It's What's Inside That Counts
-10-
I Corinthians 10
From the previous chapter we learned that the church was divided over the issue of eating meat that had been dedicated to an idol. The division showed up as a three way split. Group one said that idols represented gods that were not real, so eating this kind of food was perfectly OK. And they maintained that they had the freedom to do so. They likely emphasized … “So don't judge me!”
The second group said that eating meat that had been dedicated to an idol was a sin. They refused to eat such meat and they accused the first group of sinning.
A third group had come out of heathen worship. They had been idol worshipers but now they were Christians. They were learning from group one that God alone was God and it is perfectly fine to eat meat offered to an idol. So they began to do so. But they felt guilty. They thought, what if group two is right? Maybe this is a sin?
So we observed that group one was sinning by pushing group three to go ahead and eat such meat.
We observed that group three was sinning if they proceeded to eat meat offered to idols … because they did so 'doubting'. Paul told us that whatever we do that is not of 'faith' is sin. He said, “He who doubts when he eats is condemned”1.
So group one is sinning. Group three is sinning. What about group two? Is it fine to decide not to eat certain meat because you believe in your heart it is sinful? It would seem so. And yet now in this chapter we discover that group two may have been sinning as well.
These people believed they were right. Is it possible that they wanted to do everything right and felt it important that everybody could see they were doing everything right? What if they had all the outward actions right … for example, they did not eat meat offered to idols because they believed that was wrong. They tithed regularly. They attended church meetings every time the doors were open. They did not hang out with the heathen. They did not get drunk. They did not go to parties put on by people of the world. They did not wear clothing that would be called immodest. And the list could go on right? BUT just suppose that they were proud of what they did and did not do. And just suppose that in their heart of hearts they did not spend time in prayer privately. They did not enjoy getting into God's word in their quiet time. Just suppose that their thought life throughout the day was not about God, salvation, eternity and Jesus' return? What if their Christianity was more of an outward show than anything else?
Paul thought it might be in some cases, and so this is the reason for the chapter we are looking at now.
In the first verses Paul uses and Old Testament example to picture what might be the case today.
This is an analogy, a comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation. So it goes like this
“Let's pretend that …
In verses 6-10 we see what else was in their hearts … even though they had all the 'outside' stuff right.
Verse 11 tells us that we need to pay attention this example. We too can have all the externals is place. But on the inside things may not look so pretty. We too can lust after the pleasures of the world. We can live for fun. We can live for sexual fantasies and go against the word of God. We too can become complainers of our lot in life. We too can think we are the only ones who do anything right.
These things are all bad? Who can live without falling into these things? Paul says that you can. Verse 13 is that wonderful verse that tells us when the going gets tough and we are tempted into one of these things, God is faithful and gives us 'the way out.'
In verse 14 Paul adds something new to this whole discussion about idols, meat offered to idols, who is right and who is wrong.
He earlier had said that an idol is nothing. Now he says that, even though an idol is nothing, idol worship IS something and it is wrong. He tells us how wrong. 15-22
Paul talks about symbolism. He mentions the communion cup. His language is literal. In the WEB translation it goes like this: The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? 1Co 10:16
In Catholicism the belief is that this is literal. The wine becomes Christ's blood. The bread becomes His body. Before we agree that this is what is being said, let's read on.
There is one loaf of bread before communion begins … it is Christ's body. We break it up, and we all take some of it … we are connected by having done that … we are one body.
And then, before we decided whether this is literal or symbolic, he mentions a similar picture with Israel. He acknowledges that the meat or food offered to an idol is not a literal action that carries with it any meaning, and the idol itself is also nothing … that is, it is not a literal God. BUT he says, behind the symbolic actions … behind the symbolic wine and bread of communion is a real and literal relationship with Christ. And behind the symbolic meat and the symbolic idol is a real object of worship. And that real object is a demon.
So if a new Christian wanted to maintain some of his old life by setting aside a time to have his own quiet 'worship my idol' time, Paul says, NO! Don't do it! You are worshiping a demon.
