The Caution of the Wise
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Intro:
Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, a noted New Testament scholar, tells of his visit in Britain, where he observed that British people love dogs as their pets. During his stay he noticed three kinds of dogs which he relates to people in reference to freedom.
The first are those dogs who have law but no freedom. They are those who are in chain. Though they jog and roam with their masters yet they cannot go where they want.
The second are those dogs who have freedom but no law. These kind of dogs are not in chain and are free to do whatever they want and to go wherever they want to go. Yet they are living in a dangerous existence.
The third are those dogs that have the law of freedom. They are the kind of dogs who jog, roam, and play with their masters without any chain. They are free to go wherever they want to go but they still return to their masters. This they do because of the chain of affection that connects them to their masters.
The first are like those legalists who painstakingly live in obedience to man-made rules to the suppression of their freedom in Christ.
The second are like those people who make use of their freedom as license to sin.
The third one are those like genuine believers who make use of their freedom in Christ to stay close with the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have now been in the book of 1 Corinthians for some time. We’ve talked through many of the issues and questions facing the believers in Corinth. Paul has vigorously wrote to correct the wrongs and lead them to the righteous path. We know that Paul has set out since about the 8th chapter to correct thinking regarding the question of Christian liberty more specifically meat offered to idols. Paul has taken his time to answer this question. Perhaps, we should take note of how he handles these delicate subjects. Subjects that have alot of “gray areas” to them. Paul in chapter 8 does his best to show scriptural what is important in the matter of christian liberties. Not offending your brother in Christ, thinking of their needs before your own, not being a stubbling block. Furthermore, in chapter 9, Paul was sure to prove that he himself was not a hypocrite of these things but was a leader himself on giving up his own rights. This he did so that the gospel would not be inhibited.
From that testimony, Paul takes a bit of a rabbit trail to describe how he was willing and able to make such great sacrifices for the gospel’s call, namely the ability to say no to receiving funds for his ministry to them. “This I do for the Gospel’s sake.” v. 23 “that I might gain the more” v. 19.
How was he able to do this, here Paul turns their attention to the dedication and drive of an athlete. Self-discipline and self-control. These are so critical if one is to live this kind of godly lifestyle. To sacrifice in such a way requires that we run aimlessly nor to we box as one beating the air so that we don’t become disqualified.
Furthermore, to show them the dangers of one who doesn’t run with self-control and self-discipline, those people often crash into spiritual disaster, disqualifying themselves from the race. Paul shared in chapter 10 how the Israelites did this very thing and therefore became an example for us of how not to run. In verse 4 it says, They all drank from the same spiritual Rock. In other words, they all had the same opportunity to do what was right and win the proverbial spiritual race. But they didn’t run well and because of that were punished severely. Paul wants the Corinthians though to run well. And that is why Paul urges them in verses 11-12.
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
And that brings us to our text today. Will start in verse 14. Read 1 Corinth. 10:14-22
Pray
I. Issues with Idolatry
I. Issues with Idolatry
As I was studying for today, I noticed some of my Bible translations titled this section of verses as “Warning against Idolatry.” But this section, as it has been labeled by the translators and is not inspired, they have it beginning not with verse 14 but with verse 1. In other words, they view perhaps the entire chapter of 1 Corinth. 10 as dealing with idolatry. It’s not just one of the four sins that Israel committed and was listed in the first 13 verses of chapter 10 but it is the pinnacle sin. The one that wraps up all the rest. Perhaps this is why Paul begins verse 14 with a therefore as if to summarize all the sins into one. He says then “Flee from Idolatry”.
Quick note before we dive into the topic of idolatry. There is a word that indefinitely jumps out of the passage to me. A rather beautiful word written in the midst of this stern command. It’s the word beloved. Paul again writes, Therefore, my beloved. Before Paul goes anywhere, he affirms to them that in spite of their many problems, Paul, as their former pastor and spiritual father to many of them, is deeply devoted and loves them.
It reminds me in alot of ways of parent who has a way-son or daughter. Is there ever a time where the parent loves that son or daughter an less because of the decisions they have made, no it doesn’t. It might make them like them a little less because of all the headaches, but they always will love them, that is if they are good parents. The good parent, does it make them like of the wayward son or daughter less than the other kids, absolutely not. In fact, I wonder if they don’t think of them even more than the ones that are still with them.
