WEBVTT 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:03.580 Be in that relationship with God where you have 00:00:03.580 --> 00:00:06.980 his peace. Not only the peace of God, the peace 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:11.759 with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. If you 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:13.960 take your Bible, please, and turn with me to 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.899 the book of 1 Corinthians, where we have been 00:00:16.899 --> 00:00:21.460 studying for recent months. We are today in the 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:23.559 middle of chapter 10. In fact, we're going to 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:31.710 conclude that chapter in our study today. 1 Corinthians 00:00:31.710 --> 00:00:38.130 chapter 10. The apostle begins this chapter with 00:00:38.130 --> 00:00:43.750 a history lesson. He warns us not to follow the 00:00:43.750 --> 00:00:49.310 example of ancient Israel, who through unbelief 00:00:49.310 --> 00:00:54.549 and fleshly indulgence were set aside by God 00:00:54.549 --> 00:00:58.759 in his purposes. It's not that God is entirely 00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:02.840 finished with them, but God did discipline them. 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:07.459 They were disapproved or disqualified or cast 00:01:07.459 --> 00:01:12.500 away. Chapter 9, verse 27 speaks about that possibility 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:16.620 for us as well. We are not to follow the example 00:01:16.620 --> 00:01:21.200 of Israel in that respect. We are warned that 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:24.019 we would rather... Follow the example of the 00:01:24.019 --> 00:01:27.620 Apostle Paul and of the Lord Jesus Christ, and 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:30.219 that is our lesson for today. Beginning with 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:33.260 verse 14, we will read 1 Corinthians chapter 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:39.640 10. Therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 00:01:40.739 --> 00:01:44.560 I speak as to wise men, judge you what I say. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:49.280 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:53.170 the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread 00:01:53.170 --> 00:01:55.750 which we break, is it not the communion of the 00:01:55.750 --> 00:02:00.870 body of Christ? For we being many are one bread 00:02:00.870 --> 00:02:05.489 and one body. For we are all partakers of that 00:02:05.489 --> 00:02:09.270 one bread. That verse might better be read this 00:02:09.270 --> 00:02:15.009 way. For there is one loaf. And we are many, 00:02:15.050 --> 00:02:19.930 yet one body. For we are all partakers of that 00:02:19.930 --> 00:02:25.500 one loaf. Behold Israel after the flesh, are 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:28.560 not they who eat of the sacrifices partakers 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:32.560 of the altar? What say I then, that the idol 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:36.060 is anything, or that that which is offered in 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:39.939 sacrifice to idols is anything? But I say that 00:02:39.939 --> 00:02:43.539 the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:48.000 sacrifice to demons, and not to God. And I would 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:50.580 not that ye should have fellowship with demons. 00:02:51.949 --> 00:02:55.110 We cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup 00:02:55.110 --> 00:02:59.229 of demons. We cannot be partakers of the Lord's 00:02:59.229 --> 00:03:04.229 table and of the table of demons. Do we provoke 00:03:04.229 --> 00:03:07.409 the Lord of jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 00:03:09.030 --> 00:03:11.750 All things are lawful for me, but all things 00:03:11.750 --> 00:03:14.449 are not expedient. All things are lawful for 00:03:14.449 --> 00:03:18.870 me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek 00:03:18.870 --> 00:03:23.250 his own, but every man another's good. Whatever 00:03:23.250 --> 00:03:27.610 is sold in the market, not eat, asking no question 00:03:27.610 --> 00:03:30.250 for conscience' sake, for the earth is the Lord's, 00:03:30.250 --> 00:03:34.150 and the fairness thereof. If any of them that 00:03:34.150 --> 00:03:37.930 believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed 00:03:37.930 --> 00:03:42.330 to go, whatever is said before you, eat, asking 00:03:42.330 --> 00:03:46.219 no question for conscience' sake. But if any 00:03:46.219 --> 00:03:49.120 man say to you, This is offered in sacrifice 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:53.759 unto others, eat not for his sake, but share 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:56.699 it, and for conscience' sake, for the earth is 00:03:56.699 --> 00:03:59.439 the Lord's, and the firmest thereof. Conscience, 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:04.379 I say, not thine own, but of the other. For why 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:06.979 is not liberty judged by another man's conscience? 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:10.759 For if I by grace be partaker, why am I even 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:14.759 spoken of, for that which I give thanks? Whether 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:17.560 therefore ye eat or drink or whatever ye do, 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:22.560 do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, 00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:26.439 neither to the Jews, nor to the Greeks, nor to 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:31.399 the church of God, even as I please all men in 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:34.779 all things, not seeking mine own profit, but 00:04:34.779 --> 00:04:38.779 the profit of many, that they may be saved. Be 00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:44.519 ye followers of me. Even as I also am of Christ. 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:48.079 What an amazing statement for any person to make. 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:53.920 Be a follower of me. The reason that Paul could 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:56.120 say that is because of what he says in the last 00:04:56.120 --> 00:05:00.639 part of that verse. Even as I also am of Christ. 