1 Corinthians: True Freedom 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 February 2, 2020

Introduction We are coming to a new section in 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians chapters 8-10 deal with the issue of Christian freedom. I made a mistake last week and I want to correct it now. Last week I said the subject of freedom goes from chapter 8-11. It is actually chapters 8-10. I think that comes with preaching from a wooden lectern.

As we enter chapter 8, I believe this section of 1 Corinthians will be the most difficult to obey. I don’t think it will be too difficult to understand, but it will be difficult to obey. We have studied difficult topics: do not be divided over our favorite speakers; repenting of our sins; taking care of issues within the church; contentment no matter our lot in life; seeing our identity in Christ. These are difficult things. They really are. But the subject matter for today will be even more difficult. We will look at how to use freedom.

What is Freedom? We like the idea of freedom. Some live for freedom. Freedom is such a huge issue for us as individuals, in our nation, and in the church. It is good if we define what we are talking about. Here are a few definitions of freedom: The absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved

These freedoms are wonderful. Here is a third. Freedom is: The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint

The last one is, I think, what usually comes to mind when we think of freedom. “I have the right to do whatever I want.” I can do what I want, think what I want, be what I want … I want to be free. This is probably the most popular idea of freedom.

What is freedom for the believer in Jesus? Is the believer free? We are free. To help us understand freedom, we will look at Galatians 5:13.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers.

The believer in Jesus free, we have been called to be free. We are supposed to enjoy the freedom Jesus gives us. Freedom is huge for us! The question is, free from what? In the context of Galatians 5, we are free from working to be justified through our obedience to the law of Moses. We are free from having to scrupulously obey all 612 commandments in the Old Testament. We are free from obedience to the Ten Commandments. Why is this a good thing and how does it relate to freedom? Most religions teach we are made right with God by doing good, by being good enough to earn His favor. In spite of our best efforts, everyone fails at that. However, Scripture teaches us that Jesus has set us free. We are justified, made right with God, through faith in Jesus and the work He has done. No one obeys the law perfectly. That is not an excuse, it is a relief. We are set free from the fear of not being good enough. We have been set free. Rejoice in your freedom. Paul has more for us. Let us look at the rest of Galatians 5:13 and also verse 14:

Galatians 5:13-14 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

We are free. We are free indeed. However, we are not free in the way most people define freedom. We are not free to do whatever we please. We are not free to live in sin, here called an opportunity for the flesh. The flesh refers to our sinful nature, that part of us that longs to do wrong, to sin, to be selfish. We are not free to indulge in sin. We are not free to hurt others. We have been set free to love one another. The law can be summed up this way: love your neighbor as yourself. This is huge. We are free to love others, not to earn something from God, not to get a payback from others, but simply for the sake of loving one another. That leads us to the main idea for today’s message:

Main Idea: The believer in Jesus has been set free, not to indulge in selfish desires, but to love others.

We are free, no doubt. However, our freedom is not focused on ourselves. Our freedom is focused on others. We are free to love another. Paul is going to take what he said in Galatians, and apply it in 1 Corinthians. We need to provide some context for today’s lesson. Back in 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul says, Now concerning the matters about which you wrote:

The Corinthians wrote Paul a letter asking him a number of questions. They had questions about singleness, marriage and divorce. Paul has answered those questions in chapter 7.

Paul begins chapter 8 in a similar way: “Now concerning …”

Many of my commentaries believe Paul is continuing to answer questions from the Corinthians. In fact, he uses the same words in chapter 12, “Now concerning….” When Paul says, “Now concerning…” this is a clue Paul is answering more questions that the Corinthians have. What is the issue in chapter 8?

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning food offered to idols The immediate issue at hand in chapter 8 is eating food offered to idols. It is best to think about meat offered to idols. The ESV says food, but meat is the proper understanding. What is happening here? An animal was taken to a pagan temple, presented to that god, slaughtered, and then offered as a sacrifice on an altar. Usually, the entire animal was not burned on the altar. Some of the meat from the animal was given to the priests as a meal for them. Some was taken home by the one who offered the sacrifice. Some was sold to the local meat market. Some was purchased by wedding planners, event planners, and restaurants. Often there was a dining hall connected to the temple where the meat was sold to the public and eaten on the premises. This raw meat, originally dedicated to a pagan god, could be anywhere: at the market, at a neighbors’ home, at a wedding, a party, a restaurant, various celebrations — anywhere.

The concern was this: can believers eat this meat? Will the meat do harm to a believer? Do pagan rituals contaminate the meat? Are believers unwittingly participating in pagan ceremonies if they eat? Are they worshipping false gods if they eat? These are good questions.

Some believers thought this meat is contaminated. Some refused to purchase meat near a pagan temple out of fear it was offered to an idol. Some refused to go to an unbeliever’s house for supper because they may serve the meat offered to an idol. Some refused to go to restaurants out of fear of eating the meat offered to an idol. Some refused to eat meat altogether. They have become vegetarians. That way they would never to eat meat offered to an idol.

