Use our freedom to love others: 1 Corinthains 8v1-13

Read through all of it.

Now, about food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all possess knowledge.

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

But the man who loves God is known by God.

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols,

we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth,

as indeed there are many gods and many lords,

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live.

And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

But not everyone knows this.

Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol,

and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

But food does not bring us near to God.

We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge,

eating in an idol's temple,

won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?

So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

When you sin against your brothers in this way,

and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin,

I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

Thank you, Connor.

And there's pens and notes being passed around if you'd like to take notes.

And there's a sheet of paper as well.

Just put up your hands and you can get one.

And just by way of introduction this morning,

Chapter 8 starts a new section in 1 Corinthians.

It brings us right to the very end of Chapter 10,

which is all about how we use our freedoms,

how we use our rights.

Previously, from Chapters 5 through to 7,

was all about how we conduct our relationships

and our attitudes towards sex.

And so this week is a new section,

a new theme,

about how we use our rights and our freedoms.

And if you've missed any of the talks at all,

you can find them on the church website.

You can listen back to them.

And if you have any questions

or anything you want to follow up from that,

please do talk to me afterwards.

Thanks, Connor.

Okay, well, let's pray.

And we'll ask for God's help.

Father, you have given us so much in our lives.

Father, you've given us so much in our lives.

You've given us so much in our lives.

We give you thanks for that.

You've given us minds to understand,

to be able to read.

And Father, we need your continued help in our lives,

that what we listen to and what we read from your word,

we would have understanding not just in our heads,

but that it would travel deep into our hearts,

to the very core of our being,

so that it changes us,

so that we become more like you.

So, Father, please help us, we pray.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, from now on,

you can't eat out.

That means you can't go to any restaurants or hotels,

no more McDonald's, Pizza Hut, or Dino's.

If you get invited to a wedding,

well, you can't attend because food will be served.

If your friends are meeting up for a Christmas dinner,

you'll just have to politely decline.

There's a new rule for the church,

no more eating out.

Well, that might seem very strange to us,

but not if you were a member of Corinth Community Church.

Have a look at verse 1 of chapter 8.

Now, about food sacrificed to idols.

And in particular, look at verse 4.

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols.

You see, temples and shrines in Corinth

were as common as restaurants and takeaway in Cork.

In fact, they had a double purpose.

Not only were they the places where you made your sacrifices

and where you said your prayers,

it was also the place where you ate your food.

So if there was a birthday celebration,

well, then you'd all head off to the local temple,

which served at your local restaurant.

First, you would make your sacrifice

to seek the blessings of the gods,

that you'd have a good future.

What was left from your sacrifice

would then be served up to everybody to enjoy.

So if you brought a chicken along for the sacrifice,

well, then there was a good chance

that Chicken Maryland would be on the menu.

Or if you fancied a night in and a takeaway,

well, you'd head down to the local shrine.

Perhaps you'd bring a fish to appease the gods,

say your prayers and place your order.

And if you brought a fish,

well, the chances are you'd be going home

with crispy cod and chips.

So we can begin to see how difficult it was

to be a Christian in Corinth.

Because eating out meant eating food

that was used in some kind of pagan sacrifice or ritual.

And it was having an effect on the church family.

There were some in the church family

who were saying,

you can't eat out.

It's wrong.

This is food that's been sacrificed to an idol.

But others in the church were saying,

we can eat what we're like.

We're free.

We belong to God.

Idols don't mean anything to us.

So we can eat what we like.

Look at verse 7.

But not everybody knows this.

Not everybody knows that we're free.

Some people are still so accustomed to idols

that when they eat such food,

they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol.

And since their conscience is weak,

it is defiled.

But food does not bring us near to God.

We are no worse if we do not eat

and no better if we do.

So you see,

there was a section within the church family

that were saying to everybody,

if I want to go to the temple for dinner with my colleagues,

that's fine.

If I want a kebab at the local shrine,

who cares?

We're free in Christ.

Now the question we have to ask ourselves is,

are we free to do what we like?

