July
31st
14:
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 15: I speak as to
wise men; judge ye 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 being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all
partakers of that one bread. 18: Behold Israel after the flesh: are
not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19: What
say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in
sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20: But I say, that the things which
the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and
I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21: Ye cannot
drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be
partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22: Do we
provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 23: All things
are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are
lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24: Let no man seek his own,
but every man another's wealth. 25: Whatsoever is sold in the
shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26: For
the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27: If any of them
that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go;
whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience
sake. 28: But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice
unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience
sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29:
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my
liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30: For if I by grace be
a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all
to the glory of God. 32: Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor
to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33: Even as I please all
men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of
many, that they may be saved.
Now
Paul appeals to the Corinthian believers to put aside their idolatry.
Somebody might say hang on a minute, is Paul talking to Christians?
Yes he is. Christians – though their sins are forgiven – still
sin. Becoming a Christian does not mean that the Christian ceases
from sin. In fact the Christian might become even more aware of sin -
so it might appear that they sin more. Nobody became a Christian by
ceasing to sin. And no Christian can say that he does not sin. The
Christian has believed the Gospel and Christ has forgiven him of all
his sin, past present and future. So the Christian lives in a
constant state of fellowship with the Father. And when he sins and he
will constantly sin - he is constantly restored to fellow by
confession of his sin. The great besetting sin Paul deals with here
is idolatry. Paul says the cup of communion is it not a visible
expression of fellowship with Christ. And the bread we break is a
visible expression of the body of Christ. The communion elements are
not Christ actual blood and body, but they represent them. We are all
one in the sense that we all partake of one loaf. Who are Israel in
the flesh? But those partook of the sacrifices at the altar. The idol
of a heathen temple in nothing, but those who offer sacrifices to
idols, sacrifice to demons and not to God. We should not have
fellowship with demons! How can you have fellowship with demons and
Christ? You cannot partake of the Lords supper and also the demonic
temples. Do not provoke the Lord to jealousy over his honour. Are you
stronger than God? Everything is allowed for the Christian but not
everything will be a benefit for him. Not everything will build him
up. So let’s not only think about ourselves but also our brothers
blessing. If you must eat food that has been offered to idols then
eat it if you have a clear conscience. Don’t ask too many
questions. All food in the earth belongs to the Lord. If you are
invited to a feast then eat what is given you asking no questions for
your consciences sake. However if a man says to you this is offered
to an idol then don’t eat it so that you do not offend the
conscience of the person telling you. Everything in the earth belongs
to the Lord. Whatever you do whether you eat or drink or whatever
else you do, do it to the glory of God. Try to not give offence to
Jews or Gentiles or the Church of God. Be like me, I try to please
all men in everything not looking to my own benefit but to the
benefit of the many that they might all be saved.
- How does Paul describe the communion which we share as believers?
- What danger does Paul warn the believers of in relation to the Lords Supper?
- How should we try to live before God and our brethren?
No comments:
Post a Comment