Sunday School July 9th, 2006 1st Corinthians 8(1-13)
1ST CORINTHIANS 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Charity edifieth the church
Paul reveals to these folks right away in this chapter that the lesson is going to be about eating meat that had been sacrificed to idol gods. In the days this Scripture was penned gentile people would offer sacrifices to their idol gods and then the “temples” would sell the meat to be consumed by folks with limited means. There was nothing wrong with the meat except that it had been dedicated to an idol. Notice the second part of this verse. People on both sides were sure they had the right answer on this question. Some held that this meat was off limits because it had been offered in an idolatrous service. Others held meat was meat. Where it came from didn’t matter, as long as it was received with thanksgiving to Our Lord. Everyone was sure they knew what was right, but notice the words of Paul: “knowledge puffeth up,” which means when we think we are really smart, pride is soon to follow. Knowledge can cause us to fall out of favor with God, but charity edifieth, or builds up the church. You take a church full of real smart folk sand I’ll take a church full of people who love the Lord and each other, and I’ll do much better in my church. Love makes strangers feel welcome. Love gives Christians hope and comfort. Love causes forgiveness and kindness. Knowledge is good, but if it is not accompanied by love, it will not win souls.
8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
Know it alls
You can be sure of one thing when a person acts like they know it all; they don’t. A truly intelligent person realizes his knowledge is extremely limited. This is also true on Spiritual matters. The Bible says that now we see through a glass darkly, which means we only see and understand the things of God partially. When a preacher or teacher claims to have all knowledge of God, that man is a gigantic bag of hot air. I don’t know it all, but I know they don’t know it all either.
8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Loving God
I don’t know everything about God, but He knows everything about me. The greatest mystery of the universe is that He knows me, yet He loves me. This verse doesn’t say God knows them who are knowledgeable about Him, but God knows them who love Him. The word translated “know” doesn’t mean to have a mental awareness of, but it means known with of approval or acceptance, and acknowledged by God as His. Remember the words which will be pronounced to the lost by Our Lord on judgment day: Depart from me, I never knew you. The Scripture teaches us that God knows everyone to the very marrow of their bones, so why does He say “I never knew you.” The answer is that He never knew them as one of His. He never had been welcomed into their lives and had been offered communion with them. Christianity is not a religion; it is a personal relationship between a human being and God.
8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
One God
The reason Christians were fed to the lions by the Roman Emperors was because they would not acknowledge anyone as god except God. They died because they determined to remain faithful to Jesus. They would not bow down and proclaim a man as God. Paul reveals that an idol is really nothing at all, actually an idol is satanic worship hidden under a different name. There are only two beings in the universe that vie for the hearts of mankind; God and Satan. I don’t want to offend anyone, but I must proclaim my faith in Jesus only. Whether the idol is called Baal, Ashtaroth, Zeus, Aries, Joseph Smith, Buddha, Allah, David Koresh, Jim Jones or any of our other modern religion founders; they are all still Satan hidden under the guise of religion. The followers of these religion believe they are right, but they need to examine the evidence. I think they will discover Jesus is supreme. You don’t think Satan would found a religion. Listen to this Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” I readily admit I’m a religious bigot. I believe Jesus Christ is the only saviour of mankind. All other ways to try and reach heaven will end in utter rejection. Before you dismiss me totally read this: John 14:6 ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ I think Our Lord makes it pretty plain; if you want to get to the Father, you must go through His Son. He only has one and His name is Jesus Christ!
8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
Weak brothers
Some believers were not conscious of the fact that idols were not real, or Satan dressed up as a god. When they ate the meat they felt condemned. It is important to understand they were not condemned by the Holy Spirit for the Holy Spirit realizes idols are nothing at all; they were condemned by their own spirit. This is a very real and important phenomenon for young Christians to understand. Sometimes we make ourselves feel bad; it is not the Holy Spirit condemning us, but some teaching we have acquired over the years. Often that teaching can be based on old wives tales and traditions of families. If we are not careful these things can dampen the joy of our salvation. We must study the Word of God so we can tell the difference. When we break God’s law the Holy Spirit will condemn us and we need to repent. If we break our own law, within our own conscience, it is up to us what we do. We are not commanded to live up to these directives. Let me give you a Scripture to help you understand. 1st John 3:20-21 “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” This shows us that it is possible to be condemned by our own heart, or conscience. It makes us feel bad, but God is greater than our heart.
8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Drawing lines of conduct in our lives
We are saved by the grace of God though faith: period, not by works or our own righteousness. Those who chose to eat the meat offered to idols were no more righteous than those who chose not to. Righteousness does not come from abstaining from things which are not necessarily sinful in the first place. Some think their clothing and appearance is righteousness, but they are wrong. Righteousness comes from our relationship to Christ.
Personal Choice
The area I wanted to close this lesson with is very important and I want to make myself very clear about it. Paul said if eating this meat would offend one of his weak brethren then he would choose to eat no meat while the world stood. I want you to understand that was Paul’s pledge. I don’t know if Peter, John, or any of the other Apostles, said the same. They didn’t have to! Their relationship to God was personal between them and God; they might not have been condemned at all concerning this matter and may have refused to compromise for the sake of those with less knowledge. I don’t know if they did or didn’t, but whatever their decision, it did not make them closer to God or farther from Him. Today we have people who will, or will not, allow certain things in their lives. These things Christians spat over and they are not relevant at all. Some condemn those who wear shorts or bathing suits, others condemn women who wear slacks or make up, the style of music one listens too, jewelry, hair length, suits, facial hair, sleeve length; I could go on and on. Let me make this perfectly clear; all of this stuff is one’s personal decision. If God condemns you for something in you own walk with Him; stop it, but don’t think that gives you the right to condemn everyone else. Do not try to judge another man’s servant. One of my favorite verses in the Bible tackles this problem. Consider these words: Romans 14:22 “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” I will try to avoid hurting my brethren, but I will not be governed by the conscience of someone else. I must live according to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and my own understanding of God’s wishes for my life. I will not make myself miserable for the whims of others. The problem is, where do you stop? There are so many different ideas today you would be able to do nothing without offending someone. Remember this advice: Phillippians 2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
New Living Translation (to be used as a commentary only)
Food Sacrificed to Idols
1 Now let’s talk about food that has been sacrificed to idols. You think that everyone should agree with your perfect knowledge. While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for.4 So now, what about it? Should we eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God and no other. 5 According to some people, there are many so-called gods and many lords, both in heaven and on earth. 6 But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we exist for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.
7 However, not all Christians realize this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. 8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t miss out on anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. 9 But you must be careful with this freedom of yours. Do not cause a brother or sister with a weaker conscience to stumble.10 You see, this is what can happen: Weak Christians who think it is wrong to eat this food will see you eating in the temple of an idol. You know there’s nothing wrong with it, but they will be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been dedicated to the idol. 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak Christian, for whom Christ died, will be destroyed. 12 And you are sinning against Christ when you sin against other Christians by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong. 13 If what I eat is going to make another Christian sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to make another Christian stumble.
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PASTOR RICK BARCUS
