To Eat or Not To Eat, That is NOT the Question Part 3
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know;
3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.
5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,
6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.
9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idols temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
Theme : Five principles governing the free exercise of knowledge so you might live in devotion to Christ and love for other believers.
I. All knowledge is inferior to Christian love vv. 1-3
Four implicit reasons:
A. Knowledge is common to all (vs. 1)
B. Knowledge is as equally detrimental as love is beneficial (vs. 1)
C. Knowledge is by nature deceptive (vs. 2)
D. Knowledge of God does not give us a right standing with God, but love for God does (vs. 3)
II. Biblical knowledge provides us with an accurate view of God vv. 4-6
Three ways:
A. Biblical knowledge exposes idolatry as nothing (vs. 4)
B. Biblical knowledge reveals that there is only One God (vv. 4-5)
C. Biblical knowledge always culminates in an affirmation of the Christian faith (vs. 6)
III. Those lacking in knowledge have a weak conscience vv. 7-8
Two Questions:
A. Who is referred to?
B. What is the specific knowledge they don’t have?
The General Food Principle (vs. 8 )
IV. Those possessing knowledge must not destroy the conscience of a weak brother vv. 9-12
A. The Discretionary Command: Don’t cause your brother to stumble (vs. 9)
B. The Solemn Warning: A Sobering Consequence (vs. 11)
C. The Solemn Warning: Proliferation of Sin (vs. 12)
V. Knowledge coupled with love relinquishes the free exercise of one’s liberties, for the sake of a brother vs. 13
A. The extreme solution
B. The discovery of true freedom
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