Seven Aspects of Christian Liberty, 9/27/26

Today, please turn with me to the book of 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 10 · chapter mention

chapter 10. We're going to be looking at verses

23 to 33, finishing out this chapter. And actually,

I failed to include this in, we are going to

include chapter 11 verse 1, which... in my opinion

and in the opinion of many others, goes with

the former passage and really should be verse

34 of chapter 10. Remember that the chapter divisions

in the scripture were not inspired. They were

put there at a later time. And I think in this

case, they got it off by a verse. Our subject

today is seven aspects of Christian liberty.

seven aspects of christian liberty let's begin

reading here in verse 23 all things are lawful

for me but not all things are helpful all things

are lawful for me but not all things edify let

no one seek his own but each one the other's

well -being eat whatever is sold in the meat

market Asking no questions for conscience sake.

For the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness.

If any of those who do not believe invites you

to dinner and you desire to go, eat whatever

is set before you. Asking no questions for conscience

sake. But if anyone says to you, this was offered

to idols. Do not eat it for the sake of the one

who told you and for conscience sake. For the

earth is the Lord's and all its fullness. Conscience,

I say, not your own, but that of the other. For

why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?

But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken

of for the food over which I gave thanks? Therefore,

whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,

do all to the glory of God. Give no offense,

either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the

church of God. Just as I also please all men

in all things, not seeking my own profit, but

the profit of many that they may be saved. Imitate

me just as I imitate, just as I also imitate

Christ. Let's pray. Our Father, we look at this

passage of scripture as Paul closes out this

subject. And we pray, Father, for the illumination

of the Spirit of God. We pray for the power of

the Spirit of God to teach this well, to teach

it properly with sound doctrine. We pray that

you would open up our hearts, Lord, to hear,

to apply, to see, and to glorify you. We ask

for your blessing in this time together. And

may the words of my mouth be acceptable in your

sight. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. In the passage

before us today, Paul draws to a close in this

letter regarding the broad subject of Christian

liberty. He gives an excellent summation and

concluding remarks that are vital for understanding

this subject. For a moment, let's just consider

our great God, who in his great wisdom and love

and understanding has given us as his creatures

so much freedom and liberty. God in his providence

is sovereign over all things, and yet he grants

us so much liberty and freedom to do what we

choose, what we like, what we enjoy. Indeed,

how great and glorious and majestic is our God.

As a reminder, again, as I wrap up this subject

today, I want you to just refresh us with the

fact that liberty consists of at least four different

categories. We've seen liberty as in freedom

from the curse and the bondage of sin, that we've

been set free from the dominion, the control

and the manipulation of sin. And our sins are

gone. They are washed away in the blood of Christ.

We are free from the curse. and the bondage of

sin. Secondly, we are free from the law of ceremonies

and regulations, all of the offerings and the

washings and the various diets and so forth,

which now have all been fulfilled in Jesus Christ,

because he is our high priest, and he is the

one supreme sacrifice that brings an end to all

of the other sacrifices. The book of Hebrews

and many others deal with this thoroughly. We

are the new temple of Christ and thus we are

free from the ceremonial law. Thirdly, we are

free from the doctrine and the commandments of

men that seek to bind our consciences where they

either forbid what God does not forbid or they

require what God does not require. Our conscience

must be bound to the word of God and not according

to the laws of men and their whims and their

wishes. We are free from the doctrine and commandments

of men. And fourthly, we are free to choose our

own course in all actions in what is indifferent.

That is, things which are not commanded nor forbidden

in the Holy Scriptures. This is the category

of Christian liberty that we've been considering

in this past time throughout this series from

chapter 8 through 10. Nevertheless, in all of

our actions, our liberty must be accompanied

by love, by wisdom, and by self -discipline.

