Transcription
Are you having trouble with the Bible? Like, even feeling like you've got to read it all at once? You've got to know it all at once, and you're worried that you can't slow down? Look, that's exactly what I'm here to help you do. I've been sharing "Through the Bible" on my channel, chapter by chapter. We are slowing it down so that we understand, so that we comprehend, so that we can actually walk this out in our lives, right here, right now. And today, we are in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. So come on in and join [Music] me.
Hey y'all, I'm Kayla, welcome back to my channel. Oh my goodness, like worldwide, I want you to celebrate that as well. I want you to understand how amazing it is to have people around the entire world reading the same thing, like praying through God's word, praying the same things, applying and looking and going through, like, the power in that. So I want you to not feel like you're just by yourself in your living room, or in your car, or at the gym, or wherever you're watching this. I don't want you to feel like you're alone, but to actually feel the presence of this community that we're growing. Like, God has just blown my mind. I had no idea that this is what would happen, honestly. I didn't think I'd still be doing this, sharing almost daily. So, but here we are, and I'm going to, I truly desire to follow Him. So wherever He leads, that's where I'm going to continue to go.
So today, 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Paul is still in this letter that he's written to them, and we are learning, learning so much. First of all, I'm learning so much. I love the way that he teaches. I love the way that he speaks. I love the way that he writes. And just to kind of understand some different ways and different ways that he says things, of like, he's not speaking for the Lord in certain situations, and he makes it clear what's his opinion, or what's his guidance, and what's the Lord's word. And that's something that I've really, really loved in this book of the Bible. But let's get ready into chapter 8. I'm reading from the New Living Translation. Now, make sure you grab your workbook. If you're in chapter 8 and you haven't got this yet, come on, this one's my gift to you, okay? So just click the link in the description, download this, it'll be right in your email immediately. So just grab that so that you can work through these questions. All right? Okay, here we go.
Continuing on in chapter 8. Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. That's so cool. Remember, wasn't it just the last chapter, chapter 7? Now regarding the question you asked in your letter, and again, now regarding your question about food that's been offered to idols. Like, gosh, it just makes me think, like, when people ask me questions, do I answer them? Now, I want to apologize and thank you for your grace. I know there's some comments on videos that I haven't gotten to, um, that week away at camp really like threw me off. And I want to get to all your questions, and I want to try to answer as much as I can, or point you to a place where you can find answers. Cuz, you know, I'm not here to give you all the answers, but I am here to point you to a place to help you study God's word. So thank you for your grace and your patience in that. But I truly, my desire is to answer the questions that you have in the comment section.
So now regarding your question about food that's been offered to idols. Yes, we know that we all have knowledge. But oh, we all have knowledge about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Oh, Paul, just like, he doesn't say like, "Yeah, let's talk about this, let's beat around the bush." He like gets right to the point. So there must be a thing there where they're offering food to idols, right? He doesn't clarify if it's in the church, or he doesn't clarify if it's some of the pagan rituals, or that it's in the world. He doesn't clarify that, but they would know based on the question that they asked, exactly what he's answering. But I love that he says this: "Yes, we know that we all have knowledge about this issue, but while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church." Gosh, knowledge makes us feel important for ourselves, but it is love, mostly for others, that strengthens the church.
"Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much." Oh, should we just stop like, should we just stop right there? Remember, as we read scripture, we're not pointing fingers at someone else. We are examining ourselves. Cuz even just that immediate, it images names of a know-it-all, right? It's so easy for it to pop up for us to point fingers at someone else and cause division. And look at how the enemy will try to do all of that. But let's examine ourselves. "Examine ourselves. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes." Again, like Paul doesn't even say, "But the one who knows the most is the one God recognizes." No, "the one who loves God." This is truly about us loving God and about God loving us.
So what about eating meat that's been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god, and that there is only one God. So let's, like, he's making that point clear first. So were there idols in their time, in their community, in their culture, that people actually saw as God? That Paul would make this distinction? "Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god, and that there is only one God." So, like, let me set that straight first. "There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth." What? There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth? What? And some people actually worship many gods and many lords. Words. Okay, I'm fine with the, like, I understand that. I understand the culture. I understand all that. But there may be so-called gods both in heaven. What kind of so-called gods would there be in heaven? What is Paul trying to make clear there?
"But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live." If there's something to memorize, it's that. Like, if there's truly something to memorize. "There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live." Gosh, that is so awesome and such a, like, not sobering, but maybe sobering, like a foundation truth, right? Paul's answering their questions, but he's still going back to the foundational truth when he speaks, and I love that.
Verse 7: "However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real. So when they eat food that's been offered to idols, they think of it as worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated." Remember, like, there are some believers, and even new believers. Paul doesn't say new believers, he doesn't say weaker believers. Well, sort of, he says they're weak consciences, right? But who, like, this is how you were raised, this is what you looked at, this is how your family did things, this is the way things were. And so you still kind of have this, this understanding of that. "Not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to, some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real. So when they eat food that's been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated."
