1 Corinthians, Chapter 8
© Copyright 2002 Darroll Evans, all rights
reserved
Paul now turns to food. As you recall, many false teachings had come
out of the Corinthian fellowship.
"Things offered unto idols" refers to food offered in pagan
temple sacrifices.
Paul says, "we know that we all have
knowledge." Those carnal, wild
Corinthians had all knowledge?
They had the Spirit of God within, and He has
all knowledge. Therefore, they had all knowledge available to them.
The Holy Spirit inhabits us to purify and
mature. The Spirit does not wait until
we are purified and mature to come to us.
Having all knowledge does not mean that they
understood all things. They had the understanding available in the same manner
as we do today. Pure human knowledge
often causes us to be egotistical, but God’s love lifts us.
John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free." (NKJV)
Two plus two equals four! That is
mathematically true! Here is a spiritual truth, Christians are now free.
My point is that human truth will not make
you free. The only truth that will make
you free is Christ Jesus. He is the Truth!
The closer we are to Christ, the more we
understand our human failings and the more we appreciate His victory.
Human ego is not a Christian virtue.
True worship may only be realized when your
will becomes subject to His.
1 Corinthians 8:4-5
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in
sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that
there is none other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as
there be gods many, and lords many,)
Paul continues, "As concerning therefore the
eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols."
What is an idol? It is a false god.
Does an idol have power?
Any false idol’s power is derived only from
those that worship it. It has no intrinsic power.
Satan’s power lies only in the area of
deception. In the garden, deception was his tool.
There is only one God. Jesus is His only
begotten Son.
The fact is that there is but one God, the Father, out
of Him are all things. We are in Him.
There is one Lord Jesus Christ, by Him are all things, and we by Him.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth.
Genesis 1:1 may also be translated, "In
(or by) the Firstfruits God created the heaven and the earth."
Jesus is the Firstfruits! Of Him, through Him, and to Him, are all
things.
Not every person has access to that
understanding. Some understand grace and
are able, through prayer and repentance, to deal with what seems to be
sin. Others go through the same
situation, but without proper understanding suffer mental anguish.
It is my opinion that Christians should spend
more time praising God for deliverance from sin and less time begging for
deliverance.
We should confess our sins, but not dwell on
them.
In dealing with a weaker (in the faith)
brother or sister, we need to understand that we must do some things for their
benefit.
Our freedom in Christ should never become a
stumbling block to those that are weak.
In God’s grace, we are able to do many things
that appear to be sin.
However, we should do all things with an eye
to what Jesus would have done.
1 Corinthians 6:12---"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" (NKJV).
Christ controls circumstances they do not
control Him!
An old man that just recently accepted Christ
is a babe in Christ, and therefore he is weak in the faith.
We should never cause a less mature brother
or sister to stumble at what we do.
As the weak ones grow, they will become
stronger and better able to handle liberty in Christ.
Christ died to free us not to imprison us
again.
When a stronger Christian wounds a weaker
Christian---that is sin!
Paul told the Corinthians not to offend one
another. Perhaps we need to re-read this chapter.