Can we ever get clean with God?
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1Corinthians Chapter 8
1Corinthians Chapter 8
This week we are going to continue looking at the idols that the Corinthian people either failed to leave behind or returned to, soon after becoming followers of Jesus.
The story is not that much different in today’s world as it was in the first century. If you were an adult convert to Christ chances are that your conversion came in a personal “fox hole.” It may have also come as a result of a praying wife, husband, mother or father, grandmother or grandfather.
Life was good then… right after you accepted Christ. Your personal demons were put in their rightful place. You had a temporary handle by the power of the Holy Spirit on your sins.
Ezekiel 36:27 (NIV84)
27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees.
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Your spouse, your family, your friends saw a new person.
Then satan got the memo that he has lost one of the soldiers in his kingdom of darkness.
You see satan cannot be everywhere all at once, he does not know our thoughts. So he gets the memo and he or his minions go to work. I think we have all been there… We make some sort of commitment to God and satan strikes.
Temptation
Sin
Guilt
Imprisonment by satan or his minions
John 10:10 (NIV84)
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
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Maybe it is just me but I have been there a few times.
I’m somewhat embarrassed to tell you that I’ve went crawling back to God with the same set of sins.
Its always me, my stuff that breaks down this perfectly melded relationship. So therefore, it’s me that needs to back to the foot of the cross.
Let’s get to our scripture for today.
Before we do that I want to get our BIG QUESTION for today.
BIG QUESTION: Can we ever get clean with God?
The battle is very fierce. satan throws everything he has at us! One of those things is our passion in this world for “Stuff.”
Idol worship is such an old term… it really doesn’t mean to much to us.
Here is something that is a little more familiar
I WANT, I WANT, I MUST HAVE… WHATEVER!
So much so that we will give everything we had with salvation, rededication to return to our idol of choice.
CHAPTER 10. V.1
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.
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God had them do all the correct things… they ate the same food, drank the same drinks.. Nevertheless God was still NOT pleased with them.
Our natural inclination is to return to what we find most pleasing… Face it, in the case of the Israelites and of us we love our idols!
Paul in the next few verses uses his forefathers as examples for us.
1 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV84)
4 and [they, the forefathers,] drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
IT’s called a Christophany.. Jesus makes an Old Testament appearance that is cited in the New Testament.
You see the Israelites, who were God’s people, chosen, empowered and sent away from Egypt. “Baptized [initiated] into Moses,” in the cloud [lead by the Holy Spirit.] in the Glory of Lord.
5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
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God had them wander in the desert for 40 years. Trying to purify them from there evil… They didn’t learn.
He had them wander for 40 years. Hoping that the disobedience would leave his people.
Hoping they would drop their idols and worship only Yaweh.
In fact by the time they entered the promised land no one who left with them from Egypt went into the promised land. Accept for Joshua.
God wanted to purify them and bring them into the promised land to start fresh… Unfortunately, in the realm of Free Choice the people found it was easier to worship idols than Yaweh.
Paul gives the Corinthians them in code or a parable what needed to be said...
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.”
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You’ll remember this...
6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
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What was the problem with a little partying, a little joy… Here is the problem
4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
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What were the results of that...
8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
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Here is a warning for those that test the Lord...
9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.
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We have the least grumbling church that I have ever seen. There is a possibility that I’m just deaf or ignorant. Here are the usual targets
Youth
Music
The Kitchen
IF you were...
10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
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These were the events that happened during the exodus by the Israelites. Paul warned us not to
Worship idols
Commit sexual immorality
Test the Lord
Do not grumble
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
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Don’t get all puffed up as they tended to do. You could feel pretty special if you did.
Its seems that Paul was in the business of popping big puffed up heads.
I’m going to ask our BIG Question again...
Can we ever get clean with God?
Is it ever going to be possible to make sure that we have not done any of the lists of things that we have listed here.
And what if we have done those things and we die before we can confess them?
Is God merciful enough to let us into heaven by the hair of our “chinny-chin-chin?”
The simple answer is this… NO!!
Our God is a RIGHTEOUS God. Not one idea or action of sin will ever let us into heaven...
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV84)
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
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THIS IS A MAJOR WITH A BLACK MARKER, WITH A GREEN HIGHLIGHTER VERSE TO BE UNDERLINED.
I want to personalize this verse for all of us...
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV84)
13 No temptation has seized [me] except what is common to [mankind]. And God is faithful; he will not let [me] be tempted beyond what [I] can bear. But when [I am] tempted, he will also provide a way out so that [I] can stand up under it.
PRAISE GOD!!!
Because of everything that has been written about this subject… Because of the mess that their lives were. Because of the mess that our lives were and are
Paul gives to us a God warning, again and again, again
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
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Paul pauses here and sums up where he has been so far regarding idols. There are some pretty succinct statements here
The cup of Thanksgiving we drink and the bread we break is a participation in the body of Christ
We are one body, with many parts and we all partake in one loaf.
Regarding the people of Israel… those who eat the sacrifices. Food does NOT become contaminated in the idol sacrifice. It is a symbol only.
If an unbeliever invites you to a meal… GO!! Consume what is put before you. Do not go hungry. Do NOT excuse yourself out of conscience. Remember how we once were.
IF you are reminded by someone that a particular food has been sacrificed… Then don’t eat it. It’s not a big deal for you… But apparently it is for another person.
Finally...
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
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Your cleanliness has NOTHING to do with what you eat or who you drink. Your standing with God in Righteousness! AND your righteousness is because of your faith.
And I’m going to ask again
Can we ever get clean with God?
Yes… He finally answers.
It’s all about FAITH!!
In the depths of the Old Testament… Righteousness is by FAITH ALONE!
Paul beginning in verse 23 has a major shift… Turn there if you would.
This whole section deals with the Believers Freedom… There is freedom from the law. But listen...
1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV84)
23 “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—[but not everything is constructive]. [but not all things edify.]
Just because there are times that we can...does not mean that we should.
Note — We need to focus on those things that are beneficial and constructive and focus on moving forward in our relationships with each other and with God.
Remember — God is not as concerned about our past as he has an expectation about future.
A future where we invite our neighbors, share a meal, pray together and then let God do His part and allow them to choose for the Gospel.
But do remember… That just because everything is permissible does NOT mean that we should do it.
I believe that drinking alcohol, is permissible… BUT not if it offends another believer. It’s as simple as this… “I like a beer or wine with dinner, is that OK with you or would you I rather not?
The person who asks should not be embarrassed and the person that was asked should not be in the tough spot and just say yes.
Our freedom’s as believers should not purposefully trample on someone else.
24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
V.25 - Eat anything sold in a meat market without conscience
V.27 - If your invited to an unbeliever’s home… eat it without conscience
Listen to V.28
28 But if anyone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience’ sake—
I want to finish with V.33 and specifically the last six words of the verse.
1 Corinthians 10:33 (NIV84)
33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Eat nothing, eat everything.
Practice freedom or remain restrained
Eat what’s been sacrificed or not
When you go to your neighbors house… eat what’s on the table.
Finally and most importantly… Try to please everyone in every way. Refrain from seeking your own good
so that many will be saved!