"Whats Love Got To Do With It?" — 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Text: 1 Cor 8:1-13

Title: “ Whats Love Got To Do With It?”

CIT: As believers live in light of their knowledge of the gospel, Paul wanted love to be the driving factor of their actions.

Proposition: As believers live in light of their knowledge of the gospel, God wants to be the driving factor of their actions.

Big Idea: As believers mature in their faith, God desires that their lifestyles would build up other believers.

Big Question: What can mature believers do in order to build up other believers?

I. Knowledge must be supplemented with love (1-3).

EXP: Paul warned of a knowledge without love: a knowledge that is issue oriented and individualistically applied, a knowledge that is not implemented for the glory of God, the benefit of his people. Love uses knowledge to build up and edify. (Gal 5:6)

Galatians 5:6 CSB

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.

Though Paul agreed that the content of the Gnostic believers’ knowledge was correct, he wanted love to be the foundation of their ethic.

Gnostics believed knowledge gave them the ‘right/freedom’ to act as they wished.

New converts from pagan religions questioned religious practices: “could they meet over lunch with business associates or fellow members of their trade guild, or attend a reception in a temple for a relative’s wedding.”

The real issue was a demonstration of one’s right (or freedom) rather than the love for others.

APP: Knowledge without love inflates one to a level of false security and indifference. Love takes one beyond themselves to aid another; it builds up.

Believing you know everything about something causes one to rely on their own self-sufficient knowledge (puffs up).

Love forces one to discern the compassionate use of their knowledge.

II. God alone determines the way of salvation (4-8).

Shema: Deut 6:4-6

Deuteronomy 6:4–6 CSB

“Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.

Our purpose in life is to serve him, and not simply to have him meet our needs so that we can pursue our own interests.

Galatians 4:8–11 CSB

But in the past, since you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years. I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.

III. Believers’ actions affect others (9-13).

Conclusion: Because believers understand the love of God shown in the gospel, they should allow their love for others to determine their lifestyle.