1 Corinthians 10:11-11:1 - Part C

All things are lawful for me, but not all things and if I that's the test of charity we mentioned in the previous chapter, you have knowledge you do all things. But telling you should balance that out what love your God, is it helpful to control me less of the people in your own actions can draw people to Jesus for lead them astray can be a lot of pressure today on connect with Skip Skip shares how love can guide and influence others for Christ right now want to tell you about a resource courage to trust the good plans that God has for life is hard and then time is a harsh but accurate philosophy with into this gentle encouragement… That's right, in the most difficult circumstances God can intervene as he did for Joseph Joe and through the resurrection of Jesus here Skip I think the fact there may not be two more hopeful words than these two words but God because they point us to the great interrupter, the one who can powerfully and graciously interrupt our live with his plans and change our lives forever help you understand some of the Bible's most profound… You can have more hope for change in your life.*It's 10 message teaching theories that God our thanks $35 and more today to help connect more people to the only one can radically change a life. But God CD collection today.

You get online securely connectwithskip.com/offer or call 892 1888 first Corinthians chapter 10 Jewish Skip for today's message. When we take the Lord supper together meant as a vertical dimension us with God communing with and there's a horizontal dimension communing with each other.

In fact, in the truest sense we are becoming one with each other because the very bread that we break and distribute goes inside of you gets gets assimilated into your body, it actually becomes a part of your body.

Eventually, cellular structure. Likewise, the bread that I take becomes a part of me so because were taken from the same source we are literally becoming one with each other where communing with each other and it talks about bread in that verse says the bread which we break is about the communion were here for bread is low, singular, and that's because the early church. Generally, when they had communion took one loaf of bread distributed each part to the different people who had come to the assembly.

They were communing with each other over the meal becoming one with each other something else. I just can't pass us up. I want to just get this notice, it says the cup of blessing. The cup of blessing happens to be a technical term always Jewish. He was a rabbi. The couple blessing in the Passover meal, the Passover meal had not one, but you know how many 4 cups 4 cups throughout the evening for the Passover meal. The couple blessing was the 3rd cup the 1st cup was a cup of sanctification. The 2nd cup was on the cup of celebrating the judgments and the inheritance of God's people from the Egyptians. The 3rd cup was the cup of redemption. The 4th cup was the cup of praise or consummation Jesus took the couple blessing. The 3rd cup, a cup of redemption and he said this is my blood.

The blood of the new covenant, shed for you. But then something interesting happen if you look at the accounts of the Last Supper, the Passover Seder that Jesus had with his disciples. There is a record that he took the cup, so he had taken cup one, two and three.

The 3rd cup of blessing. And then he made a remark he said I will not drink of the fruit of the vine anymore until I drink it with you in my father's kingdom, and there is not a record that Jesus took the 4th cup, a cup of praise. It just is recorded that after the 3rd cup base saying to him and they went out toward the Mount of olives and then we have Jesus entering into the garden of Gethsemane.

But what's interesting is in the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed and he said father if it's possible, take this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but your will be done.

I think the cup he was referring to was the cup of consummation that he did not drink that night at the Passover, but he said I didn't drink it alone we can drink together these other cup because were celebrating what happened in the past, but this is something I must bear alone. Father, not my will but you, but thine be done and he resigned. He consummated the sacrifice and taking the 4th cup. The cup of suffering to himself.

Anyway, this is a little FYI a little no extra charge on the Bible study when he says the couple blessing is the 3rd cup that we take from that the cup of communion. So these are rhetorical questions that he's asking in verse 16. The couple blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ.

Answer is is is in the bread that we break is not the communion of the body of Christ. Yet it is so these are rhetorical questions meant to have an affirmative answer for. We, being many, are one bread, one body, for we all partake of that one. Brett amplifying the truth now that's one example. Here's another example, the children of Israel going to the temple.

First example, Christians getting together for communion. The Lord supper second example Jewish people going to the temple to offer sacrifices.

Let's look at it observe Israel. Verse 18. After the flesh that his physical Israel the descendents of the tribes of Israel are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar. So you are Jewish you were Jewish you went to the temple.

Back then, with your animal sacrifice, you would give it to the priest. The priest would tell it. The priest were offered a portion of the sacrifice would be given to the priest to consume a portion would be given for you to take home and eat and enjoy any portion would be offered to God so he is giving two examples to make a greater point in verses 19 and 20 which are what am I saying that that an idol is anything, or that what is offered to idols is anything but I say 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. So go back to those two examples.

When you and I take communion together we take the bread we take the cup we are showing solidarity with each other and with Christ. When we take communion. Example number two the children of Israel with their sacrifices going to the temple.

