Knowledge and Love
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
AG:
TS: Corinthian believers had a problem. Their culture clashed with the new Christianity.
The Greeks and Romans were polytheistic (worshiping many gods) and polydemonistic (believing in many evil spirits).
They believed that evil spirits would try to invade human beings by attaching themselves to food before it was eaten, and that the spirits could be removed only by the food’s being sacrificed to a god. The sacrifice was meant not only to gain favor with the god, but also to cleanse the meat from demonic contamination. Such decontaminated meat was offered to the gods as a sacrifice. That which was not burned on the altar was served at wicked pagan feasts. What was left was sold in the market. After conversion, believers resented eating such food bought out of idol markets, because it reminded sensitive Gentile believers of their previous pagan lives and the demonic worship
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Co 8:1). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
RS:
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
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.”
For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—
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.
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.
Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
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?
And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Knowledge
Knowledge
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
Paul reminds the Corinthians of knowledge we possess.
Mature believers should know better than to worry about possible demonic possession due to eating food.
The market selling excess food from temples was the main source of meat.
Paul reminds them that those so called deities were nothing.
“an idol has no real existence”
They are rock and wood.
They are in reality, NOTHING spiritual.
Logically, a harmless rock can’t contaminate food with an evil spirit.
Paul agrees with them on this.
The downfall of knowledge
The downfall of knowledge
knowledge can puff up
It can make us feel better than others
We can fall into a bad pattern of using insider language.
In our knowledge, we can become exclusive and drive people away rather than pull them in and toward Jesus.
This is danger about which Paul cautions the Corinthians.
They can use knowledge to divide instead of build.
We know the truth.
Love
Love
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.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
The consciences of some newer converts were still accusing them strongly with regard to allowing them to eat idol food without feeling spiritually corrupted and guilty. They still imagined that idols were real and evil. A defiled conscience is one that has been violated, bringing fear, shame, and guilt. See notes on Ro 14:20–23.
The principal of acting in love supersedes our knowledge and liberty.
Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
Paul expanded on this issue in his letter to the church in Rome.
Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.
But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Each of us must resolve what is right and wrong as God leads us when we read the Bible.
Make no mistake, truth doesn’t change.
But how we apply it and express it might.
Just because we are free to do something, doesn’t mean we should.
In fact, something which might not be a sin (eating meat which had been offered to idols) can become sin, if we are flaunting it and offended our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Love edifies
Love edifies
Our words and actions should pull people to Jesus and build them up.
Paul wrote to another church, the church in Ephesus. In chapter 4, he told them
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Knowledge must be mixed with and given out with love.
How we speak, when we speak, to whom we speak must be guided by love
Facebook is a prime example of the importance of this. You can lob truth bombs at people all day, but in the absence of love, it only stirs up more strife.
The source of love
The source of love
We love because he first loved us.
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Learn all you can about God.
Know Him and His word.
But NEVER flaunt your knowledge!
LOVE is the lens through which we