Sunday, January 16, 2011 pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS
Who Are You Worshipping?
1 Corinthians 10:14-33
·
8:1-6 –
Concerning eating things offered to idols – the idol is nothing (a
non-existent entity). For
us, there is ONE God. I.e –
if you eat meat offered to an idol, the only benefit you will receive is
a full stomach. You can’t
offend something that doesn’t exist.
·
8:7-8 –
However, not everyone has such strong convictions.
For some, their conscience will not allow them to eat things
offered to idols (probably because of past experience with such).
·
8:9-13 –
Our task as brethren is to ensure that whatever liberties we might have
(such as eating these meats) must be tempered by how it affects our weak
brethren.
·
9:1-18 –
Paul’s pattern of self-denial is an example.
He did without things he was entitled to, for the sake of his
weak brethren. (I.e. He didn’t demand or take support from them as an
apostle).
·
9:19-23 –
Paul’s concern for ALL men prompted him to make such concessions often
and consistently – to Jews, Gentiles,
those without law (not compromise of the truth), the weak, etc.
It was about the gospel.
·
9:24-27 –
The consequence of rejecting your brethren and God (in such things).
Paul’s concern was that failure to follow God’s instructions
could lead to disqualification (i.e. falling from grace).
We need to run to finish with temperance (self-discipline which
means a willingness to do without what you want).
EVEN Paul had to continue such a life lest he be disqualified.
NOTE: This race for eternity is one where we can ALL win!
A part of my finishing this race is helping you finish the race
as well.
·
10:1-11 –
Paul appeals to the example of rebellious Israel.
Many were disqualified (not allowed to enter the Promise Land)
because they fail to remain faithful to God.
Their sinful conduct affected not only themselves but others
around them.
·
10:12-13 –
Therefore, let him who thinks he stands, TAKE HEED lest he fall.
Doing right is NOT impossible with God. (I.e. You don’t have to
eat that meat, especially in front of your weak brother.)
NOW, in our text for
today, with these principles in mind, Paul returns to the subject of
these idols. He is making
his case in defense of the weak brother (who has trouble eating things
offered to idols or even seeing the strong eat such things) and gives
some reasons WHY the strong should not eat what he might have liberty to
eat.
a.
The
command to flee from idolatry (14).
This is a non-negotiable command. Christians
are to have nothing to do with idols. 1 John 5:21, Lev. 19:4, Col. 3:5,
Acts 15:20, 29; Rev. 2:20.
b.
I speak to
wise men, judge what I say (15).
Using some sarcasm here, Paul is speaking to these supposedly
wise men (of which the strong would be – especially in their own eyes).
Since they are so smart, here are some things for them consider.
c.
Why do we
partake of the Lord’s Supper (communion)? (16)
Is it not communion with the blood and body of Christ?
NOTE: This text demonstrates the sacredness of this act (which will be
addressed in the next chapter at length).
Paul’s point – in this act of worship, we are communing with our
Savior, the ONLY TRUE God.
We worship Him understanding this!
d.
It is
something we do together (17) – though we may be many, we are one body
and in fellowship with one another we partake of this memorial.
NOTE: Verses like this one convince me that the Lord’s Supper is
something only to be done when we assemble together as the church.
e.
Consider
the example of the sacrifices of the Old Law (18) – Israel after the
flesh.
Under the Levitical system, when sacrifices were made, depending on the
type, portions were burned to God and other portions were given to the
priests.
In the case of the peace offerings (Lev. 3:3-11,
7:11-17, 7:28-38), a
portion was given to the priests who offered the sacrifice to eat (the
breast and right thigh) and the rest was eaten by the one offering the
sacrifice. It was to
be done while clean and it involved FELLOWSHIP with God and one another.
LESSON:
Let us take a moment and talk about worshipping God.
We need to clearly understand that true worship involves not only a
proper mindset (Jn. 4:24, 1 Cor. 14:15) but also proper actions.
God has always demanded that worship directed toward Him be done
the way He commanded. The
Israelite sacrifices were VERY specific.
The instructions He gave Cain and Abel were specific enough that
He had to reject Cain’s sacrifice (Gen. 4:1-4).
In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, when Paul deals with the Lord’s Supper, he
will demonstrate this!
f.
It’s not
about the idol itself (19) - Paul is clear in noting that idols are
NOTHING spiritually (just carved rocks or wood or some object).
g.
BUT, the
worship of those things is rejecting the one TRUE God and following
after Satan and his demons (20).
Anytime someone worships something other than God he is
worshipping the devil.
h.
Fellowship
with demons (20b-21) He challenges them: Do you want to have fellowship
(communion – same word as vs. 16 above) with those worshipping demons or
false gods?
Ephesians 5:11 says, “And have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
In vs. 21, Paul states that in God’s eyes, you CANNOT do this.
It is not that such is impossible to do, but God will NOT accept
such! (Much in the same way in 1
John 3:9 says that we CANNOT sin.
