1 Corinthians 8-14

Chapter 8-10 – Freedom in Love

We can only live and love like Jesus if we surrender to Him.  Surrender means to give one’s self up to the power of authority.  Jesus gives us freedom.  With freedom comes responsibility.  Paul teaches us how to handle freedom.  Paul taught principles about relating to other Christians who are not strong in their faith.  Paul said he knew the Corinthians had knowledge and that knowledge had made them conceited and proud.  He calls attention to their pride and said that love trumps knowledge.   Paul said that “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.  (1 Cor. 8:1)  Paul’s message is even though we have freedom in Christ; we are not to do anything that might cause a weaker Christian to stumble.  

The Corinthians had some questions about eating meat offered to idols.  The Christians knew eating such meat was ok, but some new to the faith thought that eating food sacrificed to idols was a sin and didn’t want to take any chances.  Paul said, “We know an idol is nothing in the world at all and that there is no God but one” (1 Cor. 1:4).  Food does not bring us closer to God.  We should not participate in eating such food so we won’t cause others to stumble.  We should not do anything that might cause them to judge our actions.  He also said we should not be conceited about our knowledge.  We should be sensitive to our fellow brothers and sisters.  Love always supersedes freedom.

Paul set examples in his life and ministry.  He made sure his actions didn’t cause anyone to sin.  He sacrificed his own rights and freedoms and made himself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible.  He became like a Jew to the Jews.  He became weak to the weak.    He met people at their level so he could relate to them and them to him.  He became all things to all people for the sake of the gospel.

Are you puffed up in your knowledge and look down on others who are not as knowledgeable as you?

Paul had the right to receive financial support from the Corinthians as all people in the ministry do.  He chose not to accept any pay.  He said he was compelled to preach and does it voluntarily.  He didn’t want anything to hinder the gospel.  He only seeks heavenly rewards.

Do you seek earthly or heavenly rewards?

We learn many lessons by Paul example.  One being he reached people with the gospel by being all things to all men.  He met them where they are so he could better relate to them and gain their confidence.  Then they would be more apt to listen when he told them about Jesus and how they should live.

Paul gave the Corinthians warnings from Israel’s history.  In Exodus 32, Numbers 16-17, Numbers 21 and other Old Testament scriptures we learn that the Israelites were idolaters.  The Israelites were sexually immoral, tested the Lord, and continually grumbled.  As a result they were killed by the destroying angel.  These things happened to them as warnings for us.  We act the same way today – grumbling when things don’t go the way we think it should.   Many people test the Lord by living together outside the covenant of marriage.  We as a nation have become sexually immoral.  Just look at the movies and TV shows we watch.  Sexually immorality is everywhere and we condone it and are tempted every day.

So Paul said if you think you are standing firm and can’t be tempted, be careful.  God’s promise to us is when we are tempted – and we will be tempted - He will provide an escape.  “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  (1 Cor. 10:13) 

Our temptations are not unique; others are having and will face the same temptations.  They have found strength in God to overcome.  You too, can fight temptation through the power of Jesus.  God will limit your temptation and provide a way of escape, but you have to take His way.  He will not force you.

This escape is available to all, but involves surrender.  Does that describe the reign of God in your life?  If you think you are strong enough not to be tempted – you’re not.  If you think you can’t possible begin to doubt Him – you’re wrong.

So what are you to do? – recognize your weaknesses, recognize the dangers around us, be alert to our enemy recognizing Satan and his demonic forces, run from temptations, be prayerful, study His Word, listen to the Holy Spirit and keep the right association with fellow Christians.   God is faithful.  He loves you and wants what’s best for you.  He will protect you.

Paul gives us more principles that we can practice today.  “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.” (1 Cor. 10:23)  We have freedom in Christ, but that doesn’t mean we should do all things, because it may not be constructive or good for us.  It may even cause others to sin.  We should do everything for the glory of God.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as savior, but not let Him be Lord in your life?

When is the last time you denied yourself for the sake of others?

Do you do everything for the glory of God?

Principle:  True freedom is submission to Jesus as Lord.

Chapter 11 – Church Worship

Paul talked about men not covering their heads and women covering their heads while worshiping.  In Corinth the culture influences were in the church.  Women went around bared headed which was identified with prostitutes.  They were enjoying their freedom to do so, but Paul said they should cover their heads in order to be a witness.  Paul was speaking of traditions in church worship, but told them to be the judge.

The point Paul gave here is the “Head” is a part of the body.  It represents the authority.  Paul gave God’s appointed order of authority for husbands and wives.  The head of Christ is God.

