KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

INTRODUCTION:

1. Pride and arrogance stand in our way of knowing God.

2. Proverbs 8:13 a) Pride – is an attitude of independence from God. b) Arrogance – is an offensive display of superiority or self-importance.

3. Proverbs 16:5 a) Abomination – means God hates it, detestable

4. Proverbs 16:18

5. Evidence of Worldliness is: a) Conflict With Others 1) James 4:1

b) Conflict Within 1) James 4:1-2

c) Conflict with God 1) James 4:4

6. Do you genuinely love other Christians?

I. KNOWLEDGE ALONE

A. STATING THE ISSUE

1. Vs 1a a) “Now concerning”

2. Vs 1a a) “Now concerning food offered to 1) Is one word in the Greek = “idol sacrifice”

3. Pagan worship in Corinth. a) Paganism in the Greek and Roman Culture was the worship of many gods, meaning they were polytheistic. b) These “idol sacrifices” were food offerings presented in worship to the god in whose temple they were in.

c) The issue at hand was that of Christians eating food (meat) that had been offered in these “idol sacrifices.”

4. The were also “poly-demonistic” believing in many evil spirits.

B. KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE

1. Vs 1b a) “we know that all of us possess knowledge”

2. There are absolutes: a) 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 b) Galatians 5:19-20

C. THE PROBLEM WITH KNOWLEDGE

1. Vs 1c a) ‘This “knowledge” puffs up’ 1) “Puffs up” – means arrogant

2. What a tragedy when believers are full of knowledge and empty on love.

3. HERE’S THE PROBLEM: a) The eating of meat offered to idols had some improper associations for some Christians. They had trouble with it!!

1) To some Christians who were saved out of paganism, the eating of this meat associated those who bought this meat, with paganism.

2) It also associated those who ate this meat with the belief that it was once contaminated with evil spirits.

4. Vs 7

5. VS 11-12, 13

II. KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION

A. IMAGINED KNOWLEDGE

1. Vs 2 a) “imagines” – when a person thinks he knows something

B. LOVE DIRECTED KNOWLEDGE

1. Vs 1d a) “but love builds up” 1) “love” – agape = this is sacrificial “giving” love. It is selfless. 2) “builds up” – sacrificial love “edifies” others.

2. Colossians 1:9

3. VERY IMPORTANT: Knowledge is essential by not sufficient!

4. Knowledge without love makes one arrogant.

5. 1 Corinthians 13:1-4

6. 8:7 a) “However, not all possess this knowledge.”

7. Vs 2-3

8. Romans 9:1-3

9. 1 John 4:12

10. Vs 4-6, 7

CONCLUSION:

1. Jeremiah 9:23-24