Consequently, we are continually faced with decisions

about areas of liberty because God has given

that opportunity to us. And in our freedom, sometimes

we choose wisely and sometimes not so much. And

then we change course or we need to. Sometimes

in following our own heart or our inclinations,

we do not consider our neighbor. For though we

are completely free to do things that are not

forbidden by God, it is not always wise. to do

so the issue in these three chapters is on how

we exercise that god -given liberty let's do

a quick review in chapter 8 paul taught that

liberty should be based on both knowledge and

love there needs to be knowledge But there also

must be love. We must have a proper knowledge

of God and of his law and requirements for us,

both in what we are to do and what not to do.

We must know and recognize the things that are

areas of liberty. But at the same time, we must

have a love of neighbor so that in our zeal or

our knowledge, we do not create a stumbling block.

That was in chapter 8. Chapter 9, Paul taught

that Christian liberty also includes the opportunity

to voluntarily give up rights for the sake of

others and of the gospel. The exercise of this

liberty requires a spirit of servanthood and

self -discipline because we are stewards of the

gospel. That was in chapter 9. The first part

then of chapter 10. Paul shows how the Christian

liberty was used inappropriately in matters that

led to inadvertent idolatry. And he corrected

that. And he warned about spiritual pride and

complacency. And now, in these concluding verses,

Paul wraps it all up with seven aspects of how

we should approach and understand Christian liberty.

This is a masterful summary. that he gives us.

Seven aspects. So in the use of liberty, number

one, do it with discernment, do it with self

-denial, do it with peace of mind, do it in regards

to the conscience of others, do it with a view

to the glory of God, do it without giving offense,

and do it with Paul as our example. Seven aspects

of Christian liberty. We'll go down through these

fairly quickly. The first one in verse 23, have

Christian liberty with discernment, with wisdom,

with discernment. He says, all things are lawful

for me, but not all things are helpful. All things

are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

Now in this verse, something that Paul is quoting

the Corinthians is saying the two propositions,

all things are lawful for me. Now this could

be, But it could simply also be an assertion

from Paul. After all, he wrote this again back

in chapter 6, verse 12. There he said, all things

are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.

All things are lawful for me, but I will not

be brought under the power of any. Now, in either

context, it must, in either case, the context

must mean all things are lawful. That is... all

things that are not forbidden by God, obviously.

God in no way is inspiring this as a blanket

statement. He certainly is not saying that sinful

actions or thoughts are lawful. So when Paul

says here, all things are lawful, it has to be

all things that are fenced within the law of

God. The Christian faith does not teach escape

from creation. It is not a denial of the self.

In a way that cuts off the good things of God

that he has given us. The Christian life is not

an ascetic life. That is a life of rigid self

-denial of all things good. No, the Christian

faith teaches the redemption of creation. That

is, that the creation is good and that God has

given us all things freely. That he gives us

richly all things to enjoy is said in 1 Timothy

1 Timothy 6:17

6 verse 17. And that therefore the rich in this

present age are not to be haughty nor to trust

in uncertain riches but in the living God. The

more we forget this, the more detached our religion

becomes from the world that God made and called

it good. Psalm 84 verse 11. For the Lord God

Psalms 84:11

is a sun and shield. the Lord will give grace

and glory. No good thing will he withhold from

those who walk uprightly. Bless the Lord, O my

soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives

all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns

you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

who satisfies your mouth with good things so

that your youth is renewed like the eagles. Psalm

103 verses two to five. Therefore, as God has

given us all things richly to enjoy, then all

things indifferent are lawful. Doing them does

not violate the law of God. But Paul is saying

there are other considerations that must take

place. And this requires the use of discernment.

There are things that are not proper at certain

times or suitable depending on the circumstance.

They might not promote the objects that we are

pursuing or have the effect that we want. In

this, our ultimate goal is to be the glory of

God and the good of man. Later in this passage,

Paul states this supreme and overarching principle.

Therefore, whatever you eat or drink or whatever

you do, do it all to the glory of God. And so

we must be mindful of these questions. Will this

use of my liberty be profitable, useful, or expedient?

