1 Corinthians 8:1 KJV
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
This chapter balances two principles
• That of Christian liberty
• That of standards of separation
on the fulcrum of Christian charity.
This word, which I understand is not found in any classical Greek literature prior to Paul's use right here, is love focused on seeing Christ's body built up.
On the one hand, Christians possess a huge degree of liberty.
Christ has paid for our sins. We have a guarantee of eternal life; nothing can take that from us. So much of what the world judges as either spiritual or unspiritual is mistaken that many have taken to practicing what everyone says is not spiritual just to demonstrate that it has no bearing on one's true relationship with God. We have absolute liberty.
On the other hand there is a real Satan.
Sin is a reality and lost souls do go eternally to hell. Lost souls, though completely misunderstanding our actions, could misunderstand them all the way to hell. Immature Christians could misunderstand them to the degree that, rather than living in dependence upon God, they return to a life of sin.
The answer to the two ends of the spectrum is charity.
• Charity gives place to liberty and judges nothing before the time.
• Charity gives room for each believer to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience but
• Charity also sees the danger of full exercise of liberty and so places personal limits (call them standards) upon himself for the sake of others.
The key is the edification of the church of Jesus Christ. Nothing else really matters.
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
This chapter balances two principles
• That of Christian liberty
• That of standards of separation
on the fulcrum of Christian charity.
This word, which I understand is not found in any classical Greek literature prior to Paul's use right here, is love focused on seeing Christ's body built up.
On the one hand, Christians possess a huge degree of liberty.
Christ has paid for our sins. We have a guarantee of eternal life; nothing can take that from us. So much of what the world judges as either spiritual or unspiritual is mistaken that many have taken to practicing what everyone says is not spiritual just to demonstrate that it has no bearing on one's true relationship with God. We have absolute liberty.
On the other hand there is a real Satan.
Sin is a reality and lost souls do go eternally to hell. Lost souls, though completely misunderstanding our actions, could misunderstand them all the way to hell. Immature Christians could misunderstand them to the degree that, rather than living in dependence upon God, they return to a life of sin.
The answer to the two ends of the spectrum is charity.
• Charity gives place to liberty and judges nothing before the time.
• Charity gives room for each believer to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience but
• Charity also sees the danger of full exercise of liberty and so places personal limits (call them standards) upon himself for the sake of others.
The key is the edification of the church of Jesus Christ. Nothing else really matters.
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