They are showing solidarity to their God and to each other by that sacrifice. So his point being is this if you go to a temple sacrifice of temple ceremony and you indulge in the meal there at the temple, a pagan temple you are showing solidarity with that pagan deity and with those pagans who were there no, wait a minute Paul I have a problem with that because in chapter 8, you said we know that an idol is nothing that's right I did say that Paul would say I did say you have knowledge, but I also said go you have knowledge of the balance your knowledge with the responsibility of something else.

An idol is nothing, and I was a piece of wood pieces stone piece of metal that's all it is is all it is, but it represents something and what it represents is not just a made up God. But actually, according to Paul, demons use out I was Paul he was by this time, a little narrow and legalistic. No, actually you'd be wrong if you said that because way back in Deuteronomy chapter 32 Moses said to the children of Israel concerning them. Therefore, father's day provoked God to jealousy with foreign gods with abominations, they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God's to gods they did to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear so behind that worship system behind that little idol in Corinth was actually a demon entity supposed that I want you to have fellowship with demons. You show solidarity to Christ and to each other. When you take the Lord supper you show solidarity. Jewish person at the temple in Jerusalem. Even so, you could be showing solidarity to paganism. If you are going to these public festivals and eating what is there with you or for you so what is that to teach us what what is the overarching principle simply this, and don't mess it. There is only one true God in the world there are not many gods is a will there's thousands of religions.

Yes, all of them are demonically inspired all of them are demonically inspired every world religion.

Every system created by man.

Throughout history, except for the revelation given to us by God in holy Scripture is nothing less than a false worship.

And behind that false worship or demon entities or why. Why would they be there simple distraction man they want to distract people from what is true what is real so they offer a counterfeit. The offer a counterfeit experience of counterfeit expression, counterfeit Scriptures, the god of this age, Satan has blinded those eyes, those minds of those who believe not. Paul said, so policy I know I did say in chapter 8. An idol is nothing but now I'm telling you, be careful because it represents something demonic so have that knowledge as well.

Verse 19. What am I saying then that an idol is anything what is offered to idols is anything but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I don't want you to have fellowship with demons. 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 or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy.

Are we stronger than he. All things are lawful for me, this is now the summary of it all. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.

All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify the let me recap something I mentioned in chapter 60 you want to tie these ends together because were reading like a chapter a week maybe we done two chapters but that's like. By God's good grace and your patience but I have a chapter last week. So anyway, in chapter 6, verse 12 he introduces the same principle. He says all things are lawful for me, not all things are helpful.

All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. That's chapter 6, verse 12.

Now he reiterates part of that and adds 1/3 all things are lawful, not all things are helpful, then all things are lawful, but not all things edify, so we we now have our answer if were faced with uncertain areas. Gray areas not black, not white. Can I do this. Can I do that is not clearly delineated in the Scripture, I apply three principles number one the test of utility doesn't help me is a beneficial to me. If I do this thing. If I get involved in this. If I eat this or drink this or perform this activity is something that is expedient for me as it doesn't help me does it benefit me especially in my Christian walk. If not, do I really need to do it or have that's the test of utility second is the test of authority am I going to control it or is it going to control me.

Do I have the authority does say yes or no to it or is it going to eventually form a habit, a an addiction. So it's controlling me.

I'm not controlling it. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Chapter 6, verse 12. That's the second test the third test mentioned here in verse 23. All things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

That's the test of charity, love what he mentioned in the previous chapter. Yep, you have knowledge and do all things. But I've been telling you, you should balance that out with how you love people who are watching what you do. Let love be your guide. Is it helpful will the control me.

Will it bless other people or will it hinder other people. So here's an example. I've had people say come up to me with this example, a couple not married to each other living together but they say not having any sexual relations at all with each other in separate rooms with her doing it simply for economic reasons combined their incomes defray costs. All things are lawful, but somebody looking at that union. Are they don't understand it or would a brother or sister who doesn't understand it be stumbled by and could you be placing yourself into a comfortable position where God is giving you a way of escape, but because your rounded trouble the other all the time, it becomes easier and easier not to take the way of escape, and you would eventually compromisers other issues at play. The Bible doesn't say thou shall not live together to defray expenses and say that you apply these three principles and the answer will come easier than you think.

Principle of utility principle of authority. Principle of charity imply that any area of your life and you'll come out the other end smelling pretty sweet.

Verse 24, capping our attaching to the end part of verse 23 let no one seek his own.

But each one. The other's well-being. That's part of the law of love. Now don't be confused by all that because Paul almost seems to go back and forth a little, but he goes eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake, for the earth is the Lord's and its fullness are you going to the marketplace. All the samples you're not going to a festival at a pagan temple and at this point you're not at a friends house you just buying meat in the main market when you're going through samples and you go to a meat market and you see a good deal on beef or lamb or pork or chicken or whatever and you see looks good.

