1 Corinthians 8

 “Too uptight for me…”  “Too judgmental…”  “Too many rituals…”  “I’m not the religious type…”  “I don’t have time for it…”

 “Love Edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1) “Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.” 1 Corinthians 8:2 “But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.” 1 Corinthians 8:3 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free” Gal. 5:1 “When we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in [ritual]. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” Galatians 5:6

 “Love Edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1)  Ch.1: not fights and disunity!  Ch.2: a new ability for understanding people  Ch.3: the building and reward in life  Ch.4: Your most valuable stewardship  Ch.5: Loving through taking stands  Ch.6-7: Love and SEX!

 Everyone comes to Christ with bags packed!  Jesus Christ transcends cultural superstitions.

 Everyone comes to Christ with bags packed!  Jesus Christ transcends cultural superstitions.  Some baggage is just dead wrong!  It can be destructive! …some people actually worship many gods and many lords. But we know that there is only one God… 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 (NLT)

 Everyone comes to Christ with bags packed!  Jesus Christ transcends cultural superstitions.  Some baggage is just dead wrong!  Still, we can’t clobber with our knowledge!  Paul is not anti-knowledge…  Truth is a vital part of biblical love Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV) And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. Philippians 1:9 “we persuade men” 2 Corinthians 5:11

 Everyone comes to Christ with bags packed!  Jesus Christ transcends cultural superstitions.  Some baggage is just dead wrong!  Still, we can’t clobber with our knowledge!  Some baggage is “weak faith”  Superstitious GREEKS!  “Meat offered to idols” was everywhere!  Thought they were “worshipping” false gods to eat the meat… However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. 1 Corinthians 8:7 (NLT) It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. 1 Corinthians 8:8 (NLT)

 Everyone comes to Christ with bags packed!  Jesus Christ transcends cultural superstitions.  Some baggage is just dead wrong!  Still, we can’t clobber with our knowledge!  Some baggage is “weak faith”  Let’s have some sensitivity to their issues!  Your freedom might stumble their faith…  They might just “go all the way”!!! But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 1 Corinthians 8:9-10 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:13 (NLT)

 We have an amazing amount of freedom!  “It was for freedom that Christ set us free” Gal. 5:1  “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:4-5  All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 1 Cor. 10:23

 We have an amazing amount of freedom!  We live by “The Royal Law”  Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the Royal Law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” James 2:8 (NLT)  Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 Problems with “Unrestricted Freedom” Christianity becomes misunderstood Right/wrong doesn't matter Lose freedom: overuse, slavery Grow calloused, alienated… Problems with “Unrestricted Freedom” Christianity becomes misunderstood Right/wrong doesn't matter Lose freedom: overuse, slavery Grow calloused, alienated…

 We have an amazing amount of freedom!  We live by “The Royal Law”  Some things are clearly foolish and wrong…  Worshipping Idols…  Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 1 Cor. 6:18 (NLT)  Moral Absolutes: “Not all things edify!”

 We have an amazing amount of freedom!  We live by “The Royal Law”  Some things are clearly foolish and wrong…  Other things are wrong because it hurts someone…  “But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.” 1 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)

 We have an amazing amount of freedom!  We live by “The Royal Law”  Some things are clearly foolish and wrong…  Other things are wrong because it hurts someone…  This drives legalists nuts!  “Arbitrary Absolutes” – a fear-driven ethic.  Adds cultural baggage to Christianity…

 Learn God’s Love for Ethical Guidance… Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

 Learn God’s Love for Ethical Guidance…  Respect other people’s conscience if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:11

 Learn God’s Love for Ethical Guidance…  Respect other people’s conscience  Distinguish between cultural baggage and scripture  Have the courage to critique cultural Christianity!

 Learn God’s Love for Ethical Guidance…  Respect other people’s conscience  Distinguish between cultural baggage and scripture  Avoid making our own arbitrary absolutes!