A Case Of Love VS Knowledge - 8:1-6
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(I Cor. 8:1-8)
Many Biblical doctrines are straight forward and can be taken at face value.
Yet some teachings require us to think about what is being taught in the Bible and God expects us to discern the truth by what is written.
With the help of the Holy Spirit to illuminate our study we can then come up with principles we can live by.
I. The Matter of Love (v. 1-3)
A. The Supremacy of Love (v. 1)
I Cor. 1:4-5
1. Knowledge Blows Up
öõóéÜù (fuseeaoh - blow up or inflate; make proud / haughty)
Proverbs 11:2; 29:23; 16:18
2. Love Builds Up
ïéêïäïìÝù (oykadameho - to build up, edify, construct)
Eph. 4:16
B. The Stupidity of Arrogance (v. 2)
1. Pride Involves Deception
äïêÝù (dakeho - to think, a person’s estimate or opinion)
Romans 1:22
2. Arrogance Illustrates Ignorance
Isaiah 5:21; Proverbs 26:12
C. A Strong Declaration (v. 3)
1. Revere God
Deut. 6:5
2. Enjoy a Relationship With Him
John 1:12; 10:14, 27
II. The Measurement of True Divinity (v. 4-6)
A. The Inanimate Idol (v. 4)
B. Exhibits No Power or Strength
C. The Insufficiency of the Crowd (v. 5)
1. Their So-Called Designation
ëÝãù (lego - to speak, tell, say, or name)
2. They are Spread Across Heaven and Earth
3. The Scope of Their Reach
D. The Indivisible God (v. 6)
1. There is One Father
a. Of Whom Are All Things (åê “ek” - out of or from)
b. For Whom We Exist (åéò “ice” - for)
2. The Only Son (Jesus Christ)
a. Through Whom Are All Things ( äßá “dia” - through)
Jeremiah 10:14-15
2. Enmeshed in the World System
êüóìïò (cosmos - world, universe, orderly arrangement) II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; John 16:11
3. Exposed By the True Source of Light
Isaiah 42:8; 43:10-11; 44:6; 45:5
John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17
b. Through Whom We Live ( äßá “dia” - through)
III. The Management of Biblical Principles (v. 7-8)
A. Recognize the Disparity (v. 7)
1. Differing Levels of Knowledge Exist
2. Dominating Thoughts Persist
3. A Defiled Conscience Resists Growth
ìïëýíù (maluno - defiled, soiled, befouled with filth)
óõíåßäçóéò (Sunidaysis - “Conscience” - to know with)
B. Realize the Truth of God’s Word (v. 8)
1. Food Does Not Commend
ðáñßóôçìé (paristaymee - offer, exhibit, substantiate)
2. Food Does Not Condemn
CONCLUSION
- The eating of sacrificed meat itself doesn’t cause our sin. It’s our attitude towards it which causes the sin.
- Strong Christians know there’s nothing wrong with eating meat offered to idols, because an idol is nothing.
- Weaker Christians sometimes do things which they believe to be wrong, and therefore fall into sin.
- If we cannot do something with a clean conscience, it’s a sin.
- If we feel in our hearts something is wrong, we shouldn’t do it.