You see,

eating food in the local restaurant

mightn't be a problem

in an Irish context.

But there are those who,

as there were in Corinth,

will say,

but you see,

Johnny,

I'm a Christian now.

So I'm free to do what I like

so long as

I do not disobey God's words.

So if I want to go to the pub at the weekend

for a pint,

well,

I'm free to do so.

If I want to meet my college mates

and go to the nightclub,

well,

I can.

If I want to play a match on Sunday morning

instead of going to church,

I will.

If I want to spend my money

on the latest iPhone

or the latest fashion designer jumper,

well,

that's fine for me.

If I want to allow my children

to go trick-or-treating,

that's not a problem.

If I want to go to yoga classes,

read Harry Potter,

watch movies that are 18,

play poker,

you see,

I'm a Christian

and I've been set free.

Now,

I wonder what you think about the list

that I read out.

You see,

none of those things

mentioned

bring us near to God.

Have a look at verse 8.

He says,

food does not bring us near to God.

So,

we're no worse

if we do go to the pub

or the nightclub

or read Harry Potter

or go to yoga classes.

It doesn't matter if I do

or if I don't.

These things don't save us.

They don't make me a Christian.

I'm free

so I can do

what I like.

But,

look at verse 9.

Be careful,

however,

that the exercise

of your freedom

does not become

a stumbling block

to the weak.

Verse 13.

Therefore,

if what I eat

causes my brother

or sister

to fall into sin

or if my attitudes

or actions

to a certain thing

cause somebody else

to fall into sin,

I will never

do that again

so that I will not

cause them to fall.

Do you see,

our Christian life

is not a private

individual exercise.

The choices

and decisions

that I make

about my life

have a profound effect

on other people.

Likewise,

yours to them.

So the places

I go

and the things

that you do

can cause

another believer

to fall into sin.

Have you ever

considered that?

So if I am

a Christian,

I will take

seriously

my choices

and my decisions.

Yes,

we are free,

but we must

use our freedom

to love

others.

First,

let's look at this

in more detail.

We are set free

by the gospel.

Look at verse 1.

Now about food,

sacrifice to idols.

We know that we

all possess

knowledge.

Now that knowledge

he's talking about

there is an

understanding

of the gospel.

So he's saying

to the church,

look,

you know who

God is.

We know

what God

has done.

In fact,

we are reminded

of the gospel

we do know.

Look down

at verse 4.

The gospel

tells us

there is only

one God.

So verse 4,

so then eating

food,

sacrifice to idols,

we know that

an idol

is nothing

at all

in the world

and that

there is no

God

but one.

Now that's

a very basic

understanding

of the gospel.

There are

no other

gods.

Of course

there are idols

that represent

gods.

Look at verse 5.

For even if

there are

so-called gods

whether in

heaven or

on earth

as indeed

there are

many gods

and many

lords

and you

would be

saying

why don't

you look

around in

Corinth?

They're all

over the

place.

But in

reality

he's saying

they're not

gods.

Keep your

finger there

in 1

1 Corinthians 8 · chapter mention

Corinthians

chapter 8

and go

back to

Psalm

115.

Psalm

115.

Somewhere

to the

left of

the

centre

of

the

Bible.

Psalm

Psalms 115:2

115

verse 2.

So do you

see what it

says?

Psalm 115

Psalms 115:2

verse 2.

Why do the

nations say

where is

their God?

Well our

God is in

heaven.

He does

whatever

pleases

him.

but their

idols are

silver and

gold made

by the

hands of

men.

They have

mouths but

they cannot

speak.

They have

eyes but

they cannot

see.

They have

ears but

they can't

hear.

They have

noses but

they cannot

smell.

They have

hands but

they cannot

feel.

Feet but

they can't

walk.

nor can

they utter

a sound

with their

throats.

Those who

make them

will be

like them

and so

will all

who trust

in them.

You see

in reality

they are

not

gods.

There is

only one

true

God.

Go back

to 1

Corinthians

8.