The head of every man is Christ.  The head of the woman is man.

To me this also means that we are to be focused on true worship and honoring God without any physical distractions.  We should not dwell on male-female attractiveness and should dress modestly not drawing attention to ourselves.  Today women don’t dress modest enough in church or outside the church.  We may not have to worry about covering our heads like in Paul’s day, but we should be concerned about how we dress and not dress in revealing clothing.

Are you honoring your husband, your church and God in the way you dress?

God created everyone and everything.  We exist to give praise and honor to God.  We all come from Him and are all equal in His eyes.  No one is more important than another.  He is the head of the church and we are to worship Him. 

Paul addresses their participation in Lord’s Supper.  As their custom they gathered together for a meal and followed it with the Lord’s Supper.  There were cliques in the church.   They ate with friends instead of merging with others in Christ.  They ate to fill their stomachs.  There was a lot of drinking and by the time they celebrated the Lord Supper, they were drunk.  This didn’t look very well to those outside the church.  Was there anything different from believers and nonbelievers? 

Paul says before taking the Lord Supper we should examine ourselves first making sure we have confessed our sins and are right with God.  We should not take it in an unholy manner, which is a sin against the body and the blood of the Lord.  We should remember its purpose – Jesus shed His blood for our sins.

Where is your focus when you partake in the Lord Supper? 

Is it a mechanical thing for you?

There is nothing routine in what Jesus did for us.  We should be in awe every time we partake in the Lord Supper.

Principle:  Christ is glorified by true worship.

What’s your attitude about your church?

Are you focused on self when you go to church?

Is church just not working for you?  It’s not about you.  It’s about God.  We all have needs and we want them fixed.  Start serving others and you will be changed.

Are you willing to serve even if no one thanks you?  Jesus thanks you and He is the only one that counts.

Chapter 12-14 – Spiritual Gifts

Paul reminds them that spiritual gifts are used to build up the body of Christ not individuals.  There are varieties of spiritual gifts like snowflakes or fingerprints are different from every other.  God has gifted you to do what He wants you to do.  Christ not only died to give you the gift of eternal life, but also so you could serve Him with your spiritual gifts.  Your gift could be service, wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. (1 Cor. 12:4-11)  There are other gifts mentioned throughout scripture.

What is your spiritual gift?

Are you using your gift to build up the church body?

Paul talked about the Holy Spirit.  There are many different gifts, but the same Spirit and the same Lord.  Each person is given a gift for the common good.  He compared the church body with all its gifts with the human body and all its parts.  We all have different gifts, but make up 1 body and all the parts work together.

Every Christian should be active in some way in the body of Christ.  “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” – 1 Corin. 12:27.  We each have different gifts and we should all work together in unity.  The purpose of spiritual gifts is to strengthen the body and edify believers.

What is love?  We love our children.  We love shopping.  We love America.  We love chocolate.  The word Love is much overused today.  We think love is a warm fuzzy feeling, but in 1 Corin. 13 love refers to action.  Love is something we do rather than something we feel.  Love in the Bible refers to how we treat people.  Love should be evident, because God is love and He commands us to love.  Paul says this is the greatest gift of all.  If we have not love, we have nothing.  “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.” – (1 Cor. 13:4-8)

Do you love your elderly neighbor?  Then go over and shovel snow off their sidewalk. 

Do you love your church?  Then get involved.  Send a get well card to a sick brother or sister. 

Do you love Jesus?  Then lead someone else to love Him.

Paul gave principles about the use of spiritual gifts:

All spiritual gifts should be used to build up the church.

The gift of speaking in tongues – if you speak in tongues, there should be someone to interpret or you should be quiet.  When speaking in tongues, you’re not speaking to man, but to God.  When you speak in tongues, you are edifying yourself.  The gift of tongues is secondary to the gift of prophesy.

With the gift of prophesy – if you have the gift of prophesy, you are speaking to men for their strength, encouragement and comfort.  When you prophesy you are edifying the church. 

There should be order in our worship.  There should be no confusion.  If everyone is talking or checking their cell phone or doing their own thing, no one will know what’s going on.  They will not hear or learn instructions from God and His Word.  God is a God of order and peace.  We need to do everything to honor God.

Do you contribute to disorder during worship?

Are you talking and disrupting others as they are worshiping?

Are you on your cell phone when you should be listening?

Principle:  God is glorified when His people use their spiritual gifts and display His love.

Join me here next week as we finish our study of 1 Corinthians -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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