We do NOT have permission to do so).
The Bible clearly points out that we only have two choices –
worship God or don’t! If you
worship anything else, you are rejecting God.
(Josh 24:15, Matt. 6:24, 2 Cor. 6:14-16, etc.).
LESSON: We better be
careful to NOT leave the impression with someone that is worshipping a
false god that we approve of their conduct.
In this ecumenical society that we live in, many think that all
one needs is to believe in some sort of deity and they will be fine
eternally. DON’T partake of
such rhetoric in any way!
And don’t lend fellowship to the covetous idolater either! (2 John
10-11)
i.
Not only
will God not accept such, it provokes Him (22).
The verse speaks of provoking Him to jealousy.
Our God is a jealous God (Ex. 20:5 – the 2nd
commandment). Ex. 34:14 says
His name is jealous, He is a jealous God.
Deut. 4:24, He is a consuming fire.
When one rejects Him, he will face His wrath – Rom. 2:5-11, 2 Thess.
1:6-9.
j.
Are we
stronger than He? (22b)
Paul’s point here is that you cannot defeat God.
Worshipping some false god will accomplish nothing when you stand
before God. He has all
strength and power. Heb.
10:31 says it is a fearful things to fall into the hands of the living
God.
a.
In this
section, Paul summarizes what we have been discussing the past few
chapters about eating things offered to idols.
While these verses are full of lessons to consider, we have
examined many of them as we have gone through this text.
b.
All things
are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful (23).
The KJV says all things are not expedient.
The NASU says, all things are not profitable.
The point being, in what you do you need to consider the overall
consequences of your actions.
Are the things I am doing really expedient to the cause of
Christ?
c.
All things
are lawful, but not all things edify (23).
It needs to be about building up our brethren.
We shall see that developed more in chapter 14 of this book.
d.
Think
about your brother’s need (14).
This only one of many passages that tell is, IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT
YOU! When we understand that
as Christians we are to be servants and that we are to “through love
serve one another” (Gal. 5:13) our every act takes into account how it
will impact the most important cause in our lives.
Phil. 2:3-4 after speaking of unity challenges us to do the same
thing.
e.
Eat and
don’t ask questions (25-26).
While they needed to be concerned about idolatrous practices, it was not
something they were to go looking for.
When it came to eating meat, what I see here is a mindset that is
not suspicious. They were
told, when you buy meat, don’t ask questions.
Buy the food and eat it!
Don’t ASSUME it was offered to an idol.
It is when you find out it was that you have to weigh your
options.
In Vs. 26, Paul quotes from Psalm 24:1.
This accords with what Paul told Timothy in 1 Tim. 4:3-4 where he
said every creature is good for food (no longer did they need the Jewish
dietary laws). Paul’s point
is food is food. Don’t make
more out of than that.
NOTE: That is a principle we need to carefully consider in other matters
as well.
f.
Vs. 27-28
Paul gives a specific application.
If you are invited to someone’s house for a meal, eat what is set
before you. Don’t ask
questions. Assume it is JUST
FOOD! However, if they tell
you it is offered to an idol, then you need to not partake.
Their mentioning such means they probably view their meal as
ritualistic worship, or at least blessed by whatever god the meat was
offered to.
IT is NOW a question of your faith.
It goes back to NOT leaving a false impression with someone that
they are acceptable when they are not.
g.
Vs. 29 –
Conscience is the key! Paul
is clear that in you conduct you need to think about your brother’s
conscience in your conduct.
While your conscience is important (Rom. 14:22-23), so is that of your
brother. We should NEVER
knowingly do something that could tempt our brethren to engage in sin or
perceive that some sinful practice is acceptable!
We discussed the conscience back in chapter 8 and what was noted back
then still applies (8:9-13, Rom. 14:15-21).
h.
29b-30,
“For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?”
In these verses, Paul could be anticipating an objection from the
so-called wise among them.
In modern vernacular what he could be saying is? “Why is what I am
freely allowed to do regulated by the weak conscience of my brother?
Why can’t I just do whatever I want as long as I am thankful and
not violating my own conscience?
Why should I be criticized in eating something that is
intrinsically not wrong to eat?”
In such questions, there is an attitude of selfishness or
self-centeredness that seeks to put my own wishes above that of someone
else OR it is an honest inquiry.
EITHER WAY, the answer is given in the next verse.
i.
31,
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God.”
HERE is the point! It is all
about bringing glory to God and His purpose.
This passage is one of many that calls for us to deeply consider
God in our conduct. IT
challenges us to think about Him above all other things.
Our first thought ought to be about what will please and glorify
Him (cf. Matt. 6:33 – seek HIS righteousness, not ours!).
If in our conduct we seek to magnify God first, our behavior
toward our brethren will fall in line.
j.
Vs. 32-33
– Paul’s conclusion: Don’t offend ANYONE (i.e. cause to stumble and
fall) just to please yourself.
Paul is the example.
NOTE his ultimate goal – “that they may be saved.”