Puffed Up or Built Up

A Mature Believer approaches controversial matters with wisdom and love.

A bounce house is no place to build a permanent dwelling.

Intro - The Issue

The issue for the Corinthians touched on the idolatrous nature of Corinth and the greater Greek culture.

Rich people would often invite their friends to feasts in party rooms of the temple to their favorite false god. They would also invite those dependent upon them. This created questions: If you went, were you participating in idolatry?

Love Walks in Humility (1-3)

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up!

1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary A. Knowledge about Idols (8:1–6)

Knowledge is proud that it has learnt so much. Wisdom is humble that it knows no more - William Kay

“Some Christians grow; others just swell” Warren Wiersbe

Love considers others, not just personal freedom. Galatians 5:13–14 “13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””

The most important thing is not our knowledge, but whether God know us!

If our head is filled, but our heart isn’t changed then our knowledge is ineffective.

We need to be in relationship with the living God!

Love Worships in Truth (4-6)

The truth is that there are NO other gods besides one true God.

All things are made by Him and for Him.

Psalm 104:24–31 NASB95

24 O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions. 25 There is the sea, great and broad, In which are swarms without number, Animals both small and great. 26 There the ships move along, And Leviathan, which You have formed to sport in it. 27 They all wait for You To give them their food in due season. 28 You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good. 29 You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their spirit, they expire And return to their dust. 30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground. 31 Let the glory of the Lord endure forever; Let the Lord be glad in His works;

There is one Lord - Jesus Christ. All things were created through Him and our life is because of Him! John 1:3–4 “3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

Paul later says, that though an idol is nothing, it is associated with demonic spirits 1 Corinthians 10:20 “20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.”

Love Considers the Weak (7-13)

The conclusion of this matter is that Christian liberty is to be exercised balanced by love for weaker Christians. Paul goes so far as to limit his freedom in Christ to eat meat, if it will cause another brother to stumble into sin.

Galatians 6:2 “2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”