Text: 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Paul uses idol worship as an example to explain what our attitude should be concerning issues that we might face as a Christian.
Other issues are;
1 Corinthians 10:6-11 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Exodus 32:5-8 (Golden calf made by Aaron).
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Hosea 9:10
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Exodus 17:1-7 and Numbers 21:5-9 Loath this light bread.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Complainers about food. God gave them manna.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Let's look at what Paul said about idol worship. How do we handle this subject.
1 Corinthians 10:14-18 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Let's word it this way; the blessing that we share is the participation in the blood of Christ. We have all been saved by the blood of Christ. What a blessing.
The meal we eat together is the fellowship we have at the meal.
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. We are the meal, the bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? Before the cross, the Jews were united at the animal sacrifices.
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Don't participate in their worship. It's satanic.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
If you straddle the fence, you will get splinters in your pants.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
You can't use the devil to maneuver God.
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
You can be correct and not be right. You can be correct and hurt others.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
Don't seek to benefit yourself, try to benefit others.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake. E
Everything is the Lords, even if it's been sacrificed to idols. It is still the same meat. It is God's.
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
Fullness= everything in the earth.
How shall we handle this situation?
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
Meat is meat. Who cares if it has been offered to idols? After all it is God's meat. It does matter if it has been explained that it was offered to idols. If you eat of that meat, unbelievers will think you are participating in devil worship.
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
Don't be a stumbling block.
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
If you asked the blessing on this food, it is o k to eat as long as it is not offensive to others.
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Self-sacrifice sometimes is necessary is our service to God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
Don't offend the Jews. Don't offend the Gentiles. Don't offend other Christians.
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Listen to paul's greed.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
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