Lesson 2067

(Lesson 2067)(06-30-17) 1 Corinthians 10:24-33

"Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

In today's quote Paul taught that the children of God are to do all that they can do toward the betterment of their neighbors. We are NEVER to do things that are offensive to others.

Even today there are many religious isms that refuse to eat certain foods, and some (Roman Catholics et al) will eat certain foods only on certain days. All that is nonsense to a true child of God. Just as God demonstrated to Peter before sending him to minister to Cornelius ( A Gentile), "Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven." (Acts 10:9-16 in part.)

All things created by God are clean and edible to Christians, however, we are not to eat anything that might offend others.~

Lesson 2066

(Lesson 2066)(06-29-17) 1 Corinthians 10:18-23

"Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not."

    

In today's quote, Paul related that, although there's nothing spiritually wrong with eating meat that has been sacrificed to an idol, the very appearance of it is not expedient for a child of God.

As born again children of God, we know that nothing we do in these mortal bodies will be held against our eternal souls, even so we are to keep ourselves away from doing things that might mislead a weaker brother or sister by giving the appearance of evil.

Paul said, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not." That means that appearance matters and if a child of God must wonder whether or not he/she should do a certain thing, he/she should probably refrain from doing it.~

Lesson 2065

(Lesson 2065)(06-28-17) 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."

This lesson relates that we, the born again children of God, are a separate people united and bound together through a kindred faith in the sacrificed blood and body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, and as such, we are to keep ourselves from even giving the appearance of supporting any spiritual beings other than God our Father through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our two "great" commandments are; "The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31 in part.)~

Lesson 2064

(Lesson 2064)(06-27-17) 1 Corinthians 10:5-15

"But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say."

In today's quote Paul, referring to the Children of Israel who, with Moses, escaped from Egypt told how quickly they had turned their backs on God and had begun to worship graven images.

Also in this lesson Paul warned the membership of the Corinthian church to stay the course with Jesus Christ, refraining from idol worship and those things that would lead them away from their responsibility to their brothers and sisters in the church. He also told of the punishment that was heaped upon the Hebrew people for their disobedience before God and how that same wrath awaited those among the Corinthians who might stray.

Even today we, the children of God, are to stay the course for Jesus Christ in every thing we do. We should walk as examples to those who have not yet tasted the sweet taste of salvation through the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.~

Lesson 2063

(Lesson 2063)(06-26-17) 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."

Today's quote relates how all those who had been with Moses through the escape from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea were "baptized unto Moses" (Bound to Moses in kind.) That phrasing simply meant that all of the Hebrews who had escaped with Moses were kindred, both by blood and in spirit of purpose.~

Lesson 2062

(Lesson 2062)(06-25-17) 1 Corinthians Chapter 9

Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with the alter? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

In today's quote, Paul made it clear that the churches are to take care of the physical needs of their pastors. He then went further, referring to his own ministry, and in essence related that even though he had great personal investment at great personal cost in the work that he had done for the churches, he expected no repayment. He expressed, as we all should, that the work he did for the Lord was a work of love that he was willing to freely give that effort for the honor and glory of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The over riding lesson herein is that even though our preachers do what they do out of love for Jesus Christ, we, the membership of the church, should see that the ministers are aptly rewarded and paid for their efforts. ~

Lesson 2061

(Lesson 2061)(06-24-17) 1 Corinthians Chapter 8

"Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 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. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 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. 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. 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. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 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; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

In today's lesson, Paul made it clear that, to a child of God, food that has been offered as a sacrifice to an idol takes on no special characteristic other than just being food to sustain the body. However, a child of God should never allow him/herself to be seen as taking part in a ritual eating of a sacrificial offering since a brother of sister who is weaker in faith might misunderstand and be led to believe that the meat has some other significance than just food for the body.

Today's lessons seldom applies because sacrifices to idols is very rare in our society.~