The Balance Between Liberty And Love - 8:7-13

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(I Cor. 8:7-13)

I. 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

II. The Mandate for Self-Control (v. 9-11)

A. Exercise Awareness (v.9)

âëÝðù (blepoh - take heed, beware; to see so as to discern)

Mark 8:15

1. Liberty Leads to Offense

eîïõóßá (exousia - liberty; authority; power)

Each Brother is Precious

cxðïèíÞóêù (apathnaysko - to die or die off; be slain)

Matthew 21:23

John 12:32-33

2. License Creates Obstacles

ðñüóêïììá (proskomma - stumbling block; offense)

III. The Maturity of Wise Counsel (v. 12-13)

I Peter 2:7-8

cxóèåíÝù (asthenehoh - weak; sick; feeble)

Philippians 2:27

The Reasonsfor our commitment (v.12)

1. Not to Sabotage Church Brethren

cxìáñôÜíù (hamartanoh - to sin; miss the mark; trespass)

B. Emboldened ConscienceCauses Sin (v. 10)

1. Perception of the Activity

2. Repetition of the Action

ïéêïäïìÝù (oykadamehoh - build up; edify; construct a house)

Matthew 16:18

Acts 25:8

2. Not to WoundTheir Conscience ôýðôù (tuptoh - to beat; strike; wound) Acts 18:17

John 8:9

3. Not to Sin Against Christ

C. Expression of Knowledge Produces Loss

Exodus 10:16-17

1. The Weak Brother Perishes

cxðüëëõìé (apollumi - perish; destroy; be lost)

John 3:14-16

B. The Result of our Conduct(v.13)

1. óêáíäáëßæù (skandalidzoh - to offend; cause to stumble; entrap) Matthew 18:6

2. Adjustment of our Behavior

Psalm 119:11

Acts 24:16

3. Avoidance of any Offense

tíá (hina - that; so that; in order that)

Romans 14:13-15

Romans 14:19-23

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 feel in our hearts something is wrong, we shouldn’t do it.

If we cannot do something with a clean conscience, it’s a sin.