Liberty Constrained by Love (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)
1 Corinthians: A Gospel Cure for What Ails the Church • Sermon • Submitted
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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.
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.
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.
10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge 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.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Introduction:
Some of the most contentious issues in the church are not often directly related to doctrine but matters related to conscience.
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In Corinth in the first century on of the hot button topics was eating meat sacrificed to Idles.
If we are not careful then our attitude about our conviction becomes toxic to our brothers and sisters.
Pride is poisonous.
Pride is poisonous.
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
Truth without love is always divisive.
Truth without love is always divisive.
When you know the Bible well the temptation is to thump each other on the head with it.
When the gray areas of Scripture are treated with a heavy hand church unity becomes a causality of pride.
When the gray areas of Scripture are treated with a heavy hand church unity becomes a causality of pride.
We have no right to use being right as a wedge between us and a brother.
Group One - There where more mature believers. They understand the gospel. They understood grace and that it is Christ that sets up free.
They understood the
The grace of God gives personal freedom.
The grace of God gives personal freedom.
My relationship with God is based upon the work of Christ not my work for Christ.
In Christ I am free.
In Christ I am free.
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.
Food doesn’t move us into or out of relationship with God.
Can I do this? - YES!
In the local church the primary consideration moves from me to we.
In the local church the primary consideration moves from me to we.
This brings up a different question?
Should I do this.
Just because there is no
The Love of my brother calls me to personal concession.
The Love of my brother calls me to personal concession.
1 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
Love of my brother constrains my freedom in Christ
In the body of Christ I am responsible.
In the body of Christ I am responsible.
I am responsible to promote the holiness of my brothers.
I am responsible to never distract my brother from full devotion to Christ.
As a Christian I have the right to... but the question
We must not just ask the question
Can I?
We must go on to ask the question - Should I.
10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge 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.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
My freedom in Christ must be checked with my responsibility to the body of Christ.
My freedom in Christ must be checked with my responsibility to the body of Christ.