Will it be helpful and edify? Will it build others

up? Or will it be an occasion to sin? Parents,

think of this as you raise your children. There

are all sorts of things that are lawful for you,

but will doing them set a precedent that might

be harmful? Will it have the effect that you

want in your home? Will it lead to the building

up of your family or to the destruction of it?

Remember how God, how Paul said, all things are

lawful for me, but I will not, I will not be

brought under the power of it, of any. So therefore,

is it something that might be controlling? Sometimes

it is simply a matter of how much or what is

appropriate. Many things are good in a moderate

amount, but too much becomes excess, immoderate,

gaudy, or even unhealthy. For example, the book

of Psalms tells us that God gave wine, but we

know that alcohol can lead to drunkenness. God

created the sexual relationship between a man

and a woman to be done, to be together in marriage.

But even within marriage, it can become controlling

or manipulative. Dressing beautifully can also

become ostentatious or gaudy. Too much food,

the wonderful foods that we're surrounded with

and that we eat, but too much food can lead to

gluttony. The overemphasis of work, which is

a good thing, can make one a workaholic. And

indeed, wealth can lead to riches, but riches

to our own hurt. God has given us all of these

things and sometimes in great abundance to enjoy.

But at the same time, we must be careful not

to be controlled by it and mindful of our own

welfare and the welfare of others. This leads

us to the second point, and that is in verse

24, guard liberty with self -discipline and self

-denial. He says, let no one seek his own, but

each one the other's well -being. Let us guard

liberty with self -discipline and self -denial.

This simply instructs us to be on the lookout

for each other. How will my liberty or the use

of my liberty, the exercise of my liberty, How

will this bring well -being to my brother or

sister in Christ or to those around us? Now,

by nature, we know that we are selfish beings,

always looking out for number one, aren't we?

Love, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, 4 and 5,

love suffers long and is kind, does not envy,

does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does

not behave rudely, does not seek its own. When

we have the mind of Christ and our spirit and

our body are renewed by the Holy Spirit, then

we can no longer remain a selfish and grasping

person. We express concern for others and pray

for them and seek for their good and God's glory.

Sometimes this means denying ourselves. Now we

easily understand this most times when it comes

to bringing up children, although we also need

sanctification in that as well. But in this context,

not seeking our own, extends to our Christian

brothers and sisters. Indeed, looking out for

the blessings to others is something that must

be cultivated as it goes against the grain. It

goes against our natural instincts. Our supreme

example in this, of course, is the Lord Jesus

Christ. When we consider this incredible passage

in Philippians chapter 2 that describes what

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

Christ did, Paul says, Let nothing be done through

selfish ambition or conceit. but in lowliness

of mind. Let each esteem others better than himself.

Let each one of you look out not only for his

own interest, but also for the interests of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ

Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider

it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself

of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,

and coming in the likeness of men. And being

found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death, even

the death of the Christ. He is our example on

how to live this way. Suffer long, not envy,

not parade itself, does not behave rudely, does

not seek its own. Third then, we are to exercise

our liberty with peace. of mind though with a

clear conscience and with peace of mind this

is in verse 25 and 26 eat whatever is sold in

the meat market asking no question for conscience

sake for the earth is the lord's and all its

fullness paul here goes back to the context of

food remember that this is one of the questions

that the corinthians had given to him saying

what do we do here we what can we eat meat can

we eat food and meat that has been offered to

idols and paul gives clarification in this year

as he sums it up in this long discussion that

he has had and he gives us this counsel if you

can buy the food in the market then don't ask

any questions but remember that the food is the

the food comes from the earth and the earth is

the lord's and all its fullness he urges them

to continue going to the market where it's sold

Knowing that much of the food at certain markets

came from the temples, left over from that which

was eaten at the altar as part of the sacrifice

of the idolatrous temples, his command to them

is, eat it, enjoy it, don't have scruples about

the fact that it might have been offered to an

idol. Why? He quotes here from Psalm 24. The

earth is the Lord's and all its fullness. God

has created the earth with great bounty and glory

in all that is given for food and drink. That's

described here as fullness. All that is in the

earth created by God is for our enjoyment and

delight. Calvin says, quote, the fullness of

the earth means the wealth of good things with

which the earth is provided and enriched by the

Lord. Everything is sanctified. by christ end

quote solomon says this in ecclesiastes 5 verse

Ecclesiastes 5:18

18 and 19 here is what i have seen it is good

and fitting for one to eat and drink and to enjoy

the good of all his labor in which he toils under

the sun all the days of his life which god gives

him for it is his heritage As for every man to

whom God has given riches and wealth and given

him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage

and rejoice in his labor, this is the gift of

God. Because God is the creator. Although man

abuses and misuses his gifts, obviously misused

in this case of the food being offered to idols,

yet the intrinsic substance of the food and drink

does not change. The abuse is wrong and sinful,

but not the thing itself. Paul's prohibition

of eating it at the temple as part of the sacrifice

is that the eating of it as part of an idolatrous

and demonic worship is, as we saw last week,

having fellowship with demons as the people ate

the food. So the issue wasn't the food itself.

It was that the eating was actually having fellowship

with the demons behind the idols. And so, as

he concludes, as he speaks here, eat the food.

Enjoy it. Enjoy God's fullness in the earth and

in his creation. Give God thanks for it. Food

sold in the marketplace has lost its religious

attachment and significance. As Paul says to

Timothy in 1 Timothy 4, 4 -5, for every creature

of God is good and nothing is to be refused if

it is received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified.

It is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

If you're convinced, that your action is a matter

of liberty and you're not injuring or harming

others, then enjoy it with peace of mind for

all creation belongs to God and give him thanks

for it. Number four, though, use your liberty

with regard to the conscience of others. This

is verse 27 to 30. He says, he follows up with

this saying, if any of those who do not believe,

invites you to dinner and you desire to go, eat

whatever is set before you, asking no question

for conscience sake. But if anyone says to you,

this was offered to idols, do not eat it for

the sake of the one who told you and for conscience

sake, for the earth is the Lord's and all of

its fullness. Conscience, I say, not your own,

but that of the other. For why is my liberty

judged by another man's conscience? But if I

partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of

for the food over which I gave thanks? Here Paul

gives further direction and clarification with

great carefulness and precision. He guides this

instruction in this particular setting in Corinth

and also, of course, this applied to many other

places in the Gentile world. He gives them wisdom.

He builds on the prior statements. and gives

them now specific direction depending on the

circumstances. The first is this. If an unbeliever

invites you over for a meal, come over for dinner

or to join a feast, the Christian may go with

a clear conscience if, Paul says, he or she so

desires to go. This is a feast at his house or

a neutral place. It's not the temple with an

idolatrous ceremony. The association with unbelievers

is fine in this case. We are not required as

believers to withdraw from social life, but rather

to associate with others, including unbelievers.

Now this was very different than the practice

of the Jews. For them to eat with a non -Jew

would defile them, or even Jews who were not

wholly pure or sound in practice. Jesus was accused

of this many times in his ministry. Luke chapter

Luke 5:29

5 verse 29. It says, Then Levi gave him a great

feast in his own house, and there were a great

number of tax collectors and others who sat down

with him. And the scribes and the Pharisees complained

against his disciples, saying, Why do you eat

and drink with tax collectors and sinners? In

other words, this was not to be. But no, Jesus

did it because he came to save those who were

lost. And then Paul says, going back to our passage

here, eat whatever is set before you. A principle

of being a recipient of hospitality is to eat

what the host provides, be it ever meager or

abundant and no matter who is eating with you.