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:05.079 Paul was not boasting here, but he was confident. 00:05:06.509 --> 00:05:10.569 that his lifestyle and his attitudes were worth 00:05:10.569 --> 00:05:15.310 emulating. He was saying, I have patterned my 00:05:15.310 --> 00:05:19.970 life after Jesus Christ. He is in heaven. You 00:05:19.970 --> 00:05:24.430 can't see him. But you can see me. So imitate 00:05:24.430 --> 00:05:30.850 or mimic me. We're going to mimic the apostle 00:05:30.850 --> 00:05:35.610 and thus imitate Jesus Christ himself. For Paul 00:05:35.610 --> 00:05:39.230 was after Christ's example. But how should we 00:05:39.230 --> 00:05:42.730 live? Well, he tells us in our text today, there 00:05:42.730 --> 00:05:46.230 are four responsibilities to perform if we would 00:05:46.230 --> 00:05:49.449 imitate the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Paul's 00:05:49.449 --> 00:05:53.170 example. The first responsibility is found in 00:05:53.170 --> 00:05:57.009 verses 14 through 22. It is the responsibility 00:05:57.009 --> 00:06:02.300 to flee idolatry. Now why would Paul make such 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:05.660 a statement? For after all, in chapter 8, he's 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:09.759 already told us that idols are nothing. So what 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:13.759 if one goes to an idol's temple, or even participates 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:18.519 in the feast, the sacrificial feast in an idol's 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:22.779 temple? The idol is nothing. And now which is 00:06:22.779 --> 00:06:25.680 offered to an idol is nothing, it's just meat. 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:32.199 Why then does Paul say free idolatry? Well, to 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:34.800 understand why Paul says this, it's helpful to 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:37.319 understand a little bit about Corinth. You see, 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:41.439 Corinth had a long history of pagan idolatry. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:46.500 Even in the first century, there was a restored 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:52.300 temple of Apollo that was used for worship. I 00:06:52.300 --> 00:06:54.899 said a restored temple in the first century. 00:06:55.629 --> 00:06:58.550 because it was built almost 600 years before 00:06:58.550 --> 00:07:02.250 that, and had been worshipped, had been used 00:07:02.250 --> 00:07:05.189 for worship during those centuries. Not only 00:07:05.189 --> 00:07:07.790 was there a temple of Apollo, by the way, and 00:07:07.790 --> 00:07:12.410 seven of the columns of that magnificent temple 00:07:12.410 --> 00:07:14.550 are still to be seen today in ancient Corinth. 00:07:14.930 --> 00:07:18.230 It remains there. But not only was there that 00:07:18.230 --> 00:07:20.470 temple, but there was also another sanctuary 00:07:20.470 --> 00:07:24.810 in which was a colossal statue. of the so -called 00:07:24.810 --> 00:07:28.949 god Apollo. On the north side of the hill, nearby 00:07:28.949 --> 00:07:34.329 the city, was a shrine to Athena. Near the temple 00:07:34.329 --> 00:07:38.110 to Apollo was a shrine and a fountain dedicated 00:07:38.110 --> 00:07:42.569 to the god Poseidon, who in mythology is the 00:07:42.569 --> 00:07:45.810 god of the sea, which is very important to this 00:07:45.810 --> 00:07:49.610 commercial center of Corinth with its two seaports. 00:07:51.310 --> 00:07:55.810 Let me read you further, with some liberty, remarks 00:07:55.810 --> 00:07:58.490 by W. Harold Merrick, professor of New Testament 00:07:58.490 --> 00:08:01.149 at Covenant Theological Seminary. It helps get 00:08:01.149 --> 00:08:03.649 a background on the idolatry of ancient Corinth. 00:08:04.189 --> 00:08:08.389 He says, Other remains of the Roman period found 00:08:08.389 --> 00:08:11.670 in the Corinthian excavations include those of 00:08:11.670 --> 00:08:15.930 the temple Aphrodite, a pantheon, or a temple 00:08:15.930 --> 00:08:21.560 of all the gods, a temple of Heracles, and a 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:25.040 temple of Hermes, messenger of the gods. Besides 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:28.519 these, there were the temple of Octavia, the 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:32.000 deified sister of the emperor Augustus, and the 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:36.600 temple of Jupiter, or Zeus. Some distance from 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:40.139 the marketplace to the north was the temple of 00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:44.440 Asclepius, the god of healing, to whom the likenesses 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:47.500 of the diseased parts of the body were offered 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:49.700 by those who were afflicted with these illnesses. 00:08:50.830 --> 00:08:54.129 On the top of the Acra court, which is a large, 00:08:54.129 --> 00:08:57.710 rocky pinnacle behind the ancient city of Corinth, 00:08:57.929 --> 00:09:02.129 was the famous temple of Aphrodite, or Venus, 00:09:02.509 --> 00:09:06.929 in whose service were 1 ,000 prostitute slave 00:09:06.929 --> 00:09:12.490 priestesses. On the Aquicorn's north slopes facing 00:09:12.490 --> 00:09:15.710 the city were other temples, such as that in 00:09:15.710 --> 00:09:19.870 honor of the Egyptian gods Isis and Serapis. 00:09:20.909 --> 00:09:24.590 On the Aquicorn's north slopes was the temple 00:09:24.590 --> 00:09:28.090 of the goddess Demeter, that had been in use 00:09:28.090 --> 00:09:32.850 from 600 BC. This structure contained a number 00:09:32.850 --> 00:09:35.190 of dining rooms, which may account for Paul's 00:09:35.190 --> 00:09:37.960 warning about not being a stumbling block. by 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:41.500 eating in an idol's temple. With such idolatry 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:44.220 and other pagan practices dominating the life 00:09:44.220 --> 00:09:47.259 and culture of Corinth, no wonder Paul was so 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:49.740 concerned for Christians not to be reckless in 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:53.000 exercising their freedom to eat meat served in 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:55.080 the butcher shops after it had been offered to 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:58.559 some idol and consecrated in pagan worship in 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:02.700 the city. That's the remarks of Dr. Moore. Perhaps 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:05.000 that gives you an understanding of why Paul found 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:08.539 it necessary to say to those Christians, flee 00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:14.600 idolatry. Because idolatry was woven into a very 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:18.000 open mood for everything in the city of Corinth. 