Episode 195 - "True liberty in Christ" 1 Corinthians 10: 23-33

1Cor. 10:23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

1Cor. 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

I love this passage in that it sums up what Paul has been saying to the Corinthian believers in a way that truly reveals what liberty in Christ is all about. Be careful how you read “All things are lawful” (v. 23), stated twice by Paul. Is Paul really arguing that all things are lawful? Absolutely not! Paul has already chastised them for immorality and pride within the church. If all things were truly lawful, people could live as they want. But there is something more important to Paul that he wants these believers to get, and it’s valuable that we get it too.

Paul echoes what some people in Corinth are saying: "all things are lawful.” Instead of writing out more instructions on how to interpret and apply the Law of Moses, Paul gives them principles to live in a wise manner that should attract people to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wants Christians to focus on “How can I help someone else understand Jesus” and “How can I help other Christians mature in the faith?”

If they focus on the Law, they’ll be going through life worrying about whether they’ve sinned every time they buy food in the market. That is not the way to live a Christian life. His point is basically that if someone tells you, “This food was sacrificed to idols,” and you eat it, you’re sending a message that could be spiritually harmful to the person who said that. If you don’t know, don’t ask or worry about it. Our thoughts are not to be, “Can I do this or can I not do this?” Our thoughts should be, “Everything I do or don’t do should be with the intention and desire of leading people to Jesus and building them up in their faith.” Does that mean that sometimes we avoid using our liberty in Christ? Sure! But neither serving our own selfish desires in spite of how it might affect others nor living life in constant fear of transgressing a law is liberating in any way.

Living with a single focus on “the glory of God” (v. 31) and the benefit of others is liberating. We can give thanks to God for all that he provides for us. Sometimes what he provides is an opportunity to exercise wisdom in our choices in order to be used by him to lead people to Jesus or build up other believers in their faith. What a privilege!

Paul gives us a little tip to help us do that. He says, “In everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” Paul does not seek his own advantage. Sometimes it may seem like a sacrifice to avoid or give up something. But if we are looking to serve the advantage of many others, God will use it to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. That, as we say, is a win-win.

Prayer: Lord, let us give you thanks in all things, and may you help us seek the spiritual advantage of others to your glory.

Episode 187 - "Use your freedom!" 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

1 Cor. 7:17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

To begin this brief study, I want to call attention to statements Paul makes about what he says and what the Lord says. Since we uphold the books of the Bible to be the word of God, some people may get concerned about whether or not we consider Paul’s opinions authoritative. What follows is my opinion about Paul’s opinion expressed within the Holy Scriptures.

Paul was specifically called by the Lord to serve as an apostle, a servant to all who would come to faith in Jesus. I find Paul’s qualifications about his opinion and principles versus what the Lord says to be helpful rather than disconcerting. Why? Because if the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, providentially called Paul for this role, then He certainly gave Paul wisdom to offer the Church. This means that when I read something that Paul says, “This is my rule in all the churches” (v. 17), Paul is offering wisdom from the Lord that is intended to mitigate problems and help Christians live in a way that will best serve the purposes of the Kingdom of God.

Already Paul has instructed the Corinthian believers not to divorce their unbelieving spouse if that spouse was content to remain in the marriage. This advice appears on the surface as contrary to what was commanded to the Jews who returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon having married unbelieving wives. (See Episode 186 for my brief treatment of that issue). The encompassing principle in this Scripture I’ve just read, and the previous text is If it’s not leading you to immorality or other unrighteous thoughts, values, and actions, don’t change anything.

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we see the kind of problem Paul is attempting to mitigate with this “rule.” Among the believers addressed in that letter, there were people who had been pressured or otherwise convinced that having been made righteous in Christ through faith in him, they now needed to become circumcised and follow the Law. Paul teaches the Law is insufficient to accomplish what Christ did on the cross, and therefore no one should think that being circumcised, getting married, getting divorced, or any other life-status change should make them better Christians.

Even with the slaves of that day and culture, Paul says that in Christ, they are free. While he says they may obtain freedom from their bondage if possible, they are not sinning if they don’t. He continues by saying that those who are not slaves have been “bought with a price” and have become a “bondservant of Christ.” (v. 22)

When he says in verse 23, “Do not become bondservants of men,” I take this to mean that he is saying, “Don’t let people control you and make you act in ways that are not in keeping with the liberty we have received in Christ.” (My interpretation)

In no way should this Scripture be used to justify the injustices manifested in slavery in times past or present. The focus of this Scripture is really telling us that when you come to faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Lord can and will use you just the way you are. Don’t be distracted and inhibited by thinking you have to do other things before God can use you.

Prayer: Lord - Thank you for the freedom in Christ you have given me. Help me use that freedom to share the gospel and fulfill the Great Commission.