We are really quite ignorant of all the things that demons are presently involved with right here in our western culture. We might be shocked. We need to pray that God would open our eyes to the things of the world that we cling to and treasure and see if Satan may just be receiving some worship from us as we do these things.
Paul says in 21 and 22 that we can't do both without getting into trouble with God.
So what about our 'freedom in Christ' to do whatever we want? (This is directed toward group 1?) (v23)
Sure … you have a lot of freedom. But what if exercising that freedom brings criticism from someone in the body? Our behavior in that case certainly is not 'building up the body'. And that should be number one when we are together … to build each other up. (24)
Here is a final word on this: 25-26
Buy the meat … don't ask questions. Idols are nothing … don't worship them as if they are something.
BUT what about this scenario?
An UNSAVED person asks you over for a meal. The unsaved person is an idol worshiper. They let you know about the meat on the table, it was dedicated to an idol. In this case … Don't eat! “But” you say, “Wouldn't I be offending them?” Paul says that the greater offense is implying that you go along with idol worship.
In the unbeliever's mind and conscience … there is a real god behind all this worship.
So Paul quotes a typical complaint that we also as believers might have to this.
“Why should I be controlled by this other guys conscience? As long as I partake of this with thanksgiving, why am I being put down for eating food? Idols are nothing. There are no other Gods.”
Paul's answer is (actually he has already given it up to this point, but now he adds something)
This sums up an important area of our lives that always needs tuning up. In our next study Paul starts 'meddling' in something that comes close to home, … the male – female equality controversy and then corrects a a distorted method of taking communion.
1 Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
The second group said that eating meat that had been dedicated to an idol was a sin. They refused to eat such meat and they accused the first group of sinning.
A third group had come out of heathen worship. They had been idol worshipers but now they were Christians. They were learning from group one that God alone was God and it is perfectly fine to eat meat offered to an idol. So they began to do so. But they felt guilty. They thought, what if group two is right? Maybe this is a sin?
So we observed that group one was sinning by pushing group three to go ahead and eat such meat.
We observed that group three was sinning if they proceeded to eat meat offered to idols … because they did so 'doubting'. Paul told us that whatever we do that is not of 'faith' is sin. He said, “He who doubts when he eats is condemned”1.
So group one is sinning. Group three is sinning. What about group two? Is it fine to decide not to eat certain meat because you believe in your heart it is sinful? It would seem so. And yet now in this chapter we discover that group two may have been sinning as well.
These people believed they were right. Is it possible that they wanted to do everything right and felt it important that everybody could see they were doing everything right? What if they had all the outward actions right … for example, they did not eat meat offered to idols because they believed that was wrong. They tithed regularly. They attended church meetings every time the doors were open. They did not hang out with the heathen. They did not get drunk. They did not go to parties put on by people of the world. They did not wear clothing that would be called immodest. And the list could go on right? BUT just suppose that they were proud of what they did and did not do. And just suppose that in their heart of hearts they did not spend time in prayer privately. They did not enjoy getting into God's word in their quiet time. Just suppose that their thought life throughout the day was not about God, salvation, eternity and Jesus' return? What if their Christianity was more of an outward show than anything else?
Paul thought it might be in some cases, and so this is the reason for the chapter we are looking at now.
In the first verses Paul uses and Old Testament example to picture what might be the case today.
This is an analogy, a comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation. So it goes like this
“Let's pretend that …
- Egypt represents the whole world of sinners and unsaved people.
- God called people to 'leave Egypt' (leave this evil world system) and be separate.
- Some responded and 'left the worldly ways' by walking out of Egypt (they left the ways of the world.)
- The separation between the world and Christianity is a Sea that must be crossed. (Jesus is the way)
- God made a way across. (God sent his only begotten Son to give us his 'goodness'.)
- The way across was through water … all around us. (We are immersed in Christ)
- The new life was a difficult one, but it eventually we would end up in the promised land.
- As difficult as the new life may be, we would have food from heaven and the water of life
Verses 1 – 4.
