Seek Love in Christian Liberty
Notes
Transcript
Hyperherbivores not only avoid all meat and animal products, but also want to force their personal opinions on everybody they meet. They believe it is morally wrong for anybody to eat meat. They are not that common but what about those who judge us for drinking champagne at a New Year’s Eve party? Trick-or-treating at Halloween? Going toa movie or dancing?
In Corinth, they fretted about the appropriateness of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Corinth was one of many centers of idol worship in the ancient world. As a part of this worship, animal sacrifices were brought. There was only a part of the animal that was burned—usually the legs, fat, and the internal organs. Leftovers, which were usually the best pieces of meat, were often consumed among the participants at a festive meal in the temple, taken home to enjoy in private, or sold in public marketplaces.
One commentator explains this knotty dilemma:
Commentary on St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians, Vol. I VI. The Use of Meats Offered to Idols, and Participation in the Sacrificial Feasts (Chaps. 8–10)
The believers of Corinth and the other Greek cities found themselves in a difficult position in regard to the heathen society around them. On the one hand, they could not absolutely give up their family and friendly relations; the interests of the gospel did not allow them to do so. On the other hand, these relations where full of temptations and might easily draw them into unfaithfulnesses, which would make them the scandal of the Church and the derision of the heathen.
Three layers to the problem:
Showing up at the temple to eat a fellowship meal in honor of the pagan god/idol.
Purchasing this sacrificed meat at the marketplace to eat at home.
Invited to a friend’s house where he offers meat sacrificed to an idol.
1. The Contrast between Knowledge and Love, vs. 1-3.
1. The Contrast between Knowledge and Love, vs. 1-3.
Paul begins this section by appealing to the believer’s liberty in Christ. This principle Paul referred to in 1 Corinthians 6:12 The first part of verse 1 probably represents another Corinthian slogan: “We all have (possess) knowledge.”
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
“Knowledge translates the Greek word gnosis which must be interpreted here as in chapters 1-4 to refer to prideful human religious speculation. Those who were “elitist” (not necessarily “stronger”) understood the freedom, or liberty, that believers have in Christ.
The abuse of that knowledge led some to arrogance rather than loving toward others. Their pride caused them to abuse their freedom, overstepping the bounds of wisdom and holiness into the mire of careless sin and folly.
“Arrogant” translates the Greek word phusioo, which carries the idea of inflating, of blowing up like a bellows. The contrast to knowledge is love, which “edifies,” translating the Greek word oikodomeo, which carries the idea of “to build up (like a house)” Another way of saying this might be that “knowledge blows up, but love builds up.”
Knowledge is a God-given window into reality through which we can view life, but it must be controlled by edifying love. If not, it can become a dangerous weapon of destruction rather than construction, building up. Our belonging and status before God is affirmed not by knowledge but through the love of God. Paul here argues for a love for God that manifests itself in a love for others (8:9); our love manifests that we are known by God! (8:3)
2. Incomplete knowledge in relation to “gods” and “lords,” vss. 4-6.
2. Incomplete knowledge in relation to “gods” and “lords,” vss. 4-6.
Paul brings this principle to bear on the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols. The elitist shared the knowledge of the one true God through their faith in Jesus Christ. They would also know that idols are mere human creations, man-made relics of a depraved religious system. Therefore, they would surmise that eating meat that has been sacrificed to a piece of carved wood or molded silver is really inconsequential.
In verse 5, Paul emphasizes that monotheism is true, but the elitist have gone so far as denying the spiritual realities involved with idolatry and eating of food offered to idols. Their knowledge is incomplete. Paul affirms that there are many “gods” and many “lords,” these are spiritual entities opposing God, 1 Cor. 10:14-22
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say.
Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.
Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?
What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
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.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?
“Certainly for us” believers there is one God, the Father, “from whom are all things,” and one Lord, Jesus Christ, “by whom are all things.” These are two Persons of the one true God. Paul simply states the Son’s equality with the Father within the triune Godhead. The difference is the Father is the source (“from whom”) and goal (“for Him”) for all things that exist; the Lord is the agent (“by whom”) and (“through Him”) all things exist.
Our worldview as believers should drive out the superstitions that surround us. A believer who chooses to eat meat sacrificed to a piece of carved wood or molded silver is really inconsequential, because there is one God, not many.
3. Unloving knowledge and eating idol food in an idol temple. vss. 7-13.
3. Unloving knowledge and eating idol food in an idol temple. vss. 7-13.
There is more to this freedom to eat meat, however. Paul reminds the elitist believers that just because they have this “knowledge” does not mean that all do. Just because they can does not necessarily mean that they should.
Not all believers have a mature understanding of these things. Therefore they may take longer to come to grips with a proper view of the world.
As modern examples, new believers who previously had been heavily involved in the wild party scene with all the trappings may balk at Christians who see nothing wrong with meeting a group of friends at a “bar and grill. Believers saved from a life of sex addiction might raise their eyebrows at a believer who has no problem going to see certain movies or even visiting a beach. Believers saved out of eastern mysticism might believe that Christians who burn incense at home are unwittingly conjuring up demons.
Acting with love toward newer believers would prevent all kinds of problems. Failing to consider the love of the brethren in our decisions to partake of our liberty in Christ will create problems. Paul illustrates this in verse 7: a new believer, until recently being accustomed to the idol, eats food as if it were sacrificed to an idol and their conscience being weak is defiled, i.e. they will be caused to sin. Their conscience is weak; they have a lack of knowledge or self-awareness of themselves in relation to the community of faith, thereby seeking ways to become accepted by those who are further along in their faith, but struggle with old understandings.
Paul then states the food sacrificed to idols is an amoral, morally neutral issue. One who eats is not harmed by the food; one who abstains is not blessed. Food does not prove your status before God.
Paul urges the elitist, who believe they are more mature in knowledge, to exercise love by putting a lid on the practice of their liberty when dealing with weaker brothers and sisters in the Lord. Real maturity is exhibited in self-restraint for the sake of others.
The arrogant application of knowledge is foolish. Paul sets forth a scenario where a believer, so sure in their knowledge, enters into a idol’s temple to dine, observed by another believer not so knowledgeable. The elitist oversteps their liberty, failing to temper their decision with love and self-control for the sake of others, leading into licentiousness and bringing a number of ‘weaker’ believers with them. These still saw this as a means of worshipping false gods, thereby violating their conscience and corrupting their simple faith.
In Romans 14, Paul treated this same issue by addressing how to wisely and lovingly adjust our knowledge to the spiritual needs of others, Romans 14:14-15
I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
Verse 11 -The weak brother is ruined, who has the same status as the elitist brother. i.e. for whose sake Christ died. Christ died for both...
The implications of causing fellow believers to stumble in their conscience is serious — your sinning against the brethren = your sinning against Christ.
These knowledgeable believers failed to look out not just for their own interests but also the interests of others, Philippians 2:4
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
They flaunted their liberty in Christ to eat any kind of meat they want, whenever they wanted. In fact, they were weakening the fellowship of the church.
Verse 13 states Paul’s solution. The words translated “never” literally says “never, ever...unto the age.”
Paul’s extreme solution: if enjoying a piece of meat means causing a brother in Christ to be dragged back into a lifestyle that he had just escaped, Paul would rather abstain from eating meat forever!
Paul is not tiptoeing around legalists or sanctimonious believers who have made Christianity a list of dos and don’ts, Gal. 5:1
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Paul is talking about protecting the conscience of a young, less-knowledgeable believer.
It is Christian love which must wisely temper Christian liberty.
