Captives 2 Freedom

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

Today we are going to finish up the 2nd question asked of Paul involving:    

Our Christian Freedom or our Liberty:  chp.8-10.    

chp.8: Paul talked about our Christian Freedom as it pertains to things offered to idols:    

The problem this church had was meat that was offered and dedicated to idols.

He mentioned that Knowledge, Idols, & Food were nothing.      &     that Love was everything…   

And that we should put aside our liberties & freedoms so we don’t Stumble Others…

chp.9: Paul gave an illustration regarding his own Christian Freedom that he put aside.

Paul had the Right to be Support Monetarily, Physically, Financially but he didn’t. 

So Paul was a Great Example of how he set his freedoms aside to serve the Lord.

In chp.10: Paul gives another illustration regarding the Israelites who were a Bad Example because they handled their freedom inappropriately:

In Verses 1 through 4 Paul noted that God had freed the Israelites from bondage under Egypt, God...

Gave the Israelites Direction, protection, provision, and there was Identification - The Israelites identified w/ Moses & God.

In other words they were saved. And in spite of all that, the Israelites were a Bad Example because they misused their freedom.

In Vs. 5-13 we learned that Paul is communicating this bad example for us to learn from them, for us to learn that lesson.

Because in the process of them misusing their freedom they were disqualified - They did not make it to the Promised Land.

In Vs. 14-22 Paul deals w/ those who have a prideful attitude in thinking: They are Immune towards sin.

Just because you are saved & are free in Christ, doesn’t mean you are exempt from sin, we are not immune to sin.

So gives a Command: Flee Idolatry.

Because of the Fellowship it Represents - The same we have fellowship w/ God through communion so do those who have practice idolatry.

Because of the Demonic Influence it Has - The demonic realm is real!

Because of the Consequences it Brings - God is jealous and we shouldn’t make jealous a jealous God.

2. Current Study’s Overview

Here in verses 23-33 Paul goes from giving a command regarding idolatry to giving us a summary of our Freedoms in God. Read...

The Title of Today’s Message is: Captives 2 Freedom, an exhortation from the Apostle Paul.

Paul addresses two things regarding our Freedoms in God:

What We Can Do Vs. 23, 25-27 - They can partake, for this practice is permissible.

What We Should Do Vs. 24, 28-33 - Since some weaker Christians might be offended by certain actions, mature believers should

1. What We Can Do Vs. 23, 25-27

1.1 We Can Do All Things Vs. 23

This is similar to...

1 Corinthians 6:12 NKJV

12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Now, a common saying among the Corinthians was, all things are lawful - In other words, the Corinthians were doing whatever they wanted to do…

The Concept of Freedom - Is interesting because freedom could be an illusion.

If I were to tell you go! You are free to do whatever you desire, go!

The moment you head out to the world, you are faced with a plethora rules:

You can only drive when the light is green

Stop at the red light

stay in these lanes

go this fast

You want this? Well you need money...

Go play a game, ok, what are the rules to the game?

You see, within our freedom there are always rules & regulations.

APPLICATION: That is why I always laugh at people when they say, I don’t like Christianity because it just a bunch of rules - Ok, and the world doesn’t have rules?

You see, what the world perceives to be a lot of rules within Christianity - Us Christians perceives it to be wisdom, a good and wise way of living life - A way of life that protects.

You see, we have been freed by the Lord, not to sin… but from sin…                

Romans 6:6 NKJV

6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

John 8:36 NKJV

36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

APPLICATION: So here’s the questions for all of us: Are all things lawful, can I do whatever I want to do…   

The answer is Yes…  God’s given us a free will…

Often times people will ask Pastors can I do this or that and I usually say, sure you can - Go for it...

Because the question is not Can I…   but    Should I… we can do whatever we want but should we?

Turn w/ me to 1 Cor 6:12 because before we do anything…  say anything…  go anywhere…   we should ask ourselves 4 questions:

1. Is It Helpful Vs.12a - It’s the word profitable…  will it profit me spiritually… Will it help me grow closer to Christ?

2. Is It Addictive Vs.12b -   is it going to bring my under it’s power… it’s control… drugs, etc...

3. Is It Stumbling - Is what we are doing causing others to sin? Does it cause someone to fall spiritually? Does it encourage sin?

1 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.

If our actions stumble others it’s sin & it’s wrong…

now go back to ch. 10:23

4. Does It Edify - Is what we are doing cause us another to be built up and encouraged?

5. Is It Glorifying - Does it glorify the Lord?

But let’s hold on to that thought since we that is found in Vs. 31 and it will be our last point.

1.2 We Can Do All Things in Regards to What We Eat Vs. 25-27      

So Paul is saying, if you go buy meat don’t ask questions for conscience sake.

If an unbeliever invites you over to their house for dinner, don’t ask any questions for conscience sake.