Then comes verse 5
God was not pleased with some of those who had done everything right. What were the right things that they had done right? - They had believed Moses when he told them of a promised land and that, in order to get there, they must first deal with the death angel by offering a sacrifice and following instructions.
- They offered the lamb and marked their doorposts with blood.
- They left the world with all the rest of the crowd.
- They walked through the sea of separation
- They drank the water that was given them, and they ate the bread from heaven.
In verses 6-10 we see what else was in their hearts … even though they had all the 'outside' stuff right.
Verse 11 tells us that we need to pay attention this example. We too can have all the externals is place. But on the inside things may not look so pretty. We too can lust after the pleasures of the world. We can live for fun. We can live for sexual fantasies and go against the word of God. We too can become complainers of our lot in life. We too can think we are the only ones who do anything right.
These things are all bad? Who can live without falling into these things? Paul says that you can. Verse 13 is that wonderful verse that tells us when the going gets tough and we are tempted into one of these things, God is faithful and gives us 'the way out.'
In verse 14 Paul adds something new to this whole discussion about idols, meat offered to idols, who is right and who is wrong.
He earlier had said that an idol is nothing. Now he says that, even though an idol is nothing, idol worship IS something and it is wrong. He tells us how wrong. 15-22
Paul talks about symbolism. He mentions the communion cup. His language is literal. In the WEB translation it goes like this: The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? 1Co 10:16
In Catholicism the belief is that this is literal. The wine becomes Christ's blood. The bread becomes His body. Before we agree that this is what is being said, let's read on.
There is one loaf of bread before communion begins … it is Christ's body. We break it up, and we all take some of it … we are connected by having done that … we are one body.
And then, before we decided whether this is literal or symbolic, he mentions a similar picture with Israel. He acknowledges that the meat or food offered to an idol is not a literal action that carries with it any meaning, and the idol itself is also nothing … that is, it is not a literal God. BUT he says, behind the symbolic actions … behind the symbolic wine and bread of communion is a real and literal relationship with Christ. And behind the symbolic meat and the symbolic idol is a real object of worship. And that real object is a demon.
So if a new Christian wanted to maintain some of his old life by setting aside a time to have his own quiet 'worship my idol' time, Paul says, NO! Don't do it! You are worshiping a demon.
We are really quite ignorant of all the things that demons are presently involved with right here in our western culture. We might be shocked. We need to pray that God would open our eyes to the things of the world that we cling to and treasure and see if Satan may just be receiving some worship from us as we do these things.
Paul says in 21 and 22 that we can't do both without getting into trouble with God.
So what about our 'freedom in Christ' to do whatever we want? (This is directed toward group 1?) (v23)
Sure … you have a lot of freedom. But what if exercising that freedom brings criticism from someone in the body? Our behavior in that case certainly is not 'building up the body'. And that should be number one when we are together … to build each other up. (24)
Here is a final word on this: 25-26
Buy the meat … don't ask questions. Idols are nothing … don't worship them as if they are something.
BUT what about this scenario?
An UNSAVED person asks you over for a meal. The unsaved person is an idol worshiper. They let you know about the meat on the table, it was dedicated to an idol. In this case … Don't eat! “But” you say, “Wouldn't I be offending them?” Paul says that the greater offense is implying that you go along with idol worship.
In the unbeliever's mind and conscience … there is a real god behind all this worship.
So Paul quotes a typical complaint that we also as believers might have to this.
“Why should I be controlled by this other guys conscience? As long as I partake of this with thanksgiving, why am I being put down for eating food? Idols are nothing. There are no other Gods.”
Paul's answer is (actually he has already given it up to this point, but now he adds something)
- Does God get the glory for the thing you do or are about to do? (31) Is your Christianity a thing of your heart?
- Will my action cause somebody else to sin …whether a Jew, non-Jew (non-believer), or a church person?
- Remember our purpose … give up all your 'rights' in order to see more people saved (come to Christ.)
- Copy me. (12:1)
This sums up an important area of our lives that always needs tuning up. In our next study Paul starts 'meddling' in something that comes close to home, … the male – female equality controversy and then corrects a a distorted method of taking communion.
1 Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.