"Now concerning the things about which you wrote.”

"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. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do." (1 Cor. 8:4-8 ESV)

Many times, we think that all of the Apostle Paul’s letters are just him giving instructions and doctrinal teachings to a particular church.  But at least 5 times in I Corinthians we find him saying something like “now concerning the things which you wrote…”

The first question that they wrote to Paul about is “Is it good for a man to touch a woman?” (7:1). Paul addresses this issue head-on; there is no shame in the sexual relationship between a husband and wife. God made us sexual beings, and sex used the way God intended is a beautiful and very fulfilling thing. But immorality is never right, and Paul explains that if some people can not control their sexual desires, then it is a good thing for each man to have his own wife. But, it seems like the prevailing principle that Paul explains here and many other places in his letters is that we should look out for the needs of others over our own.

He talks about this principle in Eph. 5:21, “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ,” Phil. 2:3 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interest of others.” While this section of Philippians 2 isn’t talking specifically about the husband-and-wife relationship, this principle still applies. This section addresses many aspects of the relationship between husband and wife, but the overriding principle is their mutual relationship.

In Chapter 8, Paul answers another question about “things sacrificed to idols”. Now, in our society here in the US, we don’t worry too much about buying meat that has been sacrificed to idols, but in the first century Corinth, this was a big problem. After a pagan religious ceremony, the meat of the animals was sacrificed to one of their many gods. would be sold in the meat market.  It was the common belief of the Greek and Roman cultures that demonic beings would attach themselves to food before it was eaten, and by offering a sacrifice to their “gods,” their food would be cleansed.

Many members of the Church of Corinth came out of those cultures, and many practiced or participated in those pagan religious ceremonies, and eating meat that was sacrificed to idols would remind them of that way of life.  Paul clearly address this situation in verse 4  “Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.”; and in verse 7 he states “However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.”

In verse 8, he concludes, “But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor better if we do eat.”

However, in verse 9, he states the real principle that every believer needs to live by: “But take care lest this liberty (freedom) of yours somehow becomes a stumbling block to the weak.” This is the same principle that is taught about husbands and wives in Chapter 8. Living our lives in grace is not about us; it’s about caring for others who are also in Christ.  When I was a younger Christian, I thought those other believers who were advocating not eating or drinking anything to bring us closer to God were the more mature believers, but that is not so. Paul says they are the weaker believers. If they think they can be “commended to God” by eating or not eating something or drinking or not drinking something, they are completely wrong. God looks at the heart of the believer; we are only commended to God by our faith in His Son, nothing else.

But those who know and live this truth must be careful not to cause one of our weaker brothers or sisters to stumble in their faith by causing them to participate in something that they believe in their heart is wrong. We must be more concerned about them and their walk with God than our own freedoms. The mature believer in Christ has liberty or freedom to enjoy this life that God has given them, and they are to live it to bring honor and glory to our Savior, not to be a stumbling block to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

My takeaway today is that I have complete freedom in Christ, and my salvation is promised and sealed until the day I see my Savior face to face. I can’t lose my salvation, no matter what. I don’t impress God by what I do or don’t do, after all, I’m a servant of Christ, anything I do is not to gain His approval, I already have that, but to bring honor and glory to Him for what He has already done. But as a servant of the master, I must not do anything that will cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble, or to cause them to think they have sinned against our common Lord and Savior. So, my free brothers and sisters, let’s never use our freedom in Christ to injure anyone, especially anyone in the family of God.

"Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"