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:23.940 Now Paul explains why this is so important. In 00:10:23.940 --> 00:10:27.240 fact, he says, I speak to you as wise men. Now 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:31.779 you discern what I'm saying. Verse 16. The cup 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:35.720 of blessing which we bless. There can be the 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:38.740 cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:43.299 Is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:47.799 That phrase, the cup of thanksgiving, was a technical 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:52.100 term in that day for the third cup of the Jewish 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:56.240 Passover feast. It was that cup that Jesus used 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:01.379 to establish the new ordinance. Of the Lord's 00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:04.799 Supper. And Paul says. This cup of thanksgiving. 00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:08.460 Which we bless. Or for which we give thanks. 00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:12.259 The cup of communion. Is it not participation. 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:16.279 With the blood of Christ. And he says. The blood 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:20.419 which we break. Is it not the communion. Or the 00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:24.679 fellowship. In the body of Christ. He says. There 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:31.559 is one life. Jesus said. I am the bread of life. 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:37.320 Paul says there is one loaf. He says there we 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:41.539 are many. We are all made one body because we 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:44.779 have all eaten of that one loaf, Jesus Christ. 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:49.899 He's saying here that by participating in our 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:52.740 faith in Jesus Christ, we participate in Christ's 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:56.710 work of salvation. And when we observe the ordinance 00:11:56.710 --> 00:12:00.370 of communion, partake of the cup and the blood, 00:12:00.629 --> 00:12:05.210 we are symbolizing that essential unity that 00:12:05.210 --> 00:12:10.809 belongs to us as believers in Jesus Christ. We 00:12:10.809 --> 00:12:14.450 are a part of one another, says Paul, because 00:12:14.450 --> 00:12:19.970 of that blood and that body of Christ. And now 00:12:19.970 --> 00:12:22.370 he goes on to talk about Israel after the flesh, 00:12:22.409 --> 00:12:25.389 the Jews of the Old Testament. He says, What 00:12:25.389 --> 00:12:32.769 does he mean? Well, when the ancient Jews brought 00:12:32.769 --> 00:12:36.629 their sacrifice to the altar, on occasion they 00:12:36.629 --> 00:12:39.269 were given back part of that sacrifice to use 00:12:39.269 --> 00:12:43.549 for their family. What he's saying here is that 00:12:43.549 --> 00:12:45.889 as they brought that sacrifice to the altar, 00:12:45.990 --> 00:12:49.419 they identified with that altar. The sacrifice 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:52.759 was for their sins, and they even took back part 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.299 of the sacrifice to eat on occasion the sin of 00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:59.899 the sacrifices. And so there was an identity 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:06.620 between offerer and the altar for the service 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:11.340 the sacrifice was performed. Now Paul is saying, 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:15.240 don't you know that when you go to an idol's 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:20.899 temple, and you eat a feast in an idol's temple, 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:24.480 but you are identifying yourself with those idols, 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:33.360 you who have been united to Jesus Christ, you 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:37.059 are identifying, associating yourselves with 00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:42.960 a false religion. But as we said before, Paul 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:47.019 has already said, idols are nothing. And he quotes 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:49.460 himself here. He says in verse 19, What am I 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:52.960 saying then? That the idol is something? Or that 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:55.679 which is offered to an idol is something? Already 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:59.440 he said they weren't. But he says in verse 20, 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:03.059 The things that the Gentiles, the pagans, sacrifice, 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:09.980 they sacrifice to demons and not to God. And 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:12.919 I would not that you should have fellowship with 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:17.659 demons. So what is Paul's real reason for commanding 00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:20.799 that they flee from their association with idolatry? 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:25.980 It is that when they go to the temple of one 00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:28.899 of these gods and participate in the worship, 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:33.639 the reminder of feasts, the meals, they are identifying 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:36.639 themselves not only with a false religious system, 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:41.860 but with demons. What are demons? Are they real? 