Legalism & License. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Transcription

1 Legalism & License 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

2 Answers to Questions from Corinth Now concerning the matters about which you wrote (7:1) Abstinence (7:1), Marriage (7:2), Singleness (7:8), Remarriage (7:9), Divorce (7:10) Food sacrificed to idols (8:1 11:1) Spiritual gifts (12:1) The collection of offerings (16:1) An upcoming visit from Apollos (16:12) Instruction on... Head coverings (11:2) Conduct at Lord s table (11:17) The Resurrection (15:1)

3 1 Corinthians 8:1-4 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that all of us possess knowledge. This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that

4 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one. For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth as indeed there are many gods and many lords yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and

5 1 Corinthians 8:6-9 through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours

6 1 Corinthians 8:9-12 does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your

7 1 Corinthians 8:12-13 brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (ESV)

8 Issue Now concerning food offered to idols (8:1)

9 A difficult Issue In this pagan culture, meat was routinely sacrificed to idols. Part of the animal was burnt as the offering, part was given to the pagan priest, and part was sold at the market place.

10 A difficult Issue In this pagan culture, meat was routinely sacrificed to idols. Part of the animal was burnt as the offering, part was given to the pagan priest, and part was sold at the market place. The various social events often took place in the temple halls and nearly all social events served idol meat.

11 It is Okay to Eat Idol Meat We know the idol has no real existence We know their gods are not real We know there is no God but one We know food is not an issue with God

12 It is NOT Okay to Eat Idol Meat The food brought back memories of their pagan lives. It gave the false impression that they had returned to paganism. It might even suggest that worshipping pagan gods was acceptable. It could cause someone to stumble.

13 We know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one. (8:4)

14 1 Corinthians 8:6 There is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (ESV)

15 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 We know that all of us possess knowledge. This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. (ESV)

16 - But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (8:7)

17 1 Corinthians 8:9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (ESV)

18 motto Where Scripture speaks we speak, where Scripture is silent we are silent.

19 Guard Rails We are talking about those things which are not inherently good or bad.

20 Guard Rails We are talking about those things which are not inherently good or bad. We are not talking about limiting ourselves in every area simply because someone might object. We are talking about issues where someone could backslide into an area that is potentially harmful, hurtful, or where we could cause someone to stumble.

21 Guard Rails We are talking about those things which are not inherently good or bad. We are not talking about limiting ourselves in every area simply because someone might object. We are talking about issues where someone could backslide into an area that is potentially harmful, hurtful, or where we could cause someone to stumble. We should never ask, how far can I go in my freedom? We should ask, what are my motives?

22 Timeless Principles What is safe for one Christian, may not be safe for another Christian. True discernment is not just about truth, true discernment always requires love. Christians have no right to demand certain freedoms if they are detrimental to those around them.

23 Biblical Truth Christian freedom is abused when it causes another to sin. When it causes one to go against his conscience (10) When it causes one to go back to a previous lifestyle (11) When we sin against a brother in Christ (12)

24 1 Corinthians 8:13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (ESV)

25 Legalism & License My Christian brothers are not strangers, but brothers & sisters in the Lord. Because of our relationship through Christ, I will do nothing intentionally to compromise my witness, destroy their relationship to God, or deface the church.