In don’t have kids old enough to have them yet make the choices to be rebellious and wayward towards us yet. But I can share from the many opportunities I’ve had working with the youth. I know that to have a wayward teen that you have poured your life into and then have them step away. It certainly doesn’t cause me to forget them, but I think of them constantly. They are in prayers of mine all the time. Cause we long to see those that we poured into come back to the truth of the Word of God. That’s Paul’s longing here. He is no different. And that’s why he writes with such deliberation. He wants them to know the truth. And he’s patient with them.
So firstly, Paul wants them to know that idolatry is a big deal. “flee from it...” as if to say get out of their before it sticks to you. Why is it such a big deal.
I(A). Offense to God
I(A). Offense to God
As you probably are well aware of
1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 24: The Truth about Idolatry (10:14–22)
idolatry is worshiping something other than the true God in the true way, it is the most serious and contaminating of sins. It strikes at the very character of God. Those who worship an idol declare that the Lord is not the only true God and that other “so-called gods” (8:5) are worthy to share His glory and honor. They testify that the Lord is deficient, that He is not all-wise, all-powerful, and all-sufficient.
It is not an accident that the first of two of the Ten Commandments have to do with idolatry. Why? Because if we do not have the right view of God, nothing else can be placed in the right perspective.
Since the fall, mankind has wanted to make God into their OWN IMAGES and to their OWN LIKING. They want to decide what is worshipped. Which is huge hit on the perfection of God.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
For us that can look life a couple of different things.
Making false claims about God abilities. I’m not sure if any of us word do this verbally, but we certainly can live this way. We are talking about not trusting Him. When we doubt that He is able or wiling to meet our every need. When we in essence say, “I question whether your word is reliable, your promises are true, and that your power is sufficient.” It a defaming of God characters who is to be praised and worship cause He is sufficient, He is reliable, He is love. But yet we may think that He is not enough.
We can have idolatry by worshipping Him in the wrong way. Mankind has been known to establish unbiblical forms and rituals. So much so that it detracts from worshipping from the heart. It’s more about these elements and these traditions and these things that make us feel good or comfortable.
Idolatry could also come as worshipping an image. Obviously this was one of Israel’s biggest sins. John MacArthur writes well when he said,
1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 24: The Truth about Idolatry (10:14–22)
Idolatry does not begin with a sculptor’s hammer; it begins in the mind. When we think of God we should visualize absolutely nothing. No visual conception of Him could properly represent His eternal nature and glory.
Only Christ is to be worshiped, not any likenesses of Him.
Idolatry though includes much more than images, and ritualistic stuff. Idolatry is having any false god- any object, idea, philosophy, habit, occupation, sport, or whatever that has one’s primary concern and loyalty or that to any degree decrees one’s trust in God.
“If I have made gold my trust
or called fine gold my confidence,
if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant
or because my hand had found much,
if I have looked at the sun when it shone,
or the moon moving in splendor,
and my heart has been secretly enticed,
and my mouth has kissed my hand,
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
for I would have been false to God above.
“My heart has been secretly enticed.” That phrases co-notates the thought that we can worship material gods without even realizing consciously that we are doing it. Like Job, we must pay close attention to it because if you worship what you possess, if you center your life on yourself, your possessions or even your needs, you have denied God.
(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),
For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another.
It’s a big deal to God but letter B it is also harmful to man.
I(B). Harmful to Man
I(B). Harmful to Man
It literally defiles those practice it and is harmful to everyone around them. His morals become skewed chasing things (if that is his goal) and his spiritual life becomes lost in the process.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
As Paul stated very clearly that idolatry is certainly in part why he writes this section. The avoidance of idolatry in the temple and the feasts associated with it. We also need to remember that this passage of Scripture is in the middle of Paul’s long address of christian liberties. With that in mind, we need to recognize that this text is merely dealing with idolatry but is in a much larger way dealing with how Christians think through their convictions and their liberties.
II. Issues with Convictions
II. Issues with Convictions
As we again look into the passage, we see in verse 15 that Paul is writing to those that are truly wise. A wise man will heed these words and think these thoughts particularly about the issue here addressed of participating in the temple feasts. Were the believers wise in Corinth? Looking back to chapter 8, I’m reminded that some of these believers were quite knowledgeable.