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:46.600 Well, they certainly are very real. Around us 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:50.179 there is another dimension of reality that we 00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:56.980 cannot experience with our five senses. It is 00:14:56.980 --> 00:15:01.759 the spirit realm. It is the realm both of holy 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:07.759 angels and their activity and of demons. fallen 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:14.240 spirits who follow Satan, their master. Satan 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:19.279 and those demons desire worship for themselves. 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:26.759 To gain the worship of men, they often use idols. 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:33.039 You may visit a missionary in Papua New Guinea, 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:38.919 for example. And who may take you to a village 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:42.980 where there's a great deal of animism or worship 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:47.820 of idols? You may be surprised to find out that 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:50.860 there's a great deal of spiritual power connected 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:56.519 with that idolatry. Why is that so? Because the 00:15:56.519 --> 00:16:00.379 idols can see and speak and act? Of course not. 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:04.940 They're nothing. Why then is there spiritual 00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:10.000 power there? Because demons used the idols to 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:12.820 gain worship for themselves. They have done this 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:15.519 through history, and they still do it today. 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:22.139 Behind the facade of idol worship is a whole 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:26.639 realm of reality in the spirit world, and demons 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:30.179 used those idols to gain devotion and worship. 00:16:31.950 --> 00:16:35.169 That's why Paul is so concerned that the believers 00:16:35.169 --> 00:16:40.250 forsake idolatry. He says, don't you know that 00:16:40.250 --> 00:16:42.309 in the worship of an idol you are not really 00:16:42.309 --> 00:16:44.289 worshiping the idol, you are worshiping demons? 00:16:45.769 --> 00:16:48.950 You are fellowshipping with them, joining yourselves, 00:16:49.309 --> 00:16:52.710 identifying yourselves with them. He says, you 00:16:52.710 --> 00:16:57.330 cannot do that. You can't participate at the 00:16:57.330 --> 00:17:01.580 table of the Lord in the table of demons. You 00:17:01.580 --> 00:17:03.720 can't take the cup of the Lord on the cup of 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:09.859 demons. Therefore, flee idolatry. How can this 00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:12.579 apply to us today? There is some idolatry, even 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:17.119 in our own society. There is one way we can apply 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:22.279 it in this sense. The Bible makes it clear that 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:24.839 idolatry is not just the worship of a piece of 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:30.759 wood or stone. Idolatry can be an attitude. So 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:37.180 that greed for things is idolatry. That is covetousness. 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:43.700 Things can become idols. Relationships can become 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:46.539 idols. Anything that will take my devotion to 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:49.660 the Lord can become an idol to me. In fact, is 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:53.859 an idol to me. What Paul is saying by the application 00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:56.900 to us is that we need to be careful of anything. 00:17:58.089 --> 00:18:01.710 but would be perceived as compromising the uniqueness 00:18:01.710 --> 00:18:07.690 of Christ's saving work. There are some foreign 00:18:07.690 --> 00:18:11.869 organizations, philanthropic organizations, or 00:18:11.869 --> 00:18:16.950 even some religious associations that believers 00:18:16.950 --> 00:18:20.910 can belong to. The danger in belonging to some 00:18:20.910 --> 00:18:23.910 of them is that by identifying ourselves with 00:18:23.910 --> 00:18:27.799 those groups, We are compromising the uniqueness 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:31.859 of Christ's finished work for salvation. We are 00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:34.380 associating ourselves with a false religious 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:37.359 system built about man's goodness and man's good 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:41.440 works. What Paul is commanding here is separation 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:47.599 from false religion. Through anything that appears 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:50.779 to compromise the finished work of Christ for 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:54.660 your sins, stay away from it. Don't associate 00:18:54.660 --> 00:19:00.039 with it. Separation. That's what he means by 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:03.380 the application for us. I think we can also say 00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:08.799 that anything that would rob God of our devotion 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:15.440 and love is also idolatry. A relationship with 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.039 a girlfriend or a girlfriend can become idolatry. 00:19:19.380 --> 00:19:23.680 Promotion in the corporation. can become idolatry. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:29.339 The material things we possess can become idols 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:35.720 to us if they begin to rob God of our love and 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:39.019 our devotion. We are commanded to love God above 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:44.220 everything. And if there is something that comes 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:47.920 into our life to siphon off, something about 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:52.509 love that should be devoted to God. That is idolatry. 