We temper our knowledge with love.
1 Cor 8:1-8
Meat sacrificed to idols:
Could (should) you eat it or not?
Why was this an issue?
Was the answer not obvious?
And how can this possibly relate to us?
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”We all have
knowledge.”
This “knowledge” puffs up,
but love builds up.
The “know-it-all” knows nothing.
The real key: loving God.
We hear, “It’s who you know.”
No, it’s who knows you.
And God knows those who love Him.
And because we love God,
we love each other.
TRUTH
Pagan gods do not really exist.
There is no God but our God.
Everything is from him and for Him.
APPLICATION OF TRUTH
Brother A: “I can eat this meat!”
Because …
Brother B: “I dare not eat this meat!”
Because …
Similar discussion in Rom 14.
We temper our knowledge with love.
And all people will know.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have
loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will
know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We exercise our liberty with care.
1 Cor 8:9-13
The Conscience
A God-given “inner compass.”
It can accuse or defend our actions.
Rom 2:14-15
It can affirm that we are living godly lives.
2 Cor 1:12
It can be clear or clean. 1 Tim 3:9
It can be seared (branded with a hot iron).
1 Tim 4:2
It can become evil. Heb 10:22
It can be cleansed. Heb 9:14
It can be weak, tender, overly careful.
1 Cor 8:7
It can be affected by past experiences.
1 Cor 8:7
It can be defiled (stained or marred).
1 Cor 8:7
It can be retrained. Acts 10:28; Gal 2:11-14
Right … or Wrong?
Rom 14:14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in
itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.
Rom 14:22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the
one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But
whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not
from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Right … AND Wrong
1 Cor 8:9-12
Insisting on my RIGHTS may be WRONG!
If it becomes a stumbling block, an obstacle.
Rom 14:13
If it spurs another to do what is “wrong” to him.
If my “knowledge” destroys him (ruins him so that he perishes).
He is my brother. We belong to each other.
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Gen 4:9
He is the reason
Christ died.
Paid with His life to save him.
Surrendered His rights to deliver him.
(What was I saying about “my rights?”)
His destiny is (to
some extent) in my hands.
“Cause this weak person to be destroyed.”
What “right” do I have to do that?
Is it worth it? Dare I help a brother to be lost?
Just a Wound?
If I wound others’ weak consciences …
I sin against them.
I sin against Christ.
I endanger myself.
Matt 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it
would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and
to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Decision
1 Cor 8:13 Therefore, if food (or ___________) makes my brother stumble, I will
never eat meat (or _____________), lest I make my brother stumble.
He is not just “some person.”
He is the brother – my brother – for whom Christ died.
That is why we belong to each other.
We yield our rights.
1 Cor 9:1-15
LOVE – THE KEY TO:
An Apostle’s
Aspiration
A Savior’s Surrender
A Congregation’s
Catalyst
A Christian’s Commitment
“Am I Not Free?” 9:1-6
Rhetorical questions (9:1-6), expecting certain answers. Paul has the
right to …
Food and drink – Christian marriage – church support.
Because …
He is an apostle.
He has seen the Lord Jesus.
He has served effectively.
The Corinthians are his proof,
his “seal of approval.”
Others exercise these rights.
“It’s Only Right!” 9:7-14
Seven Analogies
Regarding Pay:
1. Soldiers are paid for their sacrifice.
2. Vine-growers eat the fruit of their work.
3. Shepherds enjoy the milk of their flock.
4. Oxen eat as they thresh. Deut 25:4
5. A plowman tills the ground in hope.
6. A thresher beats out grain from its husk in hope.
7. Temple workers eat the food offered on the altar.
Those who sow (spiritually) should reap (materially).
“In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel
should get their living by the gospel.”
“But I Yield.”
1 Cor 9:12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather
than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
1 Cor 9:15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these
things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone
deprive me of my ground for boasting.
“But I Refuse.”
Paul’s rights: he has the right to refuse
them.
1 Thess 2:6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others,
though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her
own children.
Christians – like Paul and godly mothers –
surrender our rights …
not because we have to …
but because we want to!
We are compelled by faith in Christ.
1 Cor 9:16-27
To “preach” is simply to present the gospel anytime, anywhere, to anyone,
by any means.
Paul: “I cannot brag about my efforts to evangelize.”
“Necessity (pressure, duty, obligation) is laid upon me!”
“Woe” (pain, displeasure) to me. It hurts me if I don’t!”
“I ought to want to!”
“I do want to!”
“But even if I don’t want to, I still have to!”
“I can’t help myself!”
1 Cor 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all
things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
“I will do whatever it takes – by all means – to identify with lost
people, in order to win them to Christ.”
“Before I ask others to come to me, I will come to them.”
“Before I invite others to become what I am, I will do what I can (as a
Christian) to become what they are.”
“We are compelled to finish strong.” 9:24-27
Purpose: Run to win the prize.
Preparation: Exercise self control.
Perspective: for an imperishable wreath.
Direction: Take aim and do not drift.
Training: Whip your body into shape.
Perseverance: Do not quit. Cross the finish line.
Practice: Don’t just preach to others. Pass the test yourself. Do not be
disqualified. (You could be.)
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