›I Corinthians 10:13-11:1
›Tying Up Loose Threads
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?
(I Corinthians 10:23-30, ESV)
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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. 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
(I Corinthians 10:31-11:1, ESV)
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›Main Point
› Paul closes out loose threads for the argument
› It is forbidden to eat food sacrificed to idols in the pagan temples
› As for food in the meat markets one can give thanks to God for
› One should refrain, however, for the sake of another's conscience
› It is Christlike to think of others rather than to focus entirely on oneself
› By building each other up it is Christlike by definition
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›Application Points
›Tying Up Loose Threads
– The strong had argued that because food is food and there is only One God…it is possible to go to the pagan temples
– The problem is with their knowledge they come to the wrong conclusions
– Paul has to say to them “Yes…but”
– He argues against their conclusions rather than their presumptions
– It isn’t about us, it’s about each other
– It is about how we are now free to glorify God with all we are
– There are many who can take much of what Paul is saying out of context
– “I try to please everyone in everything I do” to mean we are to simply make people happy
– To be as accepting as possible
›Application Points
›Tying Up Loose Threads (2)
– The practical conclusion tot his is to allow any kind of lifestyle
– Many will not, then, criticize injustice, sexual immorality, or unrighteousness
– Is this the right view?
– If this was Paul’s view then everything he just said would violate the position
– Paul has shown them repeatedly that certain things are unacceptable
– It doesn’t make sense in the immediate context
– Paul says to do everything to do the glory of God
– There are things, however, that do not glorify God
– Flee from Idolatry
– Likewise, flee from sexual immorality
– Such lifestyles are not acceptable for the Christian Community
›Application Points
›Tying Up Loose Threads (3)
– It means that we will not need to be scrupulous with certain things but instead we should recognize the goal is to be helpful and to build up
– It is impossible that encouraging sinfulness is helpful or building up
– What Paul is describing are things which are not absolutes
– I am not one who believes that drinking alcohol is sinful
– I am not going to limit a fellow Christians freedom simply because I do not like the taste
– Let’s say, however, that I did like the taste and regularly did partake
– I have a freedom to do so in Christ to His glory
– Let’s say you A. Believe that all alcoholic drinking is bad
– B. Have had struggles with alcoholism in the past
– I should, in love, refrain from drinking or seeking to change your mind
›Application Points
›Tying Up Loose Threads (4)
– The same is true if you were someone who had a history with alcoholism
– It would be unloving to abuse my freedom
– Does this mean I shouldn’t drink?
– No, it reminds us that the Christian ethic is one based upon glorifying God by being personally disciplined and having love for each other
– There are many things that can be understood in this way
– I enjoy all the ways image bearers of God can be so creative
– Beauty is beauty
– I seek wisdom in what to enjoy and to not be led into certain redefinitions of art which is, in the end, ugly
›Application Points
›Tying Up Loose Threads (5)
– There are those who believe that we should refrain from art by non-Christians
– Or art at in general!
– If someone made it known to me that this was their position I would refrain from being unloving toward them
– I would also encourage each individual to see what we are being scrupulous about
– In one sense, he sides with both the strong and the weak
– The strong with their premise, the weak with their conclusions
– There really is freedom found in Christ that allows us to enjoy this life
– There really is a line, however, that separates such enjoyment from sinfulness
›Application Points
›Tying Up Loose Threads (6)
– Be encouraged to take seriously what we are reading today
– Consider what can give glory to God and not hinder such things
– There are things which we must say are forbidden, but there are other things which are not forbidden which we can partake and give thanks for
– Let us be given wisdom to know the difference
– Let us have discipline and love for each other to seek the better way
– The greatest way does not lead to complete libertarian freedom, but complete freedom to glorify our God in this life
›Application Points
› The Gospel of Christ
– Origins
– Fall
– Redemption
– Glorification
