I. INTRODUCTION

A. Last session together, we looked at an age old question. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

1. And concluded: One is not better than the other!

a) Paul told us in Chp 7:19 . . ."keeping the commandment of God is what matters"

b) He also advised the Christians in Corinth: 1Cor 7:24 (NKJV) Brethren, let each one remain with God in that [state] in which he was called.

2. Whether married or single, our first and greatest concern should be the Lord! 1 Corinthians 7:26-31

a) We shouldn't let being married, or being single interfere with serving the Lord.

b) For many, life is spent in the pursuit of either a partner or being single instead of the pursuit of God.

B. In Chapters 8 & 10, Paul is dealing with meat sacrificed to idols.

1. Not exactly a common occurrence here in Phoenix, today right?

a) Or is it?

2. Much of the meat used in the pagan worship at Corinth was left over and sold in the shambles at a discount price.

a) The market place was set up much like our "Park and Swap" is today.

b) There were many little booths and shops and this meat could be bought at a fraction of the original cost.

3. The question that Paul has to answer was simple and straight forward, "can we eat this meat without participating in idol worship?"

a) As we study chapters 8 & 10 – I would like to give you a scripture to “sift” it all through:

(1) Rom 14:7 NKJV For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

II. 1Co 8:1-6 NKJV Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. (2) And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. (3) But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. (4) Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. (5) For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), (6) yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

A. So, what Paul is saying is that as Christians we know that there is only one true God and that is Jesus!

1. Therefore, food offered to idols is nothing more than food because there are no other Gods.

a) Now I used the big “G” because there are lots of little “gods” running around – Budah, Krishna, Ghandi, Allah, satan, creation, humanity, self and mammon to name a few!

b) But for the Christian there is only one Creator!

(1) Joh 1:1-3 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

(2) But since not everyone is a Christian and has this understanding, we need to be careful of what we allow in our lives.

III. 1Co 8:7-10 NKJV However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (8) But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. (9) But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. (10) For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?

A. Now I have to ask you, does not this same rule apply to cocaine, pot, sexual sins, cigarettes, alcohol, some TV and cable, some music and certain magazines?

1. You might say, “Well, some of those are obviously wrong, but the others are not so bad.”

2. To that I would like to say that a person can justify anything if they want to and convince themself that what they are doing is “not so bad”.

a) But the point Paul is making here is not whether a thing is right or wrong for you. The question is, “Can what I am doing, stumble someone else?”

(1) Paul is saying that for the Christian – that should be the higher goal, not getting to do what I want – just because I have the liberty to do it.

IV. 1Co 8:11-13 NKJV And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? (12) But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. (13) Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

A. Remember Paul said in the first verse of chapter 8 Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

1. So, if our “knowledge” says, “I have the liberty to do this” – with no concern for our brethren – we have become arrogant and prideful and the only love involved is self-love.

a) Mat 25:34-40 NKJV Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; (36) I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' (37) "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? (38) When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? (39) Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' (40) And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

(1) Now we are going to jump over to chapter 10 because Paul continues this theme there. And it is there we will see the end result of liberty without love.

V. 1Co 10:1-12 NKJV Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, (2) all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, (3) all ate the same spiritual food, (4) and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. (5) But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. (6) Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. (7) And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY." (8) Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; (9) nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; (10) nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. (11) Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (12) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

A. Gal 3:3 NKJV Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

1. We must be very careful that our “liberties” do not lead us back into the bondage and slavery that the Lord died to set us free from!

“Liberty is the privilege of being free from the things we don’t like in order to be slaves of things we do like.” (York Trade Compositor)

2. That “thing” we see as a liberty may just be a “temptation” in disguise.

VI. 1Co 10:13-23 NKJV No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (14) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (15) I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. (16) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (17) For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. (18) Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? (19) What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? (20) Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. (21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. (22) Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? (23) All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

A. So, the question is not, “Do I have the liberty to do this or that?” The question is, “Will this build-up the body of Christ or will it tear it down?”

1. Will it build up my brother/sister or will it stumble them?

VII. CONCLUSION

A. 1Co 10:24-33 NKJV Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. (25) Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; (26) for "THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL ITS FULLNESS." (27) If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. (28) But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL ITS FULLNESS." (29) "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? (30) But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? (31) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (32) Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, (33) just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

1. Php 2:3 NKJV Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.