00:19:53.390 --> 00:19:56.789 And we're commanded to flee from it, get away 00:19:56.789 --> 00:19:59.849 from it. And so there's an application for us 00:19:59.849 --> 00:20:04.390 in these verses. Oh, my friend, let nothing rob 00:20:04.390 --> 00:20:08.410 you of the devotion that belongs to Jesus Christ 00:20:08.410 --> 00:20:17.980 the Lord. If we're going to follow the example 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:22.140 of the Lord Jesus and of Paul, it begins there. 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:26.259 It doesn't stop there. The second responsibility 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:31.579 that we have is found in verses 23 to 30. We 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:34.440 can convince this whole paragraph into two words. 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:42.750 Edify others. Build up others. Paul is again 00:20:42.750 --> 00:20:48.710 dealing with that gray area of activities and 00:20:48.710 --> 00:20:50.730 involvements. And we talked about this several 00:20:50.730 --> 00:20:55.769 weeks ago in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. There are 00:20:55.769 --> 00:20:59.009 some things about which the Bible does not give 00:20:59.009 --> 00:21:07.289 a clear right or wrong, yes or no. In that middle 00:21:07.289 --> 00:21:11.089 area, that gray area, the doubtful area, where 00:21:11.089 --> 00:21:15.609 the Bible does not say right or wrong, we have 00:21:15.609 --> 00:21:20.329 some principles to apply. We are at liberty to 00:21:20.329 --> 00:21:23.029 be involved in those things which the Bible does 00:21:23.029 --> 00:21:29.029 not deny. But where we have liberty, there are 00:21:29.029 --> 00:21:32.210 some principles that may limit our liberty. Paracels, 00:21:32.250 --> 00:21:35.700 for example, verse 23. All things are lawful 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:38.359 for me. Now remember, he's not talking about 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:42.960 sinful things. But apart from that, he says, 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:45.880 I have liberty. All things are lawful for me. 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:52.579 But all things are not expedient. In other words, 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:57.000 not everything brings an advantage to me. It 00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:00.279 doesn't profit me. It doesn't help me in my walk 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:04.019 with God. You see, Paul was of such determination 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:07.799 that his whole life would be with the glory of 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:12.519 God. But he didn't want anything in his life 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:16.839 that would not help him in that direction. And 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:21.500 so he said, now I'm free to do things. But if 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:24.400 it doesn't bring advantage to me in my walk with 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:29.460 God, I don't want it. Let's go in principle. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:35.720 And then he says, all things are lawful for me, 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:43.839 but all things do not edify. That is, they don't 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:48.099 build up others. So Paul was not just concerned 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:50.220 about his own spiritual walk, he was concerned 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:53.579 about his brother. He said, I don't want to do 00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:56.559 anything, though I may be afraid to do it, but 00:22:56.559 --> 00:23:02.119 it will cause my brother to stumble. I am concerned 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:07.099 that he'd be built up. Are you concerned about 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:13.680 that? That you're gone? So you may be afraid 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:18.220 to do some things in your own conscience. But 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:20.059 what about the guy who lives next door to you? 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:24.599 There's a guy down the hall who has a weak of 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:28.839 conscience. Are you concerned that that other 00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:36.460 person may stumble over you? I could be. Paul 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:40.859 says if we make our brother to sin, we are actually 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:43.480 sinning against Christ because Christ is in him. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:47.480 It's very, very serious to make another person 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:51.359 stumble. So we would be concerned about the other 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:55.539 person. But we would be built up and edified 00:23:55.539 --> 00:24:00.099 as well as ourselves. In fact, Paul goes on to 00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:17.279 say, Let me give you an example of this. But 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:21.559 personally, for example, an honest example, I 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:26.680 personally am not offended by attendance at some 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:32.299 movies. There are some movies that I could go 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:34.920 to see and I personally would not be offended 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:39.680 in doing so. But I know that there are some people 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:43.549 in our fellowship We are offended by movies. 00:24:43.809 --> 00:24:46.789 We have a weaker conscience in that matter than 00:24:46.789 --> 00:24:50.650 I may have. Therefore, out of concern for my 00:24:50.650 --> 00:24:53.769 brothers, I do not attend movies. Have I in the 00:24:53.769 --> 00:24:58.230 past? Yes. I am ministering here now in a different 00:24:58.230 --> 00:25:01.809 group of people. Their consciences are different. 00:25:03.029 --> 00:25:06.230 And I have to limit my liberty according to that. 00:25:07.130 --> 00:25:11.079 Do I regret that? Am I angry because my freedom 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:16.440 is limited by somebody else? Not at all. I shouldn't 00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:21.119 be. Because my concern should be for the building 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:25.119 up of my brother. For his good, his welfare. 