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
Furthermore, Paul writes...
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.
We see that some within the church had knowledge or in other words a Biblical understanding of why eating food offered to idols was not an issue. They understood that “an idol has no real existence” and there is only one God who has created all things and all things exist for him. So these more “mature” or more knowledgeable believers had no difficulty doing so. Paul never reprimands them for eating the meat and agrees with their christian liberty on such case. He faults them in chapter 8 though for not thinking about their brothers and sisters or but only about themselves.
So are these knowledgeable believers also wise? Is having knowledge the same as having wisdom?
Wisdom and knowledge, both recurring themes in the Bible, are related but not synonymous. The dictionary defines wisdom as “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.” Knowledge, on the other hand, is “information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance.”
God wants us to have knowledge of Him and what He expects of us. In order to obey Him, we have to have knowledge of the commands. But as equally important as having knowledge is having wisdom.
Knowledge is what is gathered over time through study of the Scriptures. It can be said that wisdom, in turn, acts properly upon that knowledge. Wisdom is the fitting application of knowledge. Knowledge understands the light has turned red; wisdom applies the brakes. Knowledge sees the quicksand; wisdom walks around it. Knowledge memorizes the Ten Commandments; wisdom obeys them.
Knowledge can exist without wisdom, but not the other way around. One can be knowledgeable without being wise.
And I believe that is what we are seeing here. These were knowledgeable believers in the word but were not being wise. These believers were using their knowledge of God’s word to allow them to exercise their Christian liberties in eating food offered to idols but were taking their liberty too far into questionable things like partaking in the feasts at the temple of the idols and were becoming involved in the evils of idolatry. They used their knowledge of truth to justify being dangerously close to evil practices.
That is why Paul says listen, wise men are going to apply this knowledge correctly the have correctly and create wise convictions based upon that. And because you’re knowledgeable and perhaps alittle too headstrong… (unwilling to move) you need to “judge for yourselves what I say.”
Also of us have christian liberties to live our convictions in the way we believe is right. But when the convictions of one is leading them in sin, it is certainly our responsibility to speak into their lives and heed them of the dangers of their sinful practice.
We are going to see here how Paul addresses these headstrong believers and try to straighten out their issues with their convictions.
II(A). Think through it Logically (v. 16-20)
II(A). Think through it Logically (v. 16-20)
If by the Spirit of God and with a willingness to listen… answer should makes logical sense. God is a God of logic and reason. So it is ok to use logic and reason just never at the expense of the Word of God because that is concrete.
So what is Paul’s logical explanation to the problem of them participating in the temple feasts offered to idols.
Paul’s answer much resembles those dreaded mathematics problems we saw in high school (maybe some of us actually enjoyed these).
If A x B = 25
And if B x C = 15
Then what does A x C =
Paul’s first if statement goes this way.
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
I want to make first mention about the cup of blessing. The cup of blessing could be the last cup of wine drunk at the end of a meal, as a final testimony of thanksgiving for all that God had provided. It also was the proper name given to the third cup passed during the Passover feast. In the upper room, on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus may have used the third cup as the symbol of His blood shed for sin. That cup then became the instrument to institute the Lord’s Supper. In any case He set apart the cup as a token of special thanksgiving before He passed it to the disciples (Matt. 26:27), and whenever believers partake of Communion they partake of this blessed sacred cup. For Christians it is the supreme cup of blessing, which in turn we bless and are thankful for His death each time we use it in remembrance of our Lord.
When believers participate in drinking the cup of blessing or the braking of break, they as this verse shares sharing in those elements.
Sharing (koinōnia) means to have in common, to participate with, to have partnership.
1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Idolatry Is Inconsistent
When we properly share in Communion we spiritually participate in fellowship with Jesus Christ and with other believers. It is much more than a symbol; it is a profound celebration of common spiritual experience.
1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Idolatry Is Inconsistent
Celebrating our common salvation and eternal life is the ultimate fellowship of believers while we are on earth, and reflects the perfect fellowship we will have in heaven.
We can further understand the when Jesus broke the bread, he did this to distribute it among the disciples, representing His sharing His life with them. He emptied Himself in order to live among us as a man, to suffering as we suffer, and tempted as we have been tempted. He has become a merciful and faithful high priest who can sympathize with us. Hebrews.
