1. Corinthians 10:15-11:1 Participation in the body of Christ.

1. Corinthians 10:15-11:1 Participation in the body of Christ.

Paul will teach very practical about how to respond to eating meat (and how to live among people – Paul has a missioner mindset, a pastoral one; of building up people and letting one’s own freedoms go; that others would not fall), Paul will like appeal to the Corintins as wise/sensible people to judge for themselves. Paul will use the Lord’s supper and the temple offerings as examples and contrast them to meat offered to idols.

Paul will end with a repeat “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.” – And just before Paul writes in 31 – a Key verse – So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (That is Paul’s encuargemt to live like Jesus did that all we do is for the glory of God). For God glory and the good of others.

15 As said above - Paul appeals to the Corinthians, as wise/sensible people to judge for themselves. Fellowship with Jesus (Koinonia) – verse 16 In Christ’s blood and body? The blessing of the cup is the Participation is translated from Koinonia – fellowship with Jesus Christ – in his blood and body. In the symbol of the Lord’s supper, 17 one bread one body – of Christ all partakes of Jesus Christ and in fellowship with Christ. (Fellowship /Koinioia – with Jesus Christ in his blood and body)

18. The priests that eat from the alter, was in fellowship with the alter and offering to God, 19 Does that mean that idols are real? Or that food offered to idols then makes the partaker apart of the idol worship? 20 No, - Paul say that what is sacrificed by the pagans is offered to demons, and not to God, I don’t what you to participate with demons – as last week ended my beloved flee idolatry. Do have fellowship with demons. 21. You can’t drink the cup Lord and of demons, - You can’t take part in the table of the lord and the table of demons. Make a choice don’t participate in worship with other Gods. Don’t be like the people in the wilderness testing God, and provoking the Lord. – (Don’t do it we are not stronger that God.)

And even if you think you have no problem, because you know the idol is not a god, then still do not participate in false worship for yourself and for others only worship God. Repeated for a 3 time, the slogan the Corinthians had, we are very mature so we can eat in idols temples - because all is lawful to us, - and Paul correct their saying: Your free, but not all you do with your freedom is good, - do the things that build up, instead of tear down, others or yourself. (And idol worship is not good, for you and others).

24 Even more clear, seek the good of your neighbor, not your own good, - echoes of the Old Testament and Jesus teaching, that Paul also points to.

25 Here Paul gets practical – (okay Paul how are we to live it out) – Eat whatever is sold in the meat market – because you did not participate in the idol worship – you are picking up some meat to eat. – Don’t ask where it comes from. 26 But Paul how can you say that you have just said that we should avoid koinonia with the devil. Paul sights Psalm 24:1, where God is exalted and lifted up, everything is the Lords, the devil and demons don’t own anything, everything is Gods, that is why you can eat meat because it is God’s meat. (It belongs to Jesus).

27 Getting invited to unbelievers and you go eat whatever is served, (Like my mother said to me), - Don’t ask questions about where it comes from, enjoy the meal God has provided for you.

28 But there is always a but, - if someone informs you, that the meat has been offered to idols, then abstain, for the conscience of the one that informed you, - not yours. Why should I be limited by others, - because you chose to serve/love others. Because Jesus did that for you.  

29 Again Paul is asking them to look out for the weaker brother, and set that persons needs over the freedom they have, - in a sense giving up freedom so the weaker dose not stumble.

30 But eating meat with thankfulness to God is a good thing – but we can give it up if others are – a caused to stumble by it, because of their path in life. What is the relevance today it could also be (alcohol, food, meat, movies, games, yoga/stretching, music, money, where we or someone is weak, we don’t press (our freedom in Christ) to destroy a person that Christ died for, we serve and give up our right)? (If we don’t what to give up our rights – it might show our immaturity, that we see our self as better and more important than the weaker person in our fellowship, we might even be the weaker person in fellowship).

31 main point – whether you eat or drink – well Paul makes the statement bigger, whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

32 +11 Don’t offend people, - is good advice, Jew, Greek or the Gods gathering, Paul will finish up: Do as I do I when I imitate Christ, so imitate me as I do that, pleasing others not seeking my own – so that many because of the way I live will be saved. (How we live our lives can make a change in others’ lives).

Where does this leave us? The meat is not really the point. It is an example.

Don’t offend people just because you can, - instead live so your life might offend and challenged others to see who Jesus is, we are asked to live our life for the good of the others in our fellowship. This takes faith, and boldness, and trust in Jesus and others to live life this way, that I can live for the good of others, and that others will do the same for me, that the fellowship might grow up in love to Christ that is the head of the Church. (I used to say at winter camp, if you try to make it a good camp for others, then all will have a good camp).

Idol worship today? Well; what ever is set above who Jesus is, whatever controls us informs us makes us do and say things, where we use our money: Political party, education, worldly knowledge, sports-teams, money, power, sex, fame, being someone, getting followers, getting a platform, being a person of influence, proving your are worth it, I am good enough, your own self talk - whatever; idol that you or I trust in, we are told that is demonic, as last time demonic starts with the words, did God really say? All that we trust in that God did not say, is idolatry and demonic in the sense it is inspired by the devil and not God.   

To live our freedom in Christ, understating our mission is not our freedom, but to live for God, in Christ, and as we look at Jesus life, he did all the things Paul said, laid down his rights, for the ones that are weak and helpless with out Him. (Everything is Jesus’s -he deserves only praise and glory).

And we need this all of us, we will not do what Jesus did and Paul asked the Corinthians to do without falling in to sin /so we need every day to be reminded about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, to know this and grow deeper in understanding it, so we might see how that affects out daily life, and how we love others, in our fellowship, and people at our work, school, sports activities, and point to Jesus. The one that served, and in all things, he did give God glory.  

The point of Paul letter is not just to point out the failures of the Corinthians and just say do better, earn it, - no Paul points to the work Jesus has done, - that even in the failures and sins that have causes others to fail, caused people to misunderstand their understanding of how to live for Jesus, freedom is not the ultimate goal, living for Jesus is to the glory of God is.

Paul explains Jesus better that the Corinthians might know how to live for Jesus better, - not just work harder or better, have a renewed mind in Christ, and grow in the understating of what Jesus had done. As they also see how Paul and his team has served them.

If you heard today as I spoke, just do better, more, different, and God will accept you and you will be accepted in the fellowship. That is not our massage, the massage is that God has showed his love for the world, before you were born, and we all were death in sin and darkness, God send Jesus and Jesus lived the life humbling him self as he came, and to the cross as he died for sin, he became sin that we might get the righteousness of him, and can stand cleaned and Holy adopted in to Gods family, made new, born again in Jesus Christ, and get the gift of the Holy Spirt Gods presents and power in us to live for God in Christ here where God has us.