not make us legalistic, only gracious

c. Paul has been equally clear that a believer who does not feel at ease with what another brother feels at liberty to do should not judge their brother

“Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4, ESV)

1) in other words, get over it and love your brother

ILLUS. Is it sinful for a dozen Baptist college students to play cards in the BSU on Friday night? We didn’t think so, but one young Christian woman did, and it offended her. In her mind the BSU was as spiritually sacred a place as her church. We could have asserted our Christian liberty and said, “It’s your problem. Deal with it.” Instead, we apologized for offending her spiritual sensibilities, and moved our card playing to a function room in the student union. And never told Connie. If she ever found out, she didn’t make a fuss about it.

2. 2nd, a spiritually mature Christian does not need to alter their convictions so as not to offend the conscience of a lost person

a. but he does need to consider how his behavior might affect his witness

b. in our cancel culture this may be a little harder and take some discernment

1) how do we relate to a fallen culture that finds everything about our faith offensive — especially the cross

c. Paul divides the whole world into three groups: Jews, Gentiles, and believers

1) some of these folks have differing beliefs

2) an example would be the Jewish abhorrence of pork

a) it would certainly give offense to invite a Jewish friend for dinner and serve him ham

3) a believer should love other people enough so that his actions will not offend them

III. WE REALLY SHOULD CONSIDER THE GREAT COMMANDMENT AS THE FINAL APPEAL TO OUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”” (Mark 12:30–31, ESV)

1. let’s circle back to points #4 and #5 of Paul’s Principles of Christian Liberty

2. Principle #4: You May Have Christian Liberty to Do Something, but If it Doesn’t Edify You or Your Christian Brother Don’t Do It

a. our Christian liberty is to be regulated by love for others

1) activities that are not beneficial or constructive or that do not promote the good of others should be avoided

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” (1 Corinthians 10:24, ESV)

b. the ‘seeking of one’s own denotes the selfish attempt to make one’s own enjoyment, one’s own liberty, one’s own rights the sole paramount consideration, regardless of the good of others; and this falls under an absolute prohibition as being a violation of the great law of love

c. seeking the interests of someone else is not easy

1) by nature we are inclined to look after our own interests first, and afterward, if time and resources permit, we think of others

ILLUS. Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan to remind us otherwise.

2) the word edify in vs. 23 means is “to build a house”

a) Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians is this, “Look. If your freedom in Christ is not building up the house of God, you’re probably abusing your freedom. You’re certainly not acting like Christ”

3. Principle #5: You May Have Christian Liberty to Do Something, but If it Doesn’t Bring Glory to God Don’t Do It

a. here is the bottom line when it comes to our Christian liberty ...

b. let self be forgotten

1) let your eye be fixed on God

2) let the promotion of His glory be your object in all ye do

3) strive in every thing to act in such a way that men may praise that God whom you profess to serve

Martin Luther summed up Christian liberty this way: "A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one." Because the Gospel transforms our hearts to please the Lord, and not ourselves, our actions should follow. Thus, we should be willing to limit our liberty for God’s glory and the spiritual edification of others.

Related Media

Related Sermons