Paul’s point then is that when we take the Lord’s Supper, we are in essence, identifying and participating with Him. The elements aren’t actually the real body and blood of Christ as some religions (the Catholics and Lutherans) teach but they are symbols that bring us an awareness and an appreciation of the Lord’s great sacrifice and love for us and cause us to worship Him.
Paul gives then his next if statement.
Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Idolatry Is Inconsistent
Again Paul uses Israel to illustrate his point. Are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? When the Israelites sacrificed to the Lord, some of the offering was burnt as the sacrifice proper, some of it was eaten by the priests, and some was eaten by those who offered it. Everyone was involved with the offering, with God and with each other.
So then what is Paul implying?
What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
If the Lord’s Supper identifies us with Christ and brings us into participation with Him, and Israel’s sacrifices was eaten by the priests and those that offered it. A practice that in that time was required by God to have sins atoned for. Then you may well conclude that eating the food and participating at the feasts held in the temple with other idol temple worshippers would mean participating in and involving yourself in worship of and communing with that idol which is then idolatry.
It’s logical. A certainly can be shown as dangerous? But not only is participating in the temple idol feasts logically wrong, it can be shown to be biblically wrong.
II(B). Think through it Biblically (v. 21-22)
II(B). Think through it Biblically (v. 21-22)
Again these believers knew that idols were nothing.
What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
The idol isn’t anything nor the food offered to the idol. But it was the participation in the feasts and the practices of the temple that were wrong.
Paul was concerned that they would be involved in practices that they shouldn’t. You can say “words will never hurt us.” but words do affect us. Being around wicked things pollutes good things. Look at psalm 1, and look at
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Being involved in those idolatrous places and practices will affect them. But beyond being concerned with them participating in these practices, Paul was concerned that they would be tangled up with demons. “I do no want you to be participants with demons.” Idols are nothing in themselves but are an easy place for Satan and his demonic forces to work through.
1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Idolatry Is Demonic
Demons can exhibit considerable power. Many cultic and pagan religious claims are faked and exaggerated; but many are true. They are evil but true.
1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Idolatry Is Demonic
Demons are not unlimited in power, but they have power to perform enough wonders and to make enough predictions come true to keep superstitious worshipers deceived and loyal (cf. 2 Thess 2:9–11).
Obviously, you can see how this is a big deal. A Christian cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. He cannot partake of the Table of the Lord and the table of demons. Jesus made that clear in Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Idolatry Is Demonic
It is not simply that we should not but that we cannot. It is impossible to do both at the same time. It must be one or the other. We will “hate the one and love the other,” or we will “hold to the one and despise the other.” When we fellowship with the Lord we cannot also fellowship with demons, and vice versa. Some attempted it in Corinth, but they were not truly fellowshipping with the Lord. Their worship was hypocrisy.
Christians are not immune from the influence of demons. When we willingly ignore the Lord’s way and flirt with the things of Satan by setting up idols of any kind, we open ourselves up to demonic influence. In rebuking Ananias, Peter said, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 5:3). Through the idol of their greed, he and his wife, Sapphira, left themselves open to being corrupted by the chief of demons. It is clear from our wrestling with demons (Eph. 6:12) that there is some intimate contact between believers and those vile fallen angels.
It may not be intentional demonic cults that we involve ourselves in, but when we chose to buddy up to the world too closely, he become easy targets for Satan to snatch up.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
So what about you dear Christian, dearly beloved. Have we used our knowledge and our Christian liberty to have weak convictions regarding grey areas? Are we not being wise with how we handle the Word of God? We may have liberty but it never should be used as a license to sin or even as a license to get close to sin. We use our liberty to draw close to our Savior like the dogs we spoke of earlier.
There are many things out there that may not be inhibited by scripture and we may be “knowledgeable enough” in scripture to know there is nothing inherently wrong with what we are doing. But are we wise. Many vices in the world have the drawing power to rope us into sinfulness. Meat offered to idols was ok to buy from the market and idols are nothing, but those liberties may have aided the believers in Corinth to let down their guard and because of that fall into idolatry.
Know that
If you play with fire, you’re going to get burned.
I pray that God would help us all to listen to the wise counsel of others and of the Word, think biblically and logically through our convictions, and help us avoid evil, sin, and idolatry in our own lives.