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4000 E. Collins
Rd. “Preaching the Living
Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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CHRISTIAN
LIBERTY AND FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS 1Co
8:1-13 (9/21/11) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I.
CHRISTIAN
LIBERTY EDIFIES ONE ANOTHER (1-3) A. [1Co 8:1] - Paul begins a new topic
again with the phrase “now concerning” (peri
de). The topic has to do with things (meat in this context) sacrificed to
pagan temple gods and then sold on the marketplace as economy meat. Can a
Christian partake? 1. Paul asserts that all have knowledge no
doubt as a rebuttal to the “arrogant” (1Co 4:6, 18, 19; 5:2; 8:1)
Corinthians. Perhaps these Christians chided those with weak consciences who
could not bring themselves to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 2. What they did not have was love (agapê - sacrificial love) which sought
the higher purpose of edification (oikodome,ō
- the building of a house). B. [1Co 8:2] - In speaking of the Corinthian
arrogance, they might have thought they knew (perfect infinitive of ginōskō - refers to a complete and
full knowledge) all there was to know about eating meat sacrificed to
idols. However, Paul reveals that they did not know (aorist indicative of ginōskō) the things they ought (dei) to know. Anyone who thinks he
knows it all proves he doesn’t. C. [1Co 8:3] - Paul mentions love,
specifically the love of God. The Christian life is more than knowledge; it
results in love for God and for others. 1. Truly knowing God results in love.
Knowing God reveal that the believer has been and continues to be “known” (perfect passive indicative of
ginōskō, complete knowledge) by God. 2. Paul laid down his principle: Christian
liberty seeks to love and edify believers and help them grow, not overwhelm
them with arrogant knowledge. II. CHRISTIAN LIBERTY ALLOWS MEAT
SACRIFRICED TO IDOLS (4-6)
A. [1Co 8:4] - In regard to whether a
believer can eat meat sacrificed to idols, it begins with the knowledge that it
is acceptable because there is such thing as an idol or other gods. This very
statement could have been a mantra of the Corinthians. “An idol is nothing in
the world” (cp. Isa 44:19). B. Paul would agree with that truth (cp.
Isa 44:19; Psa 115:4-8) and the one that states there is no God but one (Deu
6:4). Christianity is a monotheistic viewpoint and Paul will even argue the
case further. C. [1Co 8:5-6] - Paul argues that even if
many do believe in “so-called gods” (legomenoi
- present passive participle, “being called” gods, derogatory euphemism),
the reality which is the reality for the believer is that t6here is only one
God. 1. The “many (polloi - Eng. poly) gods (theoi
- Eng. theism)” is where we get the term “polytheism.” “many lords” was
probably a common phrase and meant the same concept. 2. Depending on Greek or Roman belief would
dictate whether mythological gods were in heaven or in earth. 3. The phrase “for us” is in the emphatic
position meaning that “but for us believers” we know the truth and there is
only one God. 4. The One God is described by the person
of the Father. It is “from” (ek - out
of) Him that all things were created (Gen 1:1) and “for” (eis - into or unto) Him that everyone
exists to be subservient to Him. This is particularly true for the believer. 5. The Son is mentioned as well, which
describes His place as the Son in the Godhead. He is not inferior to the
Father because “by” (dia - through the
agency of) the Son everything was created and “through” (dia - through the agency of) Him
everything exists. (cp. Joh 1:1; Col 1:16). This description portrays the Son
equal to the Father (as is the Holy Spirit not mentioned here). Though the
Godhead subsists in three Persons, the essence or nature of God is one. 6. Thus Paul ends his argument on the
oneness of God to prove there are no other gods unto which the pagans are
sacrificed their meat. Therefore eating meat sacrificed to idols is
acceptable since they do not exist. III. CHRISITAN LIBERTY DOES NOT CAUSE A
BROTHER TO STUMBLE (7-13) A. [1Co 8:7] - “However” (alla, - strong conjunction of contrast)
there was more to the matter that obviously the Corinthians were not
considering. 1. There were some believers who had a
pagan background and did not have this “knowledge” (gnōsis - understanding or consideration) and could not get
over the fact that some would eat meat sacrificed to idols. 2. The problem begins when such believers
eat even though their consciences do not permit it. Paul calls this a “weak”
(asthenês -
here it is not a spiritually strong) conscience. The result is that their conscience is “defiled” (moluno - soiled, unclean)
and they have a guilty conscience because they believe they are doing
something wrong. B. [1Co 8:8] - Paul puts the whole thing in
perspective by saying that eating any food does not commend us to God or make
us more spiritual. In either case, they were neither the “worse” (hustere,ō - come short) nor the “better” (perisseu,ō - to be over
and above). C. [1Co 8:9] - The point was that a higher
principle must be exercised, namely that their Christian liberty was never to
cause someone to stumble. 1. The believer does have “liberty” (exousia - authority or
unrestricted) in Christ
because all things are created by God and to be received with thanksgiving.
However, we must not be deceived in sinning under the name of Christian
liberty. Christian Liberty could be defined as having the freedom to do what
is right. 2. A “stumbling block” (proskomma - action of
stumbling, i.e. over a stone) is something that causes another believer to trip and impede
his Christian walk. D. [1Co 8:10] - Paul poses the example of
what happens if a weaker brother sees a stronger brother eat meat sacrificed
to idols? It can cause the weaker brother to go on and eat and defile his
conscience. E. [1Co 8:11] - The weaker brother that ate
because of the stronger brother has just defiled his conscience and become
“ruined” (apollumi
- strong word which can mean destory). It would not necessarily mean that every weaker brother’s
faith is ruined completely, but it could happen, and in all cases does some
damage. F. [1Co 8:12] - Since it the weaker brother
was a brother for whom Christ died (vs. 11), the stronger brother who wounds
(tuptō -
to strike or beat) his
conscience sins against Christ and His body. G. [1Co 8:13] - Paul concludes with his
summary. If food, which is nothing that makes a person spiritual, makes
another brother to stumble, then Paul will not partake. 1. In fact Paul said he would never eat
meat again in the sense that he would never do anything that causes another brother
to stumble. 2. Everything Paul does, he desires to do
for the edification of others, not his own liberty or benefit. This is what
some were doing in the Corinthian church. IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Edification is the goal for the church
(Eph 4:12), spiritual gifts (1Co 14:12), the believer’s speech (Eph 4:29) and
the believer’s actions (1Co 8:1).Is edification by goal among believers? B. Some Principles for Christian Liberty: 1. Do I have faith and knowledge on this activity (1Co
8:1-4)? 2. Am I fully convinced about this activity (Ro 14:5,
22-23)? 3. Can I do this activity unto the Lord (Ro 14:6-9)? 4. Will it enslave me (1Co 6:12b)? 5. Will it cause another brother to stumble (Ro 14:13,
21; 1Co 8:13)? 6. Am I walking in love in regard to this activity (Ro
14:14-16)? 7. Does it edify my brother (Ro 14:19; 15:2; 1Co
10:23b)? |
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