But Paul says, don't ask any questions for conscience

sake. In other words, don't ask any questions

that would create problems of the conscience,

problems of the conscience in yourself or in

the mind of a weaker brother who might also be

there. But suppose someone says, this is offered

in sacrifice to idols. So who is the any man

here? It says any man. Suppose any man says this

is offered in sacrifice to idols. So is this

a friendly host who thinks it might be offensive

and thus is warning you? Or is Paul referring

to another guest, maybe a weaker brother and

not the host? He does not say. In any case, he

says, don't eat it for the sake of your testimony

and for conscience sake. offending the weaker

brother or possibly supporting idolatry in the

host's mind the other person belongs to the lord

also we must take care not to cause offense or

to stumble if it was the host who said it then

by our partaking of it in light of that announcement

he might think you are participating in idolatrous

worship and so he goes on to say conscience not

your own but that of the other Now, the phrasing

of the two questions in verses 29 to 30 are a

bit perplexing. And where he says, excuse me,

he says here, why is my liberty judged by another

man's conscience? But if I partake with thanks,

why am I evil spoken of for the food over which

I give thanks? Now, there's a number of opinions

as to how exactly that fits into the context

here of what it is. Overall, I think here, I

don't necessarily have an exact answer for that

because it's just not exactly clear. Is he quoting

someone or is he simply stating these in order

to emphasize that our liberty is not judged by

another man's conscience, but nevertheless, we

are still to take heed, not to cause one to stumble.

As Charles Hodge puts it, he says, Paul is saying,

why should I make such use of my liberty as to

give offense? The strong must respect the scruples

of the weak. I think that's one possibility,

although there could be others. Now there's some

further applications for us as we consider this

particular passage where Paul really gets into

kind of the nitty gritty of this. First of all,

keep in mind that in the place that they were

to go and eat, there still could have been items

of religious significance in the household. Perhaps

something like a household shrine. We see that

today, for example, if you go into a Thai or

an Indian or Middle Eastern restaurant, many

times, depending on whose it is, they will have

some type of an idol there or some type of a

household shrine that's there. There's not a

religious service or anything attached with it.

It just kind of sits there. And so if the act

is not highlighted as a participation in their

worship, we can eat without anxiety. Why is this?

Because idols have no power over the food that

God has made. If you go to such a restaurant

or a household, do not worry about the presence

of such a figure or a statue. But if the host

makes the religious dedication of the food the

point of the meal, then we should abstain. And

we should abstain. I think that's putting this

all together here. I will also say, though, as

further application, that as Christian believers,

we should watch out for scrupulosity. What do

I mean by that? Overbearing scruples that isolate

and cut off table fellowship and conversation.

They cut off opportunities to witness or share

the love of Christ. Table fellowship around the

breaking of bread together is very meaningful

and it has many opportunities for us to share

together, to enter into life together, even to

speak of Christ together, even times when it

is with unbelievers. There are some in our current

day that will do this, that will break this off

by being overly scrupulous about the ingredients

of something or even the producer of something.

