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
Corinthians
chapter 8
and go
back to
Psalm
115.
Psalm
115.
Somewhere
to the
left of
the
centre
of
the
Bible.
Psalm
115
verse 2.
So do you
see what it
says?
Psalm 115
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.