Now we

might not

be bowing

down to a

gold

sculpted

Buddha

and we

might not

be praying

to a

wooden

carved

Vishnu

but we

can all

have our

own gods

and we

can turn

people and

things into

gods.

So instead

of trusting

the one

true God

we look to

people and

we look to

things for

our joy and

our peace

and our

security.

But the

gods that

we make

are like

the gods

that we've

just read

about in

Psalm 115

that they'll

disappoint you.

The gods

of our

making can

never save

us.

They only

enslave us.

We only

end up

serving those

gods.

They can

never change

your life

and transform

you.

They will

only destroy

your life

and take

things from

you.

There is

only one

God who

can save.

God who

is this

God?

Well, as

we read

on in

verse 6,

he is the

father who

gives life.

Look at

verse 6.

Yet for

us there

is but

one God,

the

father from

whom all

things came

and for

whom we

live.

So our

God is the

creator God

of all of

life.

the winds

and the

rains of

hurricane

Desmond

that we've

been

experiencing.

God is

the creator

and the

ruler of

all that

happens.

He sustains

all things

and he

provides for

all things.

There is

no life

outside of

God.

But this

God is not

distant and

removed and

uninterested.

Do you see

what it says

in verse 6?

He is the

father.

So this

is a God

we can know

personally.

relationally

and intimately.

He is the

father God

unlike the

idols that

we read

about who

loves us

and who

can speak

to us

through his

word.

Who listens

to us when

we cry out

to him and

who answers

us when

we call out

to him.

He is the

God who

not only

made the

universe but

actually came

as a person

and walked

on planet

earth.

God

is the

God who

gives life.

He is the

son who

redeems

life.

Look at the

rest of

verse 6.

And there

is but

one Lord

Jesus

Christ

through whom

all things

came

and through

whom

we live.

God

came to

us in

a person

in the

person of

Jesus

Christ.

He came

so that

we could

know him.

But remember

the reason

why he

came.

It came

for a

purpose.

Jesus

came to

redeem us.

Look what

it says in

verse 6.

The one

through whom

we live.

He is the

one who

gives us

true life.

He redeems

us from the

emptiness and

the hopelessness

of our false

gods and

our made

up religions.

The ones

that we

seek to

try and

perform to.

Christ sets

us free

from all

of that.

He alone

is the

one who

saves us.

He alone

is the

one who

will satisfy

us completely.

This is

the gospel

that we

know to

be true.

God

sets us

free from

the gods

of our

own making

which can

never save

us.

And he

brings us

into a

relationship

with God

the Father

who is

the source

of all

life who

speaks to

us,

who talks

to us,

and who

listens to

us.

So because

of my

trust in

this God,

I have

been set

free.

So I'm

free to

do as I

please,

so long

as I do

not disobey

God's

word.

I'm

no longer

trying to

perform

by my

actions

and by

the

things I

say.

I've

been

accepted

by

Christ.

So we

are free

to do

what we

like,

aren't

we?

Well,

not

exactly.

We are

free by

the

gospel,

but we've

been set

free for a

purpose,

set free

to love.

You see,

the sign

or the

evidence

that we

have been

set free

by the

gospel is

we will

love

others.

So if

you're here

this morning,

you're

wondering,

have I

been set

free?

Well,

the evidence

will be

love in

your life.

Look at

chapter 8,

verse 1.

Now about

food sacrificed

to idols,

we know

that we all

possess

knowledge.

So he

says,

we know

about the

gospel,

we know

what it's

all about,

but here's

the catch,

knowledge

about

something

is not

enough.

Look at

the rest

of verse

1.

Because

knowledge

puffs

up,

but love

builds

up.

The

person

thinks

he knows

something,

does not

yet know

as he

ought to

know.

Do you

see,

knowing

God

intellectually

is not

the same

as knowing

God

relationally.

I can

know all

about God.

I can

explain who

the Father

is.

I can

tell you

perfectly

clearly

what Jesus

did,

but never

believe and

trust God.

I could

have a degree

and a PhD

in theology,

but never

be changed

and transformed

by that

knowledge.