They're boycotting companies or questioning every

ingredient or refusing foods tied to cultural

practices that they might dislike. Paul is saying

here that that kind of investigation is unnecessary

and it can weigh down one's conscience. It should

not cut off the table where unbelievers might

hear the gospel or other things might be shared

together. Christianity does not require withdrawal

from ordinary social life with those outside

of Christ's church. Pastor Bill Einwächter sums

it up like this. He said, don't ruin your testimony

for the sake of liberty. Yes, abstain from the

appearance of evil, but other people's consciences

are not our judges. You do not have the authority

to judge me on matters indifferent, but I will

refrain or respect a tender conscience. The dangers

are twofold. The first is that we will give offense

to them. The second is that we would damage our

own testimony. Let us not do so, but receive

the food with thanksgiving. Finally in this is

a final application of this. Brothers and sisters,

live in faith, not in fear. Live in faith because

God has not given us the spirit of fear, but

of a sound mind. Number five. Practice your liberty

with a view to the glory of God. With a view

to the glory of God. Therefore, he says, whatever

you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to

the glory of God. We glorify God when we see

the power, the glory, the honor, and the wisdom

of God displayed in our lives. to the world around

us. Let me say that again. We glorify God when

we see the power, the glory, the honor, and the

wisdom of God displayed in our lives to the world

around us. Paul is talking here about everyday

life, that life lived as a city on a hill or

a light on a candlestick that is not hid. We

are to make God's glory visible. to display his

character and to advance his honor. So how do

we do this? Here are a few ways. We might feast

together, rejoicing in God's goodness and in

his provision and being thankful. We should glorify

God. By doing things with excellence. By keeping

our word. By producing good things. By honoring

the Lord in our charitable giving. By having

honorable occupations. By freely using Christian

liberty and enjoying the life that God has given

us. We have interaction with our communities

including the lost because we're not recluses

or hermits. And as much as is possible, we are

to live in peace with all men and to seek the

good of our towns, our cities, our state, and

our country. Now, of course, there are times

when loving our neighbor also means confronting

evil that brings the wrath of God or that threatens

them. Indeed, we display God's glory. We make

it visible by being responsible citizens, by

looking out for our own freedoms, the freedoms,

the blessing, and the well -being of our own

neighbors. We glorify God when we are a happy

and a cheerful people filled with goodwill and

praise to our God. Are you known for being a

morose, grumpy, grouchy person? Or are you one

that is known for glorifying God as being a happy

and cheerful filled with goodwill and thanksgiving?

Indeed, we love, To worship God. And this is

visible. Spurgeon said. Our happy God. Should

be worshipped by a happy people. A cheerful spirit.

Is in keeping with his nature. His acts. And

the gratitude which we should cherish. For his

mercies. Our happy God. Should be worshipped

by a happy people. And then finally. We advance

and promote the lordship of Christ. In every

area. And in every sphere of. This verse is the

goal of this whole section and it's quite a comprehensive

statement. I do not have time to fully develop

it today. I am considering on possibly following

up with a sermon just on this verse. But indeed,

God is to be glorified in how we eat and how

we drink and how we love our wives and how we

love our husbands and how we remain sexually

pure and in how we are dedicated to each other

and in how we do not worship idolatrous temples

or partake with them in these sins and how we

do good work and glorify him wherever we are.

We are, brothers and sisters, to glorify our

God in every way. Let's move on then to number

six. We are to give no offense with our liberty,

but to seek to live in peace with others. Verse

32 and 33. Give no offense either to the Jews

nor to the Greeks or to the church of God. Just

as I also please all men in all things, not seeking

my own profit, but the profit of many that they

may be saved. Now there are times in the service

and worship of God that the world will hate us,

that they will not like us for what we do or

what we believe. Jesus told us this would happen.

And of course, it is the experience of many of

the prophets and the apostles and the faithful

Christians throughout history. Paul is not talking

here about living a life where everybody likes

us because we conform to whoever we are with.

Nor is Paul talking here about being a people

pleaser. He is not self -absorbed, constantly

trying to remain in good standing with everyone.

After all, over in Galatians 1, verse 10, he

Galatians 1:10

says, For do I now persuade men or God? Or do

I seek to please men? For if I still please men,

I would not be a bondservant of Christ. So is

Paul contradicting himself here? Most emphatically,

no. In no way is a man of God to accommodate

himself. to sin or sinful desires, to worldly

ways, or to syncretism in the worship of God.

Syncretism is the blending of various religious

beliefs into one new faith, like Santeria, which

is a fusion and blending of voodoo with Roman

Catholicism in some parts of the Caribbean, or

in other places, a mixing of paganism and Christianity.

No, we're not talking about that. In order to

understand this, we must first of all define

offense. Give no offense. The word means, very

clearly, it's not, they didn't like me. They

didn't like what I say. Do things so that they

don't not like me. No. It means do not lead into

sin. Matthew Poole says it this way. Give no

occasion to stumble as in sinning. Give no occasion

to stumble as in sinning. So we could rephrase

this. Give no offense. Do not lead others into

sin. Do not put a stumbling block before them

with your liberty. Do not put unnecessary roadblocks

or cause another to stumble in the use of our

liberty, enabling or abetting them in their sin.