Other believers eat any meat that is presented to them. They don’t wonder if it was offered in a temple. Even when they know it is, and it doesn’t bother them. Their conscience doesn’t bother them. They will buy it from the market or even eat at the temple dining hall. To them, it’s just meat.

I was thinking about this, I wondered, What would I do if I found myself intros situation? I’m craving a good steak dinner. Would I, knowing the meat could have been offered at a pagan temple, eat the meat without being concerned? Would I feel weird? Will I feel convicted, or guilty, for eating the meat? Will I have a salad instead? I’m not sure. I might feel weird eating meat that came from a pagan temple.

There are two groups of believers, one who eats the meat and another that does not eat the meat. This situation contains all the ingredients for a good church fight. The group that eats the meat says to those who don’t eat, “You are so simple, so ignorant, so legalistic.” Those who refused to eat say of those who ate, “You are flirting with idolatry. You are so worldly. You are a bad testimony to unbelievers.” Each group tries to persuade the other to join them. As a result, some felt judged. Others violate their conscience. Everyone feels insulted. It is not a good situation. What’s a church to do? Paul helps us. Let’s talk about knowledge. People Who Know (1 Corinthians 8:1-3) Knowledge is a very good thing. Having the correct information is important. Knowing the facts is important. There is no benefit to being ignorant. So, Paul talks about knowledge. Let us look at verse 1:

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

All of us possess knowledge. In other words, from the get go, we know the right answer concerning meat offered to idols. The meat is fine. However, there is something about possessing knowledge. Knowledge tends to make us arrogant. I’m not sure why this is true, but it is. It is rare to find a man or woman of high intelligence who is not also at the same time proud. When I was in high school, I knew a couple of people, one man and one woman, who were incredibly intelligent. I was so jealous of them. The woman berated an elderly man because she was good at advanced math and he was not. I knew a man who laughed another to scorn because, when they compared SAT scores, his SAT score was a lot higher. It is easy for the intelligent to look down with disdain on those who are not as intelligent.

This is true in the church too. Bible knowledge can lead to pride. Verse 2:

1 Corinthians 8:2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

If anyone thinks he knows so much, the truth is, he does not know enough. Although we may be smart, although he may possess Bible knowledge, although he may be a good debater, we are never smart enough. We don’t know everything. Furthermore, God is not concerned, so much, about how much we know. God is more concerned how we use that knowledge. If we use knowledge to exalt ourselves, we do not know as we ought. Being proud because of intelligence is not a smart thing.

The solution to pride, however, is not ignorance. The solution to pride is love. We are not a called to be unintelligent and ignorant about history, biology, mathematics, or the Bible. There is no virtue in being ignorant. God is concerned that we use our knowledge to love one another. Verse 3:

1 Corinthians 8:3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

The verse does not say, “If anyone is smart enough, he is known by God.” God recognizes the one who loves Him. God recognizes the one who loves God’s people. The one who says he knows, but does not love, does not know anything. Sometimes, many times, most of the time, is more important to love one another than it is to be right. It is more important to love one another than it is to win an argument. Please do not misunderstand me. Truth is important. Knowing the truth and defending the truth are very important. There are some doctrines that are non-negotiable. Not every issue is worth going toe-to-toe with each other. God wants us to love those who disagree with us. He wants us to love those who don’t quite get things, such as meat offered to idols. Let’s talk about knowledge and eating meat offered to idols.

Knowledge and Eating (1 Corinthians 8:4-7) Paul explains his rationale for loving those whose knowledge is not up to speed.

1 Corinthians 8:4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”

We know there is no such thing as an idol. An idol is a false god. A false god is no god. There is only one God. There are not many gods. The other so-called gods do not exist. They are not real. There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, the creator and sustainer of the universe. The debate is done, right? The issue should be settled. Let us skip down to verse 7:

1 Corinthians 8:7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

While we know for a fact that there is only one God, some don’t quite get this. How is that? Some believers, if they were to eat meat offered to an idol, feel as if they are worshipping a false god. When they eat, they feel as if they are participating in a form of worship they used to engage in. They feel like they have sinned. They feel guilty. They feel like they have done something wrong. The idol, although it does not exist, still exerts some power of him.

What are we to do? We should bludgeon them with the truth, right? Show this weak believer the error of his ways. Tell him he can enjoy such freedom in Jesus if he would give up on his foolish superstitious ways!

Instead, those who have knowledge, who have the correct information, those who enjoy freedom to eat meat offered to idols, should limit their freedom. This is the most counterintuitive thing in the world! Limit our freedom? Why should we do this?

Why Should We Limit Our Freedom? (1 Corinthians 8:8-12) Paul gives us three reasons why we should limit our freedom. We will look at three verses.

