ISN’T THIS RIGHT?

ISN’T THIS RIGHT?

1 Corinthians 10:14-30 (KJV)

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

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?

For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

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.

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.

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

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.

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:

Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

A lot of people say that the root sin is pride.

I don’t believe it.

I am convinced that the root sin is idolatry and that pride is the first consequence of it.

The serpent’s temptation to Eve, and the thing she was deceived by was this, Genesis 3:5 (KJV)

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

The serpent supplanted God with self as the first thing in our hearts.

·   We believe we can discern good and evil

·   We believe we know right from wrong

·   We believe we can choose for ourselves

We see ourselves as the god of our own destiny.

It’s a proud thing, for sure. But it is first an idolatrous thing.

We fall because we make ourselves to be our own Gods.

So, 

·   The first thing chapter ten taught us is that, though we have a spiritual relationship with the Lord, we can displease the Lord – we can fall.[1]

·   The last thing chapter ten taught us is that God ought to be our priority.[2]

And in the heart of the chapter we have what I have come to see as the heart of, or the response to the two truths above; We must flee idolatry.

Paul knew he was addressing Christians in Corinth. He said in verse 15 that they were all wise enough to grasp the simple truths he was about to give them:

*I. ISN’T THE LORD’S SUPPER THE COMMUNION OF ONE BODY?

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (KJV)

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?

For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Paul will deal with the subject of the Lord’s Supper in great detail in the next chapter.

Here he simply introduces the truth that the Lord’s Supper is a matter of unity, to be observed by those who are united.

It is a local church issue.

It is the communion[3]of like-minded and united members of a church, a body of Christ.

Israel is again the example

1 Corinthians 10:18 (KJV)

Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

Those who got to eat the meat from the animals sacrificed were those who had actually sacrificed the animal at the altar.[4]

To therefore participate in unholy things is to become a partaker in the unholy thing.

1 Corinthians 10:19-21 (KJV)

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

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.

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.

Doesn’t this make sense?

The reason we shouldn’t do the things the world does is because to do so says we are part of the world and not of Christ.

One of the reasons I wouldn’t want to: 

·   Go to the tavern or

·   Go to the dance or

·   Dress immodestly

Is because to do so is a confession that I am like the people who do those things and not like Jesus.

Honestly, is this an association we want to make for ourselves?

1 Corinthians 10:22 (KJV)

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

*II. ISN’T HELPFUL BETTER THAN LAWFUL?

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (KJV)

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

There are all sorts of things that are technically legal, but that doesn’t mean they are really wise:

Drinking alcohol over the age of 21 is legal

But its not healthy and can be harmful not only to self but to others.

So while it is lawful to drink alcohol over the age of 21.

·   It is not lawful to drink and drive

·   It is no lawful to for those who sell alcohol to be open after a late hour

·   It is not lawful to sell alcohol to someone who is obviously impaired by drink

And you probably won’t keep your job if you show up drunk while at work.

Gambling is legal

But it can ruin a person’s life.

So, while it is legal to gamble the government makes all sorts of laws about when it is and isn’t legal.

·   There are only certain kinds of gambling that is legal

·   There are only certain places where it is legal to gamble

·   There are only certain times when it is legal to gamble

These are technically legal but they are not really wise.

I am not trying to preach against drinking and gambling as much as I am trying to make a point.

There are hundreds, probably thousands of things that we can technically do and still be saved.

But that doesn’t mean that we ought to do them.

Notice three words Paul uses to describe things a wise person would do instead

Expedient

This word has to do with bringing together.

Wouldn’t it be better to use your liberties to bring people together rather than tear them apart?

Edify

One of the first definitions of this word is “to build a house.”

Whether we are talking about a family or a church, wouldn’t it be better to use your liberties build them rather than harm them?

Benevolent

I know the word is not there, but the sentiment is.

Wouldn’t it be better to use our liberties to help people rather than to help ourselves?

*III. ISN’T A CLEAR CONSCIENCE A GOOD THING?

1 Corinthians 10:25-30 (KJV)

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

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.

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:

Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

Paul takes us back to the original example of eating meat that was sacrificed to idols, but then sold in a public market.

If it is possible to eat the meat without offending your conscience or another’s, then go ahead and enjoy the meal.

But let me give these two pieces of advice:

I’ve been living just a little while and have had my fair share of life experiences.

Just because you can do something without feeling guilty for it while you are doing it doesn’t mean you won’t feel guilt over it later.

I know a lot of people who are allergic to dairy but really like ice cream.

Even though they have been warned not to eat ice cream, every once in a while the temptation overwhelms them.

·   They eat the ice cream and enjoy every minute of it

·   But then they are sicker than a dog afterwards

When you have been warned something is spiritually harmful you really should pay attention.

You might be able to do the thing without guilt or remorse, but it is very likely that one day you will wish you hadn’t.

Secondly, your conscience isn’t the only one that might be hurt by your actions.

·   What about your spouse? Your children?

·   What about your friends, the people you work with, your neighbors? and 

·   What about your church?

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[1]1 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

[2]1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

[3]The word means partnership, fellowship and association. It implies intimacy. It follows then that those who observe it together would be in close fellowship with one another.

[4]Think of that. When we partake in the Lord’s Supper we are confessing that we had a part in sacrificing Christ on the Cross.