- What does the Bible say
- What does our conscience say.
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.8.1-3.ESV
Lord help us not to allow our knowledge to puff us up but that we build others up with our love.
We can not and should not allow anything divide us. The devil wants to divide us. The devil will divide and conquer if we allow him to do that.
Followers of Jesus, all of us, agree the foundation of our faith according to the word of God, is John 3:16. God loves us so much that He put Himself in a virgin and became a man so He could take our sins. Jesus was God in the flesh. He gave us two laws that took the place of all other laws. 1. Love God with all your heart mind and soul. 2. Love your neighbor as yourself. These are the only laws of God now.
The Bible. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “Lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.8.4-6.ESV
All of us, every Christian, were made by God to walk with God in this world and for eternity. At the same time all of us have fallen short of God’s perfection and love. This is why He came to Earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a perfect life. Then he died on the cross for the sins of the world.
He offers to take anyones sin, for anything. He just asked that we asked Him to do so. And when we do he takes our sins away. To walk with God we must repent of our sins and seek to walk with God everyday. Saying a prayer does not save us it’s true repentance and true faith that saves us.
Followers of Jesus often disagree specific situations. This is according to their conscience.
The Bible. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
1 Corinthians 8:8-13 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.8.8-13.ESV
So be careful not to offend someone else with your freedom.
Humbly live according to your convictions, and do so with humility.
Humbly love others with different convictions.
Always remember to ask yourself how will my life affect other Christians. Will it build them up or cast them down. We are to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.
Notes taken during David Platt service at McLean Bible Church. http://www.mcleanbible.org
Lets talk about life and why we are alive! 