1 CORINTHIANS LESSON 12

     We will begin this study in I Corinthians 8:1 "Now as touching
things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge.
Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth."

     It seems that in each one of these chapters in Corinthians that
Paul is answering questions they have written and asked him about. We
remember that "idols" mean nothings. Paul is possibly saying, I know
that you all know not to worship idols. It seems that the person who
had written Paul was puffed up with pride, and Paul is about to show
him the error in being puffed up with pride about the little knowledge
he had. Love, or charity, builds a person up. Pride destroys.

     I Corinthians 8:2 "And if any man think that he knoweth any
thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know."

     The minute a person gets to the stage that he thinks he knows
everything, he has stopped learning and probably does not know near as
much as he thought he did. A little knowledge is a very dangerous
thing. I believe a technical knowledge of the Bible, without benefit
of the spiritual meaning, is dangerous, as well. When you find an
humble person still eager to learn more, you find a knowledgeable
person.  You can know what a Scripture says, without knowing what it
means. To understand what it means must be revealed to you by the Holy
Spirit.

     I Corinthians 8:3 "But if any man love God, the same is known of
him."

     To know God exists is one thing, but to have Him as your personal
Saviour is something else entirely. To know of God is one thing, but
to love God in your heart is an entirely different thing, as well.
John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known
of mine." He knows us and we know Him, if we love Him. Galatians 4:9
"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God,
how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye
desire again to be in bondage?"

     I Corinthians 8:4 "As concerning therefore the eating of those
things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol
[is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but
one."

     Christians should believe that idols are nothings. The sin
involving idols is to elevate them up and worship them. Christians
should believe in God and God alone. Any form of worshipping idols is
totally unacceptable. There would be absolutely no way to know what
meat had been offered to idols and what was not. To regard the meat
clean or unclean, would be regarding the idol. They should not try to
judge at all. Just ignore all of that, since an idol is a nothing
anyway. We must remember through all of this, that Paul is answering
questions someone in Corinth had written to him. God had shown over
and over that idols are nothings, as He did in Egypt, to make the
Pharaoh let the people go.

     I Corinthians 8:5 "For though there be that are called gods,
whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords
many,)"

     In Egypt there had been thousands of false gods. Here in Corinth,
there had been many false gods, as well. The problem with people who
worship false gods is, they want a god that they can see with their
eyes. They worship things from God's creation instead of worshipping
the Creator. God is the Eternal Spirit. John 4:24 "God [is] a Spirit:
and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth."
The One true God is Spirit, and must be seen in the Spirit and not
with physical eyes.

     I Corinthians 8:6 "But to us [there is but] one God, the Father,
of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom [are] all things, and we by him."

     I must give the Scripture which explains this best. I John 5:7
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."  The Lord Jesus Christ
is the same as the Word mentioned here in 1 John. Eternal God is the
beginning of all. Our Salvation is by believing in Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word was Creator God. All things exist by Him. He bought us with
His precious blood, and we are now adopted children of the Father.
There is no other way to the Father, but by Jesus Christ.

     I Corinthians 8:7 "Howbeit [there is] not in every man that
knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat
[it] as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak
is defiled."

     This is just speaking of those who know the meat was offered to
an idol, feel that they should not eat it, and eat it anyway. That
would be a sin, because they went against their conscience. Those who
regard the idol as nothing would not sin, if they ate of the same
meat, because they do not regard the idol as anything. They could eat
it with a clear conscience.

     I Corinthians 8:8 "But meat commendeth us not to God: for
neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we
the worse."

     The meat is not what makes the sin. It is our attitude toward the
meat. Anything that you cannot do with a clear conscience is sin if
you do it. If you are a Christian, God has placed His laws in your
heart. Your conscience alerts you when something is a sin or not. We
must never do anything that we feel in our heart is wrong to do. The
eating is not the sin. The sin is doing what you know in your heart is
wrong for you.

     I Corinthians 8:9 "But take heed lest by any means this liberty
of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak."
     We must make a judgement call here. If we do something that we
know in our heart is not wrong for us to do, but would cause our
brother to sin, it is wrong for us to do. It is wrong, because we
would cause our brother who has a weak conscience to sin. All
Christians should be aware of their brother's weakness, and not do
things in front of him that would cause him to sin. It is even more
important that ministers are careful what they say and do. Sometimes
the only example of Christian living that a person has is the one we
live before them.

     I Corinthians 8:10 "For if any man see thee which hast knowledge
sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him
which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to
idols;"

     This is speaking of someone who has no guilty conscience about
eating things offered to idols, because he does not regard the idol as
anything. The sad thing is, that the person who does have a guilty
conscience about eating the sacrifice offered to the idol might eat to
show that they can do anything you are doing. Remember, you are their
example, and they would sin because of your freedom in the Lord.
It is just best to be careful of this for their sakes and not for your
own sake.

     I Corinthians 8:11 "And through thy knowledge shall the weak
brother perish, for whom Christ died?"

     We see in the following Scripture, it is not always what we do
that is sin, but our attitude about what we do that is sin.  Anything
you do without having faith in your heart that it is alright to do, is
sin. Look with me at that very thing in the following Scripture.
Romans 14:23 "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he
eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin."  The
sad thing, is that we have great influence on those who have just
received Jesus as their Saviour. We must not give even the appearance
of evil for their sakes. The new Christian is not aware of the
privilege of Christianity, and you might cause him to sin.

     I Corinthians 8:12 "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and
wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ."

     Jesus said, in as much as ye have done it to the least of these
my brethren, ye have done it unto me. When we hurt a Christian
brother, we have hurt Christ Himself.

     I Corinthians 8:13 "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend,
I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother
to offend."

     Paul has said a tremendous thing here. Not only will he not sin,
but he will not do anything that might cause someone else to sin. Paul
says, even if I can never eat meat again, I would even do that to keep
my weaker brother from sinning. Will we do as much?

                      1 Corinthians 12 Questions


1.  Knowledge __________ up, but _________ edifieth.
2.  What does "idols" mean?
3.  What happens to a person who thinks they know everything?
4.  The author believes what kind of knowledge of the Bible is
    dangerous.
5.  Who must reveal to us what a Scripture is truly saying?
6.  To know God exists is one thing, what is better than that?
7.  Quote John chapter 10 verse 14.
8.  What does Galations chapter 4 verse 9 tell us of our relationship
    with God?
9.  If an idol is nothing, how can we sin regarding it?
10. What must we remember is the reason Paul is writing this?
11. When is a specific time that God proved that idols are nothings?
12. What causes a person to worship a false god?
13. Quote John chapter 4 verse 24.
14. What other Scripture explains 1 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 6
    best?
15. The Word was _________ God.
16. What relationship do the Christians have to the Father?
17. Why would it be a sin for someone to know the meat had been
    offered to an idol, felt it was a sin, and ate it anyway?
18. The meat is not what is the sin, it is our _________ toward the
    meat.
19. Your liberty might become a ______________ to them that are weak.
20. Sometimes the only example of Christian living a new Christian has
    is what?
21. What might embolden the young Christian to sin?
22. Whatsoever is not of ________ is sin.
23. Quote Romans chapter 14 verse 23.
24. In 1 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 12, when you wound a weak
    Christian's Conscience, ye sin against _________.
25. If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat __ ______ while the
    world standeth.