And Paul is very careful to follow this pattern

with whomever he is with, which means adapting

himself in areas, in geography, depending on

who he is with. He mentions, give no offense.

To the Jews, to the Greeks or the Gentiles, and

to the church of God. And his desire in all of

this is not his own profit, but that many would

be saved. That they would come to know the one

true God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.

That they would be converted and receive eternal

life. So what he is saying here in this is that

we are not to put any kind of unnecessary stumbling

block. in someone else, where they would be led

into sin through the use of our liberty. Pillar

Commentary summarized this so well, quote, Paul

highlights his commitment to working in such

a way as to positively impress those among whom

he lives and works. His love for and his commitment

to God keep him from doing anything inappropriate

merely to please humans. It is that same love

for God and commitment to him in the gospel that

led him to adapt his life and his ministry to

the needs and the context of those among whom

he lives and ministers. In order to bring them

into a life -transforming contact with the gospel

message God has entrusted to him. No, Paul was,

end quote. No, Paul was not being fickle. It

was the love for God that depending who he was

with, he adapted himself to them, to their lifestyle

or to their culture as much as he was able to

in order to win them with the gospel. with the

gospel and to not cause them to sin. Number seven

then, seventh point here, seven aspect of liberty.

In the use of liberty, look to Paul as an example.

Look to Paul as an example. He says, imitate

me just as I also imitate Christ. With this last

sentence, Paul now closes out this subject and

moves on to matters of public worship and the

proper order of it in the following several chapters.

So confident he is with his faithful walk of

life before God that he tells them as their shepherd

and master teacher, imitate me, follow my example,

see how I have lived, how I have denied myself.

how I have sought to give no offense to others

or live in prejudice against any. See how I sought

for the well -being and the salvation of others

and have so ordered my life that you can imitate

me. This is Paul. What an incredible statement.

Now he exhorts Timothy in the same way. In 1

1 Timothy 4:12

Timothy 4, verse 12, he tells Timothy, let no

one despise your youth, but be an example to

the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in

spirit, in faith, in purity. This is a good exhortation

for us, for us with our children, for us to others.

It is particularly a good exhortation and convicting

to me. as a preacher and a pastor, and to all

who shepherd the flock of God or teach or preach

the unsearchable riches of God. We are to so

live and work as those worthy of imitation. This

is one of the pitfalls of just getting all of

your spiritual diet from people that you listen

to on podcasts or the internet and recorded sermons.

You don't know their life. You can't imitate

them because you don't know them. And they are

very useful. I listen to them. I get great benefit

from it. But it's no substitute for being in

a church where you have faithful leaders that

you can know, that you can see, and by God's

grace, that you can imitate. We are to so live

and so work as those worthy of imitation. but

he adds one more qualification. And this is a

redeeming one. Remembering that both he and we

are very human, that we do sin. And he says,

imitate me as I imitate Christ. As I imitate

Christ. And in this, he puts the focus right

back to where it belongs. Christ is the ultimate

example. He is the standard to whom we are to

conform our lives, our actions, our beliefs.

And yes, Our practice of our liberty. We conform

them to him. I've already made a number of applications.

As I've gone through this passage. So I'm going

to close with this one final exhortation. In

your practice of Christian liberty. Live it.

Coram Deo. That's the Latin for. Live life before

the face of God. Live your life before the face.

Of God. Do not live simply as you would like.

And take all the liberties. You like. But let

all of your actions. Let all of your thoughts.

Your beliefs. Your liberty. And your life in

this world. Be before the face of God. This is

being God conscious. In what you do. And letting

your light so shine. Among the people of the

world. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4, verse 6,

2 Corinthians 4:6

For it is the God who commanded light to shine

out of darkness, who has shown in our hearts

to give the light of the knowledge of the glory

of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Let us then

resolve, dear brothers and sisters, to live our

life quorum Deo, before the face of God. Amen,

and may it be so. And let's pray.