You could say was is offered to an idol. Also, don't ask. It's a good deal take it. Don't even ask questions.

He said, for conscience sake, why does he say that now is giving us. By the way, this is a very un-Jewish principal you know about Judaism right to eat kosher meat as to be asked to be signified by a rabbi that it's kosher is kosher and nonkosher. But Jesus said in Mark chapter 7. Asaba goes into Amanda defiles him.

It's what comes out from his heart. So for the Christian, there is no kosher on kosher lawful unlawful you can eat anything you want. Just give God thanks and even now it's not necessary. Good for your heart. That's a medical issue that some different, but as far as a biblical freedom issue eat anything you want.

Don't ask questions why because the earth is the Lord. Psalm 24 is quoting Scripture's on 44, verse one. The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof the world and all who dwell in it. That's that's the text. Supposing God is given us these things. Enjoy the look of verse 27, if any, of those who do not believe invite you to dinner and you desire to go. So now you're going to dinner at an unbeliever's house you going into their home there giving you a meal.

Eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake.

So what if you go with go into an unbeliever's house you get invited to dinner and they say thank you for the common man were really glad that you're a part of our family and we have a beautiful meal prepared and you say will I'm glad to be here because I like to tell you about somebody that I met that change my life. I hope we get to talk about him over dinner, you can witness to what what would it be like if you brought your own food in and say listen, we brought our own meat to cook. It has been sacrificed to your idol. You are going to end the conversation, or I can have any inroads at all.

They can ask you to leave because in that culture that was an insult audiences go to dinner. Don't ask questions for conscience sake. But if anyone says to you this was offered to idols and he says don't need it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience sake, for the earth is the Lord's and all of his fullness.

Something volunteer the information they say before you eat.

That is what you know this was offered to an idol know who would do that an unbeliever might do it and unbeliever might say hey this was sacrificed to an idol and the unbeliever might say that to a believer to test the believer. Keep in mind at that time Christians to most pagans were a subset of Judaism. They knew the Jews had strict dietary laws so they would say this is sacrificed to an idol and then he watched to see if you can eat or not. How dedicated and sincere you really are about or it could be a believer who says this is sacrificed to an idol and that person may or may not have a sensitive conscience so audiences don't need it. If they tell you what sacrifice when I just don't do it, make it easier for the earth is the Lords and the phone is no. Why would he quote the same verse simply the same God who provided me that anybody can eat it anytime I needed on ask questions. The same God provided other stuff you can eat besides the meat that you should need because it bother somebody right is a lot of other things out there. God is made eat that conscience. I say verse 29. Not your own, but that of the other wise my liberty judged by another man's conscience, but if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks, of course, the answer is simply because I don't want to offend the conscience of somebody else. I wanted a moment of withhold my liberty for the sake of somebody else, for the sake of the gospel there, and unbeliever for the sake of the scruples of a weak brother sister if they volunteer the information.

Therefore, verse 31 were almost done. Therefore, whether you eat or drink what ever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Give no offense either. The Jews of the Greeks or to the church of God. Whether you're Jewish, whether your Gentile. Whether you're a believer with any of those two backgrounds, do all to the glory of God.

Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit. That's chapter 9 he is referring to. He was the grand example in that chapter with the profit of many, that they may be saved in verse one of chapter 11 which belongs in with the rest imitate me just as I also imitate Christ.

We did it.

Even with the diversion in chapter 38 and 36 to 38 of Ezekiel. Interesting times we live in interesting interesting times. I 40 years ago when I started starting prof said 50 years ago, I while I I did not think I would see the day that I'm seeing today with Russia, Turkey and Iran. So unified against Israel, by the way, it presupposes Israel has been out of the land and is now suddenly back in the land they had been out of the land until May 14 of 1948 so that the recent development.

It also presupposes that Israel, unlike its past will have the kind of wealth in that country that other nations, including huge nations, to the north will want and they do all of that is true. The economy of Israel is one of the strongest on the earth, and it is become the I am the envy of people like Iran and like Soviet Union and Turkey altogether have an interest in somewhere living in that day the prophet spoke of how utterly exciting it is.

So we like is our redemption draws Skip message from the series expound Skip to tell you, keep encouraging messages like this coming your way as you help others, to the gospel. The Lord truly is slow to anger, and he desires that all people come to repentance and trust in Jesus, our goal is to send God's word out into a world that needs to hear the life-changing news of the gospel and I want to invite you to take an active role in that exciting mission. Please consider giving the gift today to keep these teachings coming your way and going out to encourage a world in need. Here's how you can give right now you can give online@connectwithskip.com/donate.

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