Scripture
By Doug Smith
Our lesson text, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, are Paul’s instructions to the church in Corinth, answering questions about food offered to idols. One of the related scriptures, Matthew 25:31-46, refers to God being the one who will separate his obedient followers from pretenders and unbelievers. It also lets us know that what we do for others, demonstrate what we really think about Jesus’ words to us. We are to feed the hungry, give the homeless a place to stay, and visit the sick.
In Romans 14:1-23, Paul is speaking about immature faith, faith that has not yet developed the muscle it needs to stand against external pressures. Eating “all things” refers to meat offered to idols, and another eateth herbs refers to one weaker in faith who eat only vegetables and refuses to eat meat that has been offered to idols. The verses speak to how each person is accountable to Christ! Those strong-faith Christians should be willing to set aside their freedom to keep from leading their weaker brothers and sisters into sin by violating their convictions.
1 Corinthians 10:23-33, refers to how we should be sensitive and gracious. The principle of love motivates the believer to act in a way that benefits or edifies others. While we have freedom in Christ, we shouldn’t exercise our freedom at the cost of hurting a Christian brother or sister. Galatians 5:1-15 refers to how Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. It also lets us know that we are saved by faith not by works and the love for others and for God is the response of those whom God has forgiven.
Synopsis
By Lecha Price
In our lesson today, we learned that knowledge without love is prideful. The eighth chapter of first Corinthians comprises Paul’s letter to the church in the city of Corinth. Corinth was dominated by paganism meaning they worshipped many gods. However, through Paul’s teaching and the leading of the Spirit many of the pagan worshippers converted to Christianity.
In this portion of his letter, Paul is addressing a doctrinal disruption which arose among the new converts as to whether meat once sacrificed to idols could be eaten. Many who had become Christians at Corinth still struggled with the thought that the meat was defiled and wanted nothing to do with it. Other Corinthian believers realized that the pagan gods were no god at all and felt their liberty in Christ allowed them to freely eat such food, despite the differing belief of their brother or sister. Paul gently reminded them that liberty in Christ is not void of love for one another. Paul’s highest priority throughout this epistle to the church at Corinth is their unity in true Christian love.
He recognized another force that had been dividing the believers there ‘arrogance ‘based on knowledge and sophistication. This issue of whether to eat foods that had been offered to idols was just one more area in which some Corinthian believers were inflated in their thinking but lacked graciousness or concern in their hearts. Paul reminds the Christian believers that we are to never use our liberty in Christ to be a stumbling block for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
I Corinthians 8:13 says, wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. We are called to “let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.”
Philippians 2:3
Practical Application
By Charlene Brown
God has given us instruction and guidance in His word, for all scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. Even though we can look to the scriptures to search a thing out, sometimes the answers aren’t always clearly defined. The church at Corinth was faced with a dilemma around liberty and freedom as a Christian.
Some of the new believers were questioning what is sinful and what is not, and they looked to mature believers to help answer these questions. As a spiritually mature believer it is highly expected of one to choose the love for a fellow believer, especially new converts, over expressing the liberty and freedom we have in Christ Jesus. We are to be mindful and careful of our actions especially in the eyes of those whom we are to be role models.
Romans 16:1 says; “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” 1 John 4:7 ” Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” The expressive act of love is the proof of knowing God. Love causes us to be sensitive, compassionate and concerned for our weaker brother because we don’t want to be the ones who cause others to stumble. We want to be those who encourage others to grow and mature as believing believers in Christ Jesus.