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:28.480 You ever consider that when you get involved 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:33.339 in things? Now, we have a lot of college students 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:35.519 who attend here. Most of them are downstairs 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:37.299 right now, but there are some in here. So let 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:39.299 me say this to those of you who may be under 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:43.119 the authority of a college. When you go to a 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:47.640 college, you agree to obey a certain set of rules, 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:53.460 standards of living, activity. Now, even though 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:57.279 you may have liberty of conscience beyond what 00:25:57.279 --> 00:26:00.900 the standards are, and it's not an offense to 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:02.900 you to do some things that the college says are 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:06.440 normal, The point is that because you've gone 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:09.180 to the college and agreed to live there and be 00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:11.859 a student there, you have an obligation to God 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:14.099 to limit your activity to what the college says. 00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:20.119 That's your obligation to feel God, not just 00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:24.759 your institution. But in a general sense, we 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:27.779 have great liberty in Jesus Christ in these gray 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:31.799 areas that we're talking about. Without liberty, 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:36.190 there's no liberty. We're limited out of love 00:26:36.190 --> 00:26:38.849 and concern for others, that they may be unified. 00:26:40.869 --> 00:26:45.130 So, if I'm going to imitate Paul, and to live 00:26:45.130 --> 00:26:49.009 like Jesus Christ, I must be concerned for others, 00:26:49.069 --> 00:26:57.210 not them. So do you. Now there's a third responsibility 00:26:57.210 --> 00:26:59.450 that's given to us in our text, and that's in 00:26:59.450 --> 00:27:07.859 verse 30. Verse 31, excuse me. Therefore you 00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:13.819 eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:17.299 glory of God. Now this is one of those umbrella 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:23.099 kind of things. If you flee idolatry, you glorify 00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:26.460 God. And if you edify others, you glorify God. 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:28.900 But I want to separate this because it's such 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:34.069 an important concept. God has created me and 00:27:34.069 --> 00:27:38.670 redeemed me to bring glory to himself. And that's 00:27:38.670 --> 00:27:41.650 why he has created and redeemed you as well. 00:27:43.750 --> 00:27:46.250 That's why God created the universe back at the 00:27:46.250 --> 00:27:49.250 beginning to glorify himself. And he allowed 00:27:49.250 --> 00:27:55.150 sin to come in. Why? Only God knows the answer 00:27:55.150 --> 00:27:59.890 to that. But it was according to his wisdom and 00:27:59.890 --> 00:28:03.470 his sovereign purpose to allow sin to enter the 00:28:03.470 --> 00:28:06.910 picture. But the result of all of that is God 00:28:06.910 --> 00:28:09.529 is further glorified because his nature, his 00:28:09.529 --> 00:28:13.349 mercy, his forgiveness, his grace, his love, 00:28:13.410 --> 00:28:20.210 is seen in all of its beauty because of it. God 00:28:20.210 --> 00:28:23.930 allows things to happen to glorify himself. At 00:28:23.930 --> 00:28:26.880 the end, of time and the beginning of eternity 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:28.980 again, God is going to create a new heaven and 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:33.200 new earth. And the centerpiece of the new heaven 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:36.680 and new earth is the new Jerusalem. Read about 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:42.460 it in Revelation 21 and 22. As you try to construct 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:46.039 that city in your mind, there's one thought that 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:49.700 comes through loud and clear. Everything about 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:52.539 the new Jerusalem that God is going to create 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:57.440 is constructed to reflect and to magnify the 00:28:57.440 --> 00:29:04.099 glory of God. Now there's something missing in 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:06.359 the New Jerusalem, in the New Heaven and New 00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:09.740 Earth. What is it? Well, in fact, there are a 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:12.980 number of things missing. But there's no sun 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:17.819 there. And why is that? Because Jesus Christ 00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:22.160 is the light of the New Jerusalem itself. And 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:27.019 from this room, the radiant glow that will be 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:32.200 light for that whole magnificent city. And it 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:34.660 will go out from there to God's new heaven and 00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:38.400 new earth. Everything about that whole city is 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:45.660 constructed to reflect God's glory. And God's 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:48.660 new creation in you, that's his purpose too. 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:54.160 God desires to reflect his glory in your attitudes. