Gospel Freedom

The difficulty at times in studying scriptures arises when Paul or others write about a situation that is so far into our own experience that it is difficult for us to see how it may relate.

I truly believe in scripture teaches that all scripture is accessible and profitable to build the faith of a child in seminarian alike, or as was once said, “The Bible is deep enough for an elephant to swim and shallow enough for a child to wade.”

As we’ve also said getting a better understanding of the culture and the context into which and from which the scripture is written we are able to understand the truth about God in the gospel that underlie what is written.

Sometimes, as it will be the case today, there are some concepts that even as we understand them may be difficult to apply to our present situation.

Nonetheless all the scripture speaks about God and tells the story of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 8:1–13 (ESV)

1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.”

This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

Here we have a hint about the issue that Paul is addressing that was in some way raised by the Corinthians in their correspondence with Paul - the eating of meat sacrificed to idols.

— very far removed from our day - How many have eaten meat sacrificed to idols recently? - I only eat at Chick-fil-A

Corinth was a very pagan city — idolatry, sexual immorality, etc.

The local pagan temple was a cultural and religious center.

Priests would take sacrifices brought for the idols and divide the meat up. Once it had been offered to the idols, it was then oftentimes served in the temple’s dining halls. Those who ate it believed they were participating in the worship service for the idol.

Some of the meat that had been sacrificed to the idol was also served at the marketplace.

Those saved from paganism still had many contacts with others in the community who were still pagans - perhaps even family who were pagans

The matter was more troubling for Christians converted from pagan backgrounds: 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?

IVP New Testament Background

Traditional thinking has been that Paul here is referring to meat that had been offered to idols that is now being sold at the marketplace.

However, that does not seem to be the case -

English Standard Version Chapter 10

25 oEat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience

“all of us possess knowledge.”

Believers in Corinth pushed back against whatever Paul’s previous communication was regarding eating meat given to idols saying, “We all know idols are not really God so worship of the idol by eating the meat does no harm.”

— What they are referring to is Christian Freedom.

Galatians 5:1 ESV

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

Knowledge without love - it is pride

The question being raised is: Given our Christian freedom, what are we allowed to do?

The knowledge of what you are allowed to do does not determine what you should do. Instead, love determines whether you should do what you are allowed to do.

— Determining IF you should do something is not based solely on if you are allowed to do something. We must also ask if it is loving.

— Doing something simply because I am allowed to can be selfish - puffs us up - no substance - selfishness is the opposite of how we come tot he gospel and how we live by the gospel.

— love builds up

— what does it build? faith, unity, character.

4 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.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 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.

— Paul gives the basis for the Christian freedom of eating meat offered to idols.

7 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. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

Strong vs. weak

— does not mean that the one with the strong conscience is somehow a better person or even more godly than the one with the weaker conscience.

— The poor, especially, had little access to meat outside of temple rituals and so, eating any meat might remind them of their participation in idol worship.

— Paul points out that eating meat generally is a neutral issue - by itself it really has no spiritual value.

10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge (believe it is ok) eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

— How do you end up sinning? By not loving your brother.

Matthew 25:40 ESV

40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Mark 9:42 ESV

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Romans 14:1-23

Four Questions of Gospel Freedom:

1. Does it violate clear teachings in the Bible?

Do you place yourself over or under the Bible?

Culture does not rewrite nor does it reinterpret scripture. Where the Bible is clear, so are we.

Gender, sanctity of life, abortion, marriage, exclusivity of gospel, etc.

We also recognize there are areas that the Bible does not speak directly to.

Murder is wrong. No need to go to question #2. Adultery is wrong (had people try to explain away their adulterous affairs.

What is Paul talking about in this passage? idolatry. Idolatry is always wrong.

Remember that sin is often more subtle than a gold statue.

— greed, identity, pride, etc.

I doubt many of of us have had the opportunity to eat meat sacrificed to idols, BUT how many of you have faced the pressure to:

— Jump on the hamster wheel of performance like the rest of those at work who aren’t following Jesus but are chasing the idol of personal success?

Sure, work is a good thing. You have Christian freedom there. But could it also be meat that leads you toward the idol of success? (Not saying don’t work! but maybe work less)

— Clothes - I can wear whatever. But am I concerned with my physical appearance because I believe it will give me value and worth? It’s an idol.

— alcohol, tattoos, political affiliation, masks, vaccines, music, movies, social media.

2. Does my conscience condemn it?

What do you believe the Holy Spirit saying about it?

The Holy Spirit knows how to lead each of us into a Jesus-first life.

As we walk with the Spirit, He will guide us.

How do you know if the Spirit is leading you away from something? check your motivation.

Are you justifying to yourself why you are allowed to do it?

3. Will it lead me toward a Jesus-first life?

How will it affect your natural temptations?

Will it lead you to violate another Scripture?

ILLUST - YA asking me to tell parent to allow them to get a tattoo - while living under parents’ roof violates commandment to honor father and mother.

ILLUST - XXX church

Will this action draw my affections away from Christ?

Will it have the possibility to bring me into more temptation and lead me from Christ?

4. Will it lead those around me toward a Jesus-first life?

Moms / Dads,

Sometimes, you need to give up things you are allowed to have for those you get to love.

ILLUST - there are certain kids movies in our family that we don’t watch. There are aspects of holidays we don’t participate in because of those we get to love — our adopted children. Am I allowed to watch and do these things - yes, but not at the expense of my children. It will draw them back into their past life.

Do I have freedom to work really hard to be successful? Yes, but if I’m not careful, I could communicate to my child or spouse that the idol of success is worth chasing and I could inadvertently encourage them to follow that idol.

How to fix?

check myself and stop chasing the idol myself

communicate the gospel as I live in gospel freedom

— could there be a case that participating in areas of Christian freedom might allow us to participate in the world around us so that we might be salt and light?

ILLUST - What do monks and Amish have in common? No, it’s not the opening of a bad joke. Both believe they need to stay completely out of the world in order to be godly.

However, the God of the Bible never stayed out of the world. In fact, in Jesus, He became flesh and came into the world.

Jesus remained in the world but not of the world, and He prayed the same for us:

John 17:14–19 (ESV)

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

This is where we get our idea of being “in the world but not of the world.” Yes, and amen. Stay tuned, we will discuss this more, BUT I believe we sometimes emphasize the not being OF the world and we neglect that we are sent INTO the world.

It is not as though we are stuck here in the world and so we are to try to remove ourselves and not be OF it. Instead, we are to remain distinct from the world AND GO INTO IT.

How do we remain distinct as we go in? By living in Gospel Freedom.

Are there areas in your life you KNOW are idols? You’re not just eating the meat - you’re straight up worshipping the idol.

Is there something you know the Spirit has been working on you about but you keep justifying it with the fact that it is “not really wrong” or “I should be allowed to do this or that?”

Working too much