You see,

to know

about God,

to know

about the

scriptures,

to have

all the

knowledge and

understanding

of what the

Bible has

to say,

is not

the same

as being

known

by God.

Look at

verse 3.

But the man

who loves

God is

known by

God.

to be

known by

God is

to trust

him,

is to

live in

that vibrant

relationship

with God,

to know

him personally.

So the

sign that

I truly

know God,

the evidence

that I have

been set

free by

the gospel

is that I

am in a

vibrant

living

relationship

with God

and the

outworkings

of that

is I

will be

loving

other

people.

You see,

knowledge by

itself

is

destructive.

All

knowledge

does is

puff up.

Do you

see what it

says in

verse 1?

Knowledge

puffs up.

Now we're

not anti-knowledge.

Knowledge is

good.

We encourage

people to

go to

NBC.

We encourage

people to

come on

Wednesdays and

Sundays to

learn in our

understanding of

who God

is.

But if all

that understanding

is is just

giving us

information and

clever

arguments,

then it's

nothing.

All it

will do is

puff you

up.

You'll just

wander around

with a

great big

head going

look at

all these

things that

I know.

You see,

with that

knowledge,

I might be

able to

explain to

somebody why

I can drink

and smoke

and go to

yoga classes

and how the

Bible talks

about those

things.

None of

those things

actually

contradict

God's

words,

so I'm

free to

do them.

But that's

just knowledge

of the

head,

isn't it?

It's not

taking other

people into

consideration and

how my

actions may

affect other

people.

It's a

knowledge that

does not

love.

Knowledge just

simply puffs

up.

Instead of

knowledge puffing

up, we want

love that

builds up.

That's what the

rest of verse 1

says, knowledge

puffs up, but

love builds

up.

You see, if we

know God

relationally, if

the gospel has

set me free,

then I will

use my

knowledge to

build other

people up.

In other

words, I will

seek to help

people understand

and apply the

gospel to their

lives and try

and help them

work through

what the

scripture says

about a

certain matter.

other.

But I will

be also

taking into

consideration

how my

choices and

how my

decisions will

affect another

person.

So instead of

thinking, oh,

the gospel has

freed me, I

can do what I

want, I will

see that the

gospel actually

frees me to

love what is

best for other

people.

My choices and

decisions are not

about me, but

how I can build

other people up.

So what does

all this look

like in

practice?

Yes, we've

been set free

by the gospel,

but that

gospel sets us

free to

intentionally love

others, to

look out for

them.

So what will

it look like in

practice?

Well, third,

we're set free

to protect the

weak.

So we need to

understand who

is the weak

person among

us.

First, our

weaker brother

or sister.

Look at verse

nine.

So he says,

be careful,

however, that

the exercise of

your freedom

does not become

a stumbling

block to the

weak.

Well, who are

the weak that

that's being

talked about?

Well, read

on, verse

10.

For if

anyone with

a weak

conscience

sees you

who have

this knowledge

eating in

an idol's

temple,

won't he

be emboldened

or encouraged

to eat what

has been

sacrificed to

idols?

them.

So, do

you see how

our actions

and our

behaviours can

affect other

people?

We could

imagine two

Christians in

the church in

Corinth.

We'll call

them Lucas

and Stephanas.

And Lucas

gives Stephanas

an invite saying,

I'll meet you

down at the

local shrine

for a burger.

Well, Stephanas

has been a

Christian for a

long time.

On the other

hand, Lucas

not, and

he's kind of a

bit cautious

about going

down to the

local shrine

because the

last time he

was down

there he

was offering

food to

his God.

He says,

I can't

go.

I think it

will give the

wrong impression

to people.

The other one

gets a bit

annoyed.

He says,

come on,

we're not

sacrificing,

we're just

having a bit

of food

together.

What's the

big deal?

Don't be so

boring.

Don't you

know that

you've been

saved by

grace?

These idols

aren't real

anyway.

And after

much persuasion

and against

his conscience,

he gives in

and he goes

along with

his friends.

