Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches, both in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.
St. Paul turns to another matter that the Corinthians have brought to his attention: eating meat sacrificed to idols. The Corinthians have boasted concerning their knowledge, but the Apostle directs their attention to using that knowledge in love. It is good that Christians have knowledge; we must know that there is one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, and that idols are nothing. Because some are weaker in faith and do not have this knowledge, however, their consciences may be defiled upon seeing Christians eating sacrificed meat. Therefore, a Christian must put his knowledge into use with love, refusing to let his actions in freedom become sin against a brother in the faith and, thus, sin against Christ Himself. Christians freely give up their freedom in order to build up the faith of others.
“Nothing But Christ Crucified” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle of 1 Corinthians. In response to correspondence from the Christians in Corinth and reports about matters arising in the congregation, St. Paul writes to address various matters of Christian faith and life. Throughout it all, he directs our attention to the power and wisdom of God for our salvation: Christ crucified.
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