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:58.940 God wants to reflect his glory in the way you 00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:02.519 speak. And the difference in your life from the 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:05.019 average person you go to school with or you work 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:09.960 with or you live with in your neighborhood. Paul 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:13.119 says, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:23.210 you drink, in everything, glorify God. Advance 00:30:23.210 --> 00:30:28.670 his work and his purpose. Enhance his reputation 00:30:28.670 --> 00:30:35.829 in the world. By the way you speak and live. 00:30:36.970 --> 00:30:41.170 Glorify God. If you're not going to imitate Jesus 00:30:41.170 --> 00:30:44.589 Christ and follow the example of Paul, you have 00:30:44.589 --> 00:30:47.529 to fulfill responsibility number three. Glorify 00:30:47.529 --> 00:30:52.460 God in everything you do. Be good. Only with 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:55.180 the enabling of the Holy Spirit and dwelling 00:30:55.180 --> 00:31:00.119 in so we will be fulfilled. Then there's a fourth 00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:06.720 responsibility. Verses 32 and 33. Paul says, 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:10.319 Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:15.400 the Greeks, nor to the church of God, even as 00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:19.680 I please all men in all things, not seeking my 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:23.160 own profit. Paul is not saying here that he is 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:27.900 a man -pleaser. He conveys that elsewhere. For 00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:31.640 example, in the first chapter of Galatians. He 00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:35.039 says that we seek to please men when we cannot 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:38.400 please God. That's our motive. Paul is not saying 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:41.160 he's a man -pleaser, but he's saying that insofar 00:31:41.160 --> 00:31:45.160 as is possible, he seeks to keep his life from 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:49.660 being a stumbling block. He does not want... 00:31:50.190 --> 00:31:54.349 Himself to stand in the way of someone else being 00:31:54.349 --> 00:32:00.150 saved. The fifth responsibility is to win men. 00:32:00.450 --> 00:32:03.970 That's what Paul wanted. He desired to see people 00:32:03.970 --> 00:32:11.289 come to Jesus Christ and be saved. He mentions 00:32:11.289 --> 00:32:16.089 three groups. The Jews, the Greeks, and the Gentiles 00:32:16.089 --> 00:32:19.640 in the church of God. Everybody here today fits 00:32:19.640 --> 00:32:22.799 into one of those three categories. The Jews 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:26.759 refers to those natural descendants of Abraham, 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:31.980 Isaac, and Jacob. And maybe even in our midst 00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:35.180 today we have someone who is Jewish by descent. 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:40.819 We're spoken of here. Who have been all the Gentiles 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:44.259 or the Greeks? Well, those are the people who 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:48.119 are non -Jewish. And we are still lost in sin. 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:54.400 Then he speaks of the church of God as a third, 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:58.160 completely separate division of mankind. Because 00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:01.220 in the church, there's neither Jew nor Gentile. 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:05.980 There's neither slave nor free person. We are 00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:11.740 all just one in Christ. All of the natural distinctions 00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:17.420 and prejudices are gone. We are one. We are the 00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:23.759 called out of God in this world. Paul says, put 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:25.839 your degree that I'm talking about. I don't want 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:29.400 to do any things. Why? Well, he tells us there 00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:34.220 in the last verse in this chapter. He says, I 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:38.279 seek the profit of many that they may be saved. 00:33:39.849 --> 00:33:42.369 There are those who try to tell us that the word 00:33:42.369 --> 00:33:46.150 saved is an old -fashioned word, and we should 00:33:46.150 --> 00:33:49.049 not use it anymore. But I want you to know the 00:33:49.049 --> 00:33:53.569 word saved is a Bible word, and it does communicate 00:33:53.569 --> 00:33:59.569 today as much as any other generation. If one 00:33:59.569 --> 00:34:04.089 needs to be saved, it means that he's lost. If 00:34:04.089 --> 00:34:06.549 he needs to be rescued, it means that he's in 00:34:06.549 --> 00:34:10.869 trouble. In our world today, there are a lot 00:34:10.869 --> 00:34:14.389 of people who need to be saved or rescued because 00:34:14.389 --> 00:34:19.969 they're lost in trouble. Paul was concerned about 00:34:19.969 --> 00:34:30.059 people like that. Are we? Do we care? Paul said, 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:32.679 I don't want anything in my life to be a burial 00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:36.000 from others coming to Jesus Christ. He said, 00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:39.760 I seek to please them that they may be saved. 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:46.719 Are you concerned that we could be saved? I'll 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:49.260 give you a very practical way to apply your answer. 00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:53.500 You'll get a card about a day in which you could 00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:56.099 commit yourself to be a part of an evangelistic 00:34:56.099 --> 00:35:00.030 outreach next Saturday. I know that there are 00:35:00.030 --> 00:35:03.349 some people who cannot because of other importance 00:35:03.349 --> 00:35:07.869 and previously made obligations be a part of 00:35:07.869 --> 00:35:11.329 that. I want you to know this is one way in which 00:35:11.329 --> 00:35:14.289 you can fulfill your responsibility, as I will 00:35:14.289 --> 00:35:18.670 mine, to win men to Jesus Christ by being a part 00:35:18.670 --> 00:35:23.070 of something like Operation Andrew. What is our 00:35:23.070 --> 00:35:25.829 motivation in doing it? That people may be saved. 