Three weeks

later,

Lucas is

horrified to

discover that

Stephanas is no

longer going

to church,

but he's

back sacrificing

to his

idols.

Look at

verse 11.

So this

weak brother

for whom

Christ died

is destroyed

by your

knowledge.

Now that's

really serious,

isn't it?

We may have

knowledge and

understanding about

the grace of

God and all

that he's done

for us and

how he set

us free,

but if we

use that

knowledge in

a wrong way

to upset

somebody who

hasn't quite

understood the

gospel of

freedom,

that's a

serious matter.

Let me give

a few examples.

The lads from

church are all

heading into

town to

celebrate the

end of their

Christmas exams.

They persuade

Gary, he's a

new guy at the

CU, to go

along with

them.

They've had a

great night

out.

The problem

is, well,

Gary stopped

going to the

CU.

He's back

in drinking

with his

buddies.

The girls

have decided

to go for a

night out to

the nightclub,

just for a

bit of

Christmas crack.

Some are a

bit reluctant

and not so

sure, but

after a little

bit of peer

pressure, come

on, it's

just this

once they

all decide

to go.

The problem

is, Sharon,

who really

didn't want to

go in the

first place,

feels really

guilty about

going and

has stopped

reading her

Bible and

is struggling.

So, can

we begin to

see how our

choices and

decisions have

a profound

effect on our

brothers and

sisters in

Christ?

Using our

freedom in

Christ can

actually destroy

my family in

Christ.

It's a

serious matter.

We need to

love the

weak, not

destroy the

weak.

Look at

verse 12.

When you

sin against

your brothers

and sisters in

this way and

wound their

weak conscience,

you sin

against Christ.

You see, while

going to the

pub might not

be wrong,

while going

to a night

club might

not be against

God's word,

but if by my

choices and

decisions I

cause another

believer to go

against their

conscience,

it is sinful.

It says in

verse 12 that

we actually sin

against Christ.

Christ.

So let's

try and work

this through in

a few more

applications.

If I go to

play a match

on a Sunday,

or spend my

morning studying

for exams

instead of

going to

church because

I'm free,

if I attend

the local yoga

class, or if I

decide to watch

an 18 plus

movie, or if I

decide that we

can serve meal

at dinner time

in our home,

if by my

attitude and

my actions I

encourage somebody

else to do the

same, and that

causes them to

go against their

conscience, we

are in effect

causing them to

go against

Christ.

If I feel that

I can be

involved in this

church, and

well I'm a

Christian and I'm

free and I can

go and attend

other churches

when I like,

if by my

actions I

cause others

to do the

same and it

goes against

their conscience,

rather than

building them

up in their

faith, I'm

actually tripping

them up in

their faith.

All our

choices and

all our

decisions that

we make have

a profound

effect on the

family of

believers.

verse 13,

therefore, if

what I eat

causes my

brother or

sister to

fall into

sin, I

will never

eat meat

again, so

that I will

not cause

him to

fall.

Instead of

saying, yes,

I can do

this, or my

conscience allows

me to do

that, I

will learn

to say no

because I

do not

want to

cause my

brother or

sister to

sin and

to fall.

You see, the

church is not

about me and

my private

individual choice

and what I'm

free to do

whenever I

like.

Church is a

family and

we do what's

best for the

family.

We make

choices and

decisions about

not how is

it going to

help me, but

how is it

going to

help the

other person.

And those

who know the

freedom of

the gospel,

those who

have been

truly changed

and transformed

by God's

grace, will

be incredibly

free.

But that

freedom is

always used

to serve

others and

to build

each other

up in

love.

Therefore,

look at

verse 13.

If what I

do or

if what I

say causes

my brother

or sister to

fall into

sin, I

will never

do those

things again

so that I

will not

cause them

to fall.

We have

been set

free in

Christ, but

we use our

freedom to

build each

other up

in love.

Let's pray

together.

Let's pray

together.

Let's pray

together.

Let's pray

together.

Let's pray

together.

Let's pray

together.

Let's pray

together.