Now, in Vs. 25-29 the word conscience is brought up 5 times.

Conscience Definition - It is the psychological faculty that distinguishes between right & wrong. It either afflicts or comforts the person depending upon their actions.

And everyone has a conscience, a sense of right and wrong, a moral compass.

And a good questions for us is this: Where does morality come from? Where does our conscience come from? Where does our knowledge of good and bad come from?

If you believe in evolution, you would say our sense of right and wrong comes from the surrounding people.

I would ask, ok, where did those people get their morality from? And so on...

If you keep going further back, according to evolution, it’ll take to monkeys. We got our morality form monkeys?

Of course not, our conscience, the ability to have the knowledge of right & wrong comes from God. In fact, God is good...

Mark 10:18 NKJV

18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

Psalm 34:8 NKJV

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 107:1 NKJV

1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

So God is the standard of what is Good.

And the further you are away from God, the further you stray away from what is good.

And the further you stray away from what is good, your perception of good becomes distorted - Your conscience becomes flawed.

Here, Paul is telling the Corinthians they are not required to ask the merchants or their unbelieving friends if the meat had been offered to idols.

No idol can contaminate what God has made, this why Paul quotes Psalm 24:1 there in Vs. 26 - Everything belongs to God...

But in the event of someone asking of the meat had been offered to an idol that would cause someone to think, ah maybe I don’t want to eat that lol.

2. What We Should Do Vs. 24, 28-33

2.1 Seek Other’s Well-being Vs.24

Turn back to chp. 8:9… 

Romans 14:21 NKJV

21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

exercising our freedom from God…   will Bring Glory to God…  when we’re concerned for the People of God… 

Romans 12:10 NKJV

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Ephesians 4:2 NKJV

2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Philippians 2:3 NKJV

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Philippians 2:4 NKJV

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

It’s always about putting others first…     &    when we do we’ll Bring Glory to God… 

Seek Other’s Well-being Even in What We Eat Vs. 28-29 - Conscience:  If someone says this meat was offered to idols… I’m not going to eat it because of my conscience.    Even though I understand,    Psl.24:1 that the Earth is the Lord’s and all it’s fullness… 

And I’m not going to Condemn them for eating it, lest I come across holier then thou…  I want to be sensitive to their conscience… 

And hopefully my actions of not eating it will cause them to ask me why don’t you eat it…   now the door is open for me to explain it to them…            &        tell them about Jesus…

We shouldn’t do anything that will cause others to judge our liberty… that Brings Glory to God.

Seek Other’s Well-being Even in What We Are Thankful For Vs.30 -  turn 1 Tim.4:4-5… because this idea of giving thanks for our food is important…

1 Timothy 4:4–5 NKJV

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Because often ask God to bless our food… & I understand that… however I like what Pastor Chuck used to say: some food we ask God to bless other foods we give thanks eat it & take our chances…  read.

Now if you forget to pray before you eat, it’s ok… Deut.8:10 after you have eaten & are full bless the Lord. 

Deuteronomy 8:10 NKJV

10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.

Seek Everyone’s Well-being Vs. 32-33a - Here Paul covers all the bases: Jews, God’s chosen people… Greeks, unbelievers… Church, believers… 

So the 2nd Purpose of our Freedom is not to Offend anyone…     at anytime…   regarding anything… 

2 Corinthians 6:3 NKJV

3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

1 Corinthians 8:13 NKJV

13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Romans 14:13 NKJV

13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

We all understand we’re not perfect & we will eventually mess up and cause someone to be offended…

But hopefully we’ll live our lives in such a way that for the most we won’t be an offense

Seek Everyone’s Well-being for Salvation Vs.33b - True, Paul lived in Corinth for 1 ½ years… serving, ministering, teaching, loving, correcting… 

But Paul understood that all of his Christian Liberties were not about his own wants or freedoms but to be exercised in light of Saving the Lost…

Everything Paul Did… Everything Pau Ate… Everything Paul Said… was done so people would get saved…

That’s why he could say in,  chp.11:1 imitate me just as I also imitate Christ…

Luke 19:10 NKJV

10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

John 3:17 NKJV

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

APPLICATION: Hopefully our lives are lived in such a way that our actions & words are done in light of the hope of others getting saved… 

2.2 Bring Glory to God Vs. 31

So the purpose of this great freedom we have because of Jesus Christ is to Bring Glory to God… 

Wherever we go…   Whatever we do…  Whatever we say…  should be looked at in light of this… 

Does it Bring Glory to God…

Now again, some things in life are neutral they’re not necessarily good or bad, but we all understand the point Paul’s making…        our Liberty is giving to us to Bring Glory to God…

1 Peter 4:11 NKJV

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV

20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 Pop off regarding us being New in Christ and having a new life that is True Freedom!

ENDING.................