00:35:26.750 --> 00:35:30.190 God forbid if we have any other move higher than 00:35:30.190 --> 00:35:35.130 that one. But men may be saved and bring glory 00:35:35.130 --> 00:35:39.869 to God. That's why we're going out. And I hope 00:35:39.869 --> 00:35:41.489 that you will fill out that card. I'm going to 00:35:41.489 --> 00:35:43.550 ask you to do that. If you will make that commitment 00:35:43.550 --> 00:35:47.329 to us, I asked you to do it before. And I will 00:35:47.329 --> 00:35:49.210 be collecting the brief you just to leave it 00:35:49.210 --> 00:35:51.090 there in the pew in the ushers and get it after 00:35:51.090 --> 00:35:54.750 the service. If you are willing to join with 00:35:54.750 --> 00:35:58.010 us in winning men, and women and boys and girls 00:35:58.010 --> 00:36:00.389 to Jesus Christ, the one way we can do that is 00:36:00.389 --> 00:36:05.789 operationally. Sign up on that card, leave it 00:36:05.789 --> 00:36:08.250 there in the queue, and be with us next Saturday 00:36:08.250 --> 00:36:10.829 morning as we go to work. You see, it's easy 00:36:10.829 --> 00:36:13.949 for us to sit in church on Sunday and say, Oh, 00:36:13.949 --> 00:36:17.909 yes, God, help me free from my doctrine. Oh, 00:36:18.110 --> 00:36:22.099 yes, Lord, I need to edify others. Yes, I need 00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:25.579 to glorify you in my life, and I need to end 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:32.139 it. What you need is less gratitude and more 00:36:32.139 --> 00:36:34.219 footsteps during the job done in all of your 00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:36.980 days, including winning men and women to Jesus 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:40.500 Christ. That's why I'm presenting this commitment 00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:44.199 to you at this point in the service today because 00:36:44.199 --> 00:36:46.739 it's a fitting application for what Paul says 00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:52.750 here. If we're going to imitate Jesus Christ, 00:36:53.070 --> 00:36:56.269 we need to be concerned about people, that they 00:36:56.269 --> 00:36:59.769 be saved. Think of how many times Jesus went 00:36:59.769 --> 00:37:04.789 out of his way to deal with someone who was hungry 00:37:04.789 --> 00:37:10.329 spiritually and seeking for him. Time and time 00:37:10.329 --> 00:37:12.829 again. It will cost you something to be involved 00:37:12.829 --> 00:37:17.969 in that society. It may cost you some time. Anything 00:37:17.969 --> 00:37:22.849 that's worth our costs. If we're going to follow 00:37:22.849 --> 00:37:26.769 the example of Jesus Christ, it involves going 00:37:26.769 --> 00:37:30.449 out of our way and doing what's necessary, but 00:37:30.449 --> 00:37:32.809 we're going to be presented with the gospel message. 00:37:35.690 --> 00:37:39.329 Thus Paul concludes by saying, Be ye followers, 00:37:39.969 --> 00:37:48.329 imitators of me. Flee from idolatry. Edify others. 00:37:50.309 --> 00:37:59.650 Glorify God. Every one of you. All of you, even 00:37:59.650 --> 00:38:05.889 as I also communicate Christ. Let's pray. Heavenly 00:38:05.889 --> 00:38:13.920 Father, I pray You will zero in the applications 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:18.119 of this message to our hearts. You will not allow 00:38:18.119 --> 00:38:21.840 us to escape the point that you're trying to 00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:29.380 make to each of us this day. And I pray that 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:32.440 you will raise up from this congregation those 00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:37.079 who have committed themselves to win men to Operation 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:41.739 Andrew. I pray that you will... produce in our 00:38:41.739 --> 00:38:44.619 hearts the greatest motive of all to glorify 00:38:44.619 --> 00:38:50.559 you in all that we do. Teach us to limit our 00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:53.099 own freedom that we may edify and build others 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:57.280 and to flee from anything that would rob you 00:38:57.280 --> 00:39:02.460 of our hearts' love and devotion. May we live 00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:07.820 like Jesus and imitate him. We pray this in his 00:39:07.820 --> 00:39:13.730 name. Amen. Closing our service, we're going 00:39:13.730 --> 00:39:20.150 to sing together a hymn. It is 384, I Will Be 00:39:20.150 --> 00:39:24.469 Like Jesus. It expresses something of the thrust 00:39:24.469 --> 00:39:28.489 of the message this morning. As we sing this 00:39:28.489 --> 00:39:31.630 hymn, it's an opportunity for you to respond 00:39:31.630 --> 00:39:33.710 that the Spirit of God has been dealing with 00:39:33.710 --> 00:39:38.119 some specific area of your life. It may be that 00:39:38.119 --> 00:39:43.340 you today are still lost in sin and on your way 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:47.179 to a Christless eternity. I would beg you today, 00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:52.559 in the name of Jesus Christ, to repent of your 00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:58.059 sin and to trust Him and be saved. We have people 00:39:58.059 --> 00:40:00.639 who can answer questions about that and show 00:40:00.639 --> 00:40:03.690 you what it means. Will you come forward as we 00:40:03.690 --> 00:40:06.550 sing so that we can reduce you and get you out 00:40:06.550 --> 00:40:10.710 by yourselves? Get that spiritual need in your 00:40:10.710 --> 00:40:15.369 life forward today. If you're here today as a 00:40:15.369 --> 00:40:18.010 Christian who needs to get some things straightened 00:40:18.010 --> 00:40:20.630 up in your life because frankly you're not imitating 00:40:20.630 --> 00:40:28.650 Jesus Christ, you're imitating the lost by the 00:40:28.650 --> 00:40:33.559 way that you live. today you, by a public commitment, 00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:37.420 would say, I am making a return. I am repenting. 00:40:37.639 --> 00:40:40.840 I am changing my mind. I am going to go from 00:40:40.840 --> 00:40:46.059 now on in the faith of Jesus Christ. Whatever 00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:49.639 the Spirit of God has said to you, we encourage 00:40:49.639 --> 00:40:53.699 you now to make that a public statement of your 00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:56.900 decision. Let's stand and praise as we sing together. 00:41:10.510 --> 00:41:11.489 Thank you.