1 Corinthians 8:8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

The first reason is that eating or refraining has no effect on our relationship with God. All sides on the issue must recognize this. Eating meat is not all that important to God. Eating salad is not all that important to God. Our standing before God does not change for the worse if we eat. Our standing before God does not change for the better if we refuse to eat. We are not more sinful or more saintly either way. All sides need to remember this.

Then Paul adds in verse 9:

1 Corinthians 8:9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

The second reason we limit our freedom is that we might cause a fellow believer to sin. The one who is weak, who does not enjoy his freedom in Christ, feels as if he has sinned if he eats. Therefore, we must love our brothers and sisters. We must never force anyone to violate their conscience. We may argue, “But I have my rights! I am free in Jesus! I can do whatever I want!” We may have freedom, but we do not have the right to do whatever we want. There is more to consider than our rights and our freedoms. We have to consider our brothers and sisters in Jesus. What if using our freedom causes a brother or sister to sin? In verse 9, Paul calls this a stumbling block. A stumbling block is something we place before another believer that makes them stumble and fall. We cause them to sin. We must never force anyone to violate their conscience, no matter how we feel about it. One more verse.

1 Corinthians 8:12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

The third reason to limit our freedom is because when we flaunt our freedom, we sin against Jesus. Our weaker brother or sister in Jesus is not the only person we have to think about. We must consider Jesus as well. Jesus is offended when those with knowledge run over those without knowledge. Jesus is offended when those who enjoy their freedom run over those who cannot enjoy their freedom.

This helps us to understand what true freedom is. Freedom is not the ability to always say yes to your self. Freedom is the ability to tell yourself, “No!” True freedom is the ability to put the needs of others ahead of your needs. Freedom means you can give preference to others. Freedom means you do not have to insist on having your way. We tend to think freedom means always saying yes to ourselves and always getting what we want and having our own way. There is one more thing for us to consider. We are afraid that those who cannot enjoy their freedom are going to run over those who do. Let me add this. Often believers who come up with more extra-biblical rules think of themselves as strong believers. “We are thoughtful; we are careful: we are precise; we don’t believe in gray areas.” Although they think they are strong, Paul says such people are weak. Paul calls them weak in verses 11-12. He calls them weak in Romans 14. They are weak, because their conscience is easily offended. They think they have sinned when in fact they have not. The weak need to grow up.

One More Thing (1 Corinthians 10:28) I have to skip ahead in 1 Corinthians to give some clarification when it comes to the New Testament and eating meat offered to idols. I’m not going to show you the verses on the screen but I will read them to you.

At the Council of Jerusalem, James gives instructions to the Gentiles in the church concerning conduct that is expected of them.

Acts 15:29 That you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols…

In Revelation 2, the Lord Jesus condemns the church in Pergamum for a few practices:

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

Then again, in Revelation 2, the Lord Jesus condemns the church in Thyatira for the following:

Revelation 2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

There are three references in the New Testament opposing eating meat offered to idols. Is Paul a renegade, off on his own, doing and teaching his own thing? No, he isn’t. We have to skip ahead to 1 Corinthians 10:28:

1 Corinthians 10:28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—

If an unbeliever invites you to supper, and the meat being served has been offered to an idol, and if the meal he serves to you is eaten in honor of that idol, do not eat. In that situation, it is wrong to eat meat offered to idols. Eating meat offered to idols s an act of worship of a false god. That is what is happening in Acts and Revelation. Otherwise, meat is just meat, except to the one who thinks eating it is sin. Then, sting believers, who normally enjoy their freedom, must be loving enough to restrict their freedom for the sake of their Christian brother or sister. Let’s conclude our time together.

Conclusion How does eating meat offered to idols apply to us? I am not familiar with pagan temples offering animal sacrifices in our neighborhood. There may be one, I am not aware of it. Are there other issues that could create problems in our congregation? I can think of some. I think about drinking alcohol. According to the Bible, drinking alcohol is not, in itself, sinful. The Bible speaks of many people, even Jesus, enjoying alcohol. Paul instructed Timothy to drink a little wine. While I have not gone through lengthy argument, those who rest their case on knowledge will win. However, some do not have this knowledge. What do I mean? Some, for whatever reason, believe drinking alcohol is sin. For various reasons, some believe drinking is sinning. I am in an awkward situation. I do not believe drinking is sin. Nevertheless, I do not drink. Moreover, I would feel guilty if I has a glass of wine or a can of beer. It doesn’t make sense, but it is true. Please promise me you will not offer me a drink. I promise not to give you the stink eye if you drink in my presence. I’m fine if others drink, as long as they don’t get drunk, but please don’t ask me to drink. But what if we decided to argue with one another over the issue of alcohol. One of us said, “There is nothing wrong with drinking.” Then the other countered, “Nothing good comes from drinking.” I imagine we could have a knock-out, drag-out fight, or we could love one another. One side would have to set aside their freedom to drink, at the least in the presence of the other. The other side would have to learn to grow up. But all of us could survive and thrive in each other’s presence if we loved one another first.