First Corinthians 10 Part 8 Proper Use Of Liberty Brings Glory To God

The Holy Spirit guided Paul to give extensive teaching about idolatry. 

I have tried to help us think about idolatry in the context of modern culture, for we must purge out any idolatry from our lives. 

Paul is now guided to give clear application about idolatry to us.

Christian liberty must not be abused by God's people. 

1 Corinthians 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 

Paul reminds us that though we may have liberty to do something, we must not be brought under the bondage of it. 

Thus, we may have liberty to eat meat offered to idols but we must consider our weaker brethren who view it as partaking in idolatry.

For their sakes we will not eat meats offered to idols. This is part of what JEsus means when He tells us to love one another. 

It may be permissible to engage in certain behaviors but what we choose to do may not edify us or others. 

Paul is teaching us that if what we think about doing does not edify us or others, then we should abstain from doing it.

1 Corinthians 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 

Not everything that we have liberty to do is expedient for us to do. Not all things that we think about doing are things that edify us.

We must not become a slave to anything, even if we have liberty to do what we are thinking of doing. 

The guiding principle for Christian liberty is "How will this impact others around me and how will it impact the body of Christ if I do this thing?"

True Christian liberty does not allow us to be governed by external things. Just because we can use them, does not mean that we should use them. 

Whether we use or do not use Christian liberty is to be regulated by whether or not it edifies us and Christ's church.

If what we do hinders another brother or if it brings reproach upon the name of God, then we must set our liberty aside for the sake of the gospel.

The Spirit of God will never lead us to become self centered people.

Philippians 2:20-21  For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21  For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. 

Paul was concerned for the church at Philippi because there was no likeminded man there to lead and care for that church.

Why weren't the men at Philippi ready to serve God in this church? Because most were pursuing their own agendas. They chose to do what they wanted to do instead of seeking the will of God for their lives. 

Many professing Christians today live self centered lives. Evidence of this is noticeable in how the Lord's day is viewed by those who claim to be Christians. 

Many professing Christians say that they have liberty to do what they want to on the Lord's day. To them, it is just another day for pursuing worldly things.

Yet, God has not changed and His Word gives very clear instruction about the Lord's Day. Those who claim liberty to do what they want to on Sunday are directly contradicted by the scriptures.

Have an eager anticipation for the Lord's Day services.

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Both the Old and New Testament teach us about the Lord's Day. 

The text from Hebrews teaches us that we must encourage each other about meeting on the Lord's day. We ought to increasingly exhort each other as Sunday draws closer.

The fourth commandment teaches us about the sabbath day (See Exodus 20:8-11). 

It is to be a day of rest from work and doing what we want to do, so that we can focus upon the goodness, mercy and provision of our God.

The Lord's day is for us to worship together as church families and to hear from God as our pastors preach the Word.

It is to be a holy day that we set apart for communing with God and His people.

Do what God wants us to do on His holy day, not what we want to do.  

Isaiah 58:13-14  If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14  Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 

Isaiah foretold the future restoration of Israel by giving an "If...then" promise.

If the redeemed people of God keep the Lord's Day as He intended, then He will bless them.

If they turn away from doing what they want to do on His holy day...then Jehovah will guide them, satisfy their soul and the land shall yield abundant crops.

Putting the needs of Christ's church and others before our own needs.

1 Corinthians 10:24  Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 

The word "wealth" is italicized in the King James Bible, meaning that the translators added this word. 

The idea communicated by Paul is that we should seek to be a blessing to other Christians, rather than using our time, energy and resources for ourselves.

Philippians 2:3-4  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

This principle of using what God has blessed us with as good stewards has to do with our heart toward other Christians.

Have we lowliness of mind such that we esteem others needs as higher priority than our needs? 

Having the heart of Christ is a challenge for us because we live in a culture dedicated to putting ourselves first.

Yet, the Spirit of God guided Paul to tell us that we must consider other brothers and sisters in Christ before we implement the liberty that we have.

Romans 15:1-2  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 

Christian liberty must step aside so that what we do will please or edify other believers in Christ.

The guiding principle is that if what we are about to do does not edify the body of Christ or if it may cause another believer to stumble, then we must do what we were contemplating.

Do not let our liberty be spoken evil of by others 

1 Corinthians 10:25-27  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26  For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

Paul summarizes how a Christian should respond to the question of whether or not to eat meat offered to idols. We have liberty to eat it and we should not ask where the meat came from. 

All of the meats offered in sacrifice to idols belong to God so if a Christian at Corinth was invited to a feast, they may attend and eat the meat while not asking where the meat came from.

While they were not told that the meat was offered to an idol they might lawfully eat it. 

However, if they were informed that the meat set before them was offered to an idol, then they were not to eat. 

Why? For the sake of a brother's weak conscience who pointed out the circumstance. 

Paul  shows that even flesh offered in sacrifice to an idol might be eaten innocently at any private table. 

In that case they were not in danger of being partakers with devils, because it was a private dinner.

If we use the liberty we have in Christ, we must take care not to give any give occasion of stumbling to others.

According to the Spirit guided instruction of the apostle, a Christian should not let their good be evil spoken of. (See Romans 14:16). 

Our liberty is not be judged by others, but we must exercise great care. 

1 Corinthians 10:28-30  But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29  Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30  For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? 

This is the principle that Christians should take care not to use their liberty in a manner that might defile the conscience of other "weaker" believers.

We may feel that we have liberty to go into a place that sells liquor in order to buy food. 

Yet if another Christian sees us exit the establishment, they may assume we purchased liquor instead of food.

They may look at our actions and be emboldened to buy and drink liquor even though we did not buy liquor.

Inadvertently, we may be guilty of causing another Christian to sin because of using our liberty improperly.

Thus, our own conscience may not condemn us in the matter that we are going to do, but we must consider the impact it may have upon others.

Whatever we do must always be for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 

The Spirit of God guided Paul to lay down a rule for Christian conduct, and apply it to this particular case. 

When it comes to eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honoring Him. 

This is the fundamental principle of practical godliness. 

If we are thinking about doing something that God has not specifically given a command about, then we must stop and ask ourselves "Is what I am about to do bring glory to God?"

Nothing must be done against the glory of God, and nothing should diminish the good of our neighbours when we love God and love others first.

Paul sought to love all people so that he might share the life changing gospel of Christ with them. 

He would never do anything that might cause a stumbling bock for another Christian to trip over.

Nor would Paul do anything that would hinder his testimony for Christ. Getting the gospel of Christ to lost people was Paul's singular focus. 

This ought to be our singular focus as well.

Bob