God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, April 15th, 2012
1 Corinthians 8:1-13[1]
Knowledge is good. There is a very good reason that I am continually encouraging us to read, study, listen to, and pray through the Word of God – these words are life! Knowledge of God's will is good. Ps 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Knowledge is good.
Freedom is good. God gave us To choose my own freedom out of sound knowledge is fine; it is good. There is so much legalism abounding today, with people adding to what God's Word says, etc., that I want to continually commend the freedom with have in Christ, church family. Gal 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Freedom is good.
Love is good. God is love. Christ loved us. We are to love one another. Love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Cor 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Love is good.
Knowledge is good. Freedom is good. Love is good.
In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul raises a serious question about these three things – how do I decide when freedom, knowledge, or love should be the trump card?
Let's read the text, humble ourselves in prayer, then let God's Spirit help us learn this truth from Paul's teaching today.
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."
5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"--
6 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 through whom we exist.
7 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.
8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 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?
11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
This is the second question Paul answers in this letter. 7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.", and now, "8:1 Now concerning food offered to idols:".
Here is what God begins to show us today in this passage, church family:
When love for our brothers and sisters is ignored for our knowledge and rights, knowledge is not enough. Love leads a Christian to lay down his rights.
Here was the setting in Corinth: Temples to idols often doubled as meat-markets and restaurants. Like furniture stores and funeral homes used to here. Sacrifices had spread from the Garden to many cultures - but to idols, not to Jehovah God out of faith. Some believers were very confident in their knowledge that idols didn't exist, so they were free in their minds to eat there. Knowledge and freedom.
First, let's see what it is that Paul about knowledge…
What we know...
"All of us possess knowledge". Knowledge puffs up. Arrogance. He said, "an idol has no real existence", and, "There is no God but one". Now Paul again incorporates some sarcasm here, but folks - These are good things to know! We have knowledge, that there are really no false gods, no idols – they don't exist. And God DOES exist: there is only one God, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. If you're confused about that because of the proliferation of religions in the world, let Paul set your mind at ease – there is only One God.
What we should know...
Not all possess this knowledge. Some who were idolaters will defile their conscience if they eat meat sacrificed to idols in a temple. You have the right to eat meat; food doesn't commend you to God.
Take care. Don't sin against Christ by causing a weaker brother to wound their conscience and stumble in their faith.
Command: Use Caution!
Take care that this 'right' of yours doesn't cause a weaker brother to stumble. Why? Because you sin against Christ when you sin against as weaker brother by causing them to re-engage in idolatry.
Therefore, Paul applies this inferred command to himself - "If food cause my brother to stumble [into idolatry], I will never eat meat, lest I cause him to stumble." What is so serious about causing a brother to stumble – shouldn't they just grow up?
Matt 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
It is serious because God loves these people, enough to give His Son for them.
Here was the dilemma - a brother with freedom and knowledge seen eating in an idol's temple by a brother with a background in idolatry and a weak conscience. Who should give, flex, or be willing to lay down their right? For us… Alcohol. Bars with restaurants. Music. Movies. Sports or other entertainment things that others might have had hugely ugly past experiences with.
Guiding principle we learn here is this: When love for our brothers and sisters is ignored for our knowledge and rights, knowledge is not enough. Love leads a Christian to lay down his rights. We exist through Jesus Christ and for God the Father. Let that ownership, purpose that we enjoy guide us; that and love for the body.
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
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