1 Corinthians 8
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.
1 Corinthians 10
1 For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
3 and all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."
8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
11 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.
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16 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?
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
18 Consider the people of Israel:are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20 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.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Do All to the Glory of God
23"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
26 For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."
27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience--
29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
Conviction Friction, Then and Now
This passage separates believers into two groups, which means we instinctively start to think
of which group we might be in. (1 Corinthians 8:7, 9-13; 10:24, 25)
Paul’s intent—more importantly, God’s intention in this passage—isn't to
weaponize either of these groups against the other.
The controversial practice that’s being discussed in Chapters 8 and 10 is what to do about
food offered to idols. May they eat it? If so, does it matter where they eat it?
What Corinth Knew
Food is food. Rock is rock. God is one. (8:1, 4-6)
What Corinth Missed
l m Knowledge isn't the goal of Christian faith.
Love is. (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:2, 13:2; 1 Timothy 1:5;
2 Peter 1:5-7)
If you love God, it’s because, before you loved God,
you were known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:3; cf. Galatians 4:9)
One of the great effects of daily reflection on the gospel is that it
blows up our spiritual superiority complexes. (1 Corinthians 4:7;
cf. 1 Corinthians 1:27, 29)
Knowledge without love kills. (1 Corinthians 8:1, 7-13)
The Corinthians had one agenda for the “weak” brothers: teach them the way
of knowledge. (1 Corinthians 8:1, 4-6)
Make yourself a slave of the law of love and know true
freedom. (1 Corinthians 8:13, 9; 10:23-24, 32-33)
Idols may be nothing. But idolatry is demonic.
(1 Corinthians 10:1-22)
Paul draws a connection between outward signs of God’s saving power in
the Old Testament (Red Sea, manna, water from a rock) and
outward signs of His saving power in the New Testament
(baptism, Lord’s Supper).
What does this have to do with Chapter 8’s eating of idol food in the idol temples?
(1 Corinthians 10:14-22)
Demons get pleasure from the worship that takes place in
pagan temples. (1 Corinthians 10:20)
Outside of its idolatrous context, idol food becomes
simply food and belongs to the one God. (1 Corinthians 10:25;
Romans 14:14)
So, How Do We Apply This?
1. Let’s prayerfully, wisely, and humbly shepherd those who have converted to Christianity
from formal pagan backgrounds to break with the idolatrous practices they previously
engaged in.
2. Let’s take heed lest we ourselves fall into informal idolatry, which can take a hundred
forms in our lives.
3. Let’s walk in love with fellow believers, seeking to serve, encourage, and strengthen
them.
4. Let’s actively look to Christ and trust in His finished work on our behalf.
5. Let’s break the ties that can form between our hearts and false gods/saviors.
6. Let’s daily depend on the Holy Spirit’s power to sanctify us.
Thanks Matt!!
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