©2002 Pastor Tom Miles

Paul in chapter eight addresses some very difficult questions pertaining to Christian freedom.  During the time of this writing it was customary often to eat a meal in a pagan temple and sometimes the meal would consist of meat that had been given in sacrifice and the question was always is it right for the Christian to partake of such a meal!  Paul declares it is okay but there are limitations or things that should also be considered before actually doing so!  Often an animal was brought to the pagan temple and killed before an idol as a part of a ceremony of a religious nature and then eaten at the feast.  Some times it would be taken to a butcher and sold for resale in the market.  If a believer bought this meat or ate this meat at a meal would they also be partaking of the idol worship?  And how does this reflect in our daily walk today as Believers? So with these things in mind let us begin looking at chapter eight.  Father, reveal Your Word unto us!

Paul in verse one says we all have knowledge!  He is beginning with a very subtle reproof of their smugness.  Paul says that without love all knowledge becomes self serving--a nature of bragging and lifting ones self up becomes the norm for a person that has knowledge without love.  Love edifies and builds up a person in Christ and in holiness.  So with this in mind we should realize the flesh of animals sacrificed to idols and then feasted on or sold in the market place is not what a Believer should be partaking of or joining themselves to because Christ made the ultimate sacrifice and it is in Him or by Him that we should worship and partake not of an idol or sacrificial offering of an animal at a pagan ritual.

In verse two Paul says, unless God teaches a person he knows truly nothing.  But if he is taught of God then he will know that which God reveals.  Without the divine love of God there is no understanding or knowledge of anything and all knowledge brings simply a boastful and haughty attitude.  Father, remove from me any form or direction of or towards an attitude of haughtiness and boastfulness!

The greatest love ever is to be loved by God and to return that love to God, which means we must give our entire being over to Him.  This is what verse two is saying unto us and most especially in these days that we are living in now--love is so very important--unconditional Christ-like love!  And in doing this we do as the commandment demands--and that is to love our neighbor as our self and in doing so we become approved of God and God views us as one of His own.

Verse four reminds us that an idol is nothing and since we already know that we should view it as such!  An idol is merely an object or thing having no divine nature, no power, and no merit!  The idol is simply an empty form or entity having no true existence thus making it truly void and powerless!  Paul goes on in verse five to say that in the world there are many gods yet only one GOD!  GOD the true deity is the source of all things and we exist because of Him.  Through Christ we become one with GOD!  Continuing on in verse six Paul says, 'there is but one God.'  This statement is directly referencing the opposition that God has for anything placed in a position of worship!  GOD is the only GOD and thus the only thing to be worshipped.  We were created for one reason to love God and to worship Him as our Lord!  The worship or sacrifice of anything else does not fulfill the commands of God or Christ!  And in verse seven we read that some eat, with perception (an awareness of what they are doing) of the deity or in other words they know they are eating or fellowshipping with something that is not of God but their sense of right and wrong being weak by lack of teaching brings guilt upon them.  Paul goes on in verse eight to say that food does not give you any standing with God!  To sacrifice food and then eat it does nothing for you because it is only through the ultimate sacrifice of Christ that we receive life!

Verse nine is very important and reminds us we are to be cautious not to let our liberty or rights become a stumbling block.  Paul wants to be sure that all understand the importance of what they do in front of others.  Paul wants to be sure that everyone realize they are examples and some one is watching what they do.  In other words do not allow your position of authority cause others to drift into sin. Just because you have the authority to do something and it is not forbidden or wrong does not mean you should do it especially if it causes another to sin.  What you deem okay--another may not understand and because of this will bring sin into their life.  Since you have the knowledge or understanding that certain foods eaten are just regular meals to you, to another without understanding they will eat as unto an idol.  The things we do as believers reflect on what happens in the lives of non-believers and believers alike.  Christ became the sacrifice and no other is necessary.  Father, let me never forget the sacrifice that You made by giving Your Son for me and let me never forget the Sacrifice Christ gave by taking the cross for me!

Since Christ became the sacrifice it is no longer necessary to offer up burnt offerings to God.  For a believer with the knowledge of Christ and knowing that HE covered the cost--any other sacrifice is to idols and if they ate of the food they would only be eating to eat not to worship.  But for a Believer that is weak and without full understanding they would think it a true sacrifice and become guilty of idolatry without truly wanting it!  And Paul continues in verse 11 to say that if we truly had knowledge we would not be sitting down to eat in an idol's temple.  In doing so we misuse our position and cause others to stumble and eventually may even cause us to stumble.  Christ died for everyone's salvation and we should be careful not to cause anyone to stumble.  Eating meat in an idol's temple could mean stepping into a bar, or listening to a dirty joke, or gossiping, or any thing that could cause another because of their conscience to sin and eventually cause us to sin.

The last two verses of this chapter tell us that by our bad example we send others into sin for which Christ hung and died.  Christ gave willingly His life as a sacrifice and for us to do something that could lead another astray not only hurts them but hurts Christ.  So we not only have made offense against others we have made offense against Christ.  Paul says that if he knows something leads another astray he personally will never do that again so as to not in any way be a stumbling block.  Paul is speaking very personally at this point using himself as the example.  How many of us today would do something of that nature.  What preacher or great Christian leader would discontinue something that was legal so as to not offend a weak brother or sister?

Father, draw me closer to you and help me to never offend another and most importantly Father, help me to never offend Christ.  Keep my steps straight and keep my eyes focused sharply on the path of righteousness in Jesus name, Amen!

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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