Okay, let's continue. "It's true that we can't win God's approval by what we eat. We don't lose anything if we don't eat it, and we don't gain anything if we do." Paul's making it very clear. Look, if you've been arguing for one way or the other, I'm going to set the record straight. We don't lose anything if we do eat it, and we don't gain anything if we do. "But you must be careful so that your freedom doesn't cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble." We've heard this already. Paul's being very clear about this. Look, I'm telling you, it's neither this nor this, that it's all good. But if your decision, and your freedom, and even your knowledge, if that's going to cause another believer to stumble, don't do it.
"For if others see you with your superior knowledge eating in the temple of an idol, won't they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that's been offered to an idol?" If they see you doing it, they think it's okay for them too. And but for you, it's not a, well, it's not a sin anyway. But for you, it's not a stumbling block. But for them, it is. And so they see you doing it, and they're like, "Oh, well, I guess I should." And now they've violated their own conscience. And remember what Paul said, um, a couple chapters ago in this same letter, he said something along the lines of, you'll have to put the scripture in the comments for me, something along the lines of, like, "If you think it's wrong and you do it, it's sin, right?" So if they think it's wrong, but they see you doing it because for you it's not an issue, if they think it's wrong and they do it, it's sin. Or if they believe it's wrong, something like that, right?
"For if others see you with your superior knowledge eating in the temple of an idol, won't they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?" So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. A weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. Christ died not just for me, Christ died not just for you, Christ died for the world, first of all, all the world. And so now there's a weak believer. First of all, it doesn't say their faith is weak. It doesn't say you're right, they're a believer, period, period. They are a weak believer. Is just as righteous as a, as a strong believer. A young believer is just as righteous as a mature believer. The blood of Christ, right? We are made righteous. So there's no hierarchy of that. Let's get that very, very, very clear.
So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. And when you sin against other believers, did you know we can sin against other believers? When you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. So look, just because it might not be an issue for me, if someone else, another believer, thinks it's wrong, and I encourage them to do it, then I sinned against them and against Christ. I've got to truly examine myself in this, right? And it says encourage them to do it. So what was really happening in their culture? What were they encouraging others to do with this food that was offered to idols? That's what he's talking about. But there's a truth and a principle that we can take from that when it comes to encouraging other believers to do something that they think is wrong.
"So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live, for I don't want to cause another believer to stumble." See Paul's true heart that he's trying to have them have. "I don't want to cause another believer to stumble. I don't want to cause another believer to stumble." I know this was a short chapter, but let's examine ourselves in that. Are there things that I do in my life that could cause another believer to stumble because maybe they are weaker in their faith? That's all right. Jesus still died for them. Christ died for them. And so I have to be responsible. I have to be responsible even with my knowledge. It's not just about what I know, but how I live. He said it's not just about knowledge, but about love.
Let's get to these right away. I know this was a quick one, but dig in. Dig into the scripture, but also dig into you. Or recap some of the other chapters if you have time. Set aside, go for a walk with God. Okay, let's dig into these questions. When it comes to the church and to my relationship with others, do I lead with how much I know, or do I lead with love? Can I come across as a know-it-all sometimes? Truly, let's examine ourselves. And I know sometimes we, we're well-meaning, right? We mean well with sharing knowledge and sharing what we know. But, but how am I perceived? Am I perceived as a know-it-all? Do I lead with how much I know, or do I lead with love? That's the question. Do I lead with how much I know, or do I lead with love?
Number two: Have I ever considered that I can sin against other believers? Although I'm accountable to God, others are watching me. I am an example to others. Am I considering others when I make decisions, especially public ones? These are questions for you to think through, you know, and not to just brush off as a, like, "No, I'm good," but to truly think through and examine yourself, to think about throughout the day. All right.
And now, here's your walk it out challenge today. As you go about your day, remember who Christ died for. It wasn't just for you, and it wasn't just for your Christian friends. As you drive, as you walk, as you're in a restaurant, a shopping center, look at others and remind yourself, Christ died for her. Christ died for him. Let's remember the even playing field and our need for a savior. Grab this workbook, okay? Go through these questions, think through them, write the answers, journal through it if you want, think through it in your own time. But grab this. This one's my gift to you. All right, the link is in the description for you to get it.
Let me pray for you before we go. God, I thank you. I thank you for your truth. I thank you for your justice. I thank you for your mercy. I thank you for your grace. I thank you for wisdom, and I thank you for knowledge, and I thank you for love. God, I pray over the one watching right now. God, I pray that you will show them the difference between knowledge and love. God, that you will show them, and that you will help them examine themselves, and me, when we seem to lead with what we know and not with our heart. Then we seem to lead with our own knowledge and not with your love. God, challenge us. Challenge us today as we see others, knowing that Christ died for them too. God, I pray that we are your vessels in this world. And today, as we go, that we have opportunities, and that we recognize opportunities to share your love with the world, not just what we know, but your love, your love, your love. Not even just our love, but your love with the world. All for your glory in Jesus name. Amen.
Let's walk this one out. Christ died for the world, not just for me, not just for you. Let's walk this one out and love others, not just by what we know, but love them. Look, check out some of these other resources to help you go a little bit deeper in your time studying the Bible. And share this one with a friend who needs it too. [Music]