SERMON OUTLINE:
• (1). The Command (ch 10 vs 14)
• (2). The Reasons (ch 10 vs 15-22)
• (3). The Objective (ch 10 vs 23 to ch 11 vs 1)
SERMON BODY:
• While waiting for his train, a man was talking to the station-master;
• As they spoke an express train went by a full speed;
• The man said to the station-master: 'What a powerful engine!'
• The Station-master replied; 'Yes! But only while it is on the rails,
• Off the rails it is the weakest thing in the world”.
• TRANSITION: The Christian life is like that!
• Our power lies in our communion our fellowship with our Lord and Saviour,
• But when we leaves the path of that communion, that fellowship;
• Like a derailed train we are going no-where fast!'
• The apostle Paul teaches these Christians at Corinth about things that can derail them;
• One of those things was idolatry;
• They don’t have to be derailed by idolatry;
• But they will if they are not careful!
(1). The command (vs 14).
• Verse 14: “Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry”.
• Some things are always wrong and should always be avoided
• Idolatry was a constant stumbling block to the Hebrew people in the Old Testament;
• Again and again they fell back into the trap of worshipping false deities.
• And it was a big problem to many people in the New Testament.
• Because for the Corinthians idolatry was part of everyday life;
Ill:
• Dominating the city of Corinth stood the hill of the Acropolis (1,500 ft high):
• It was the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love,
• Aphrodite is the same goddess as Venus,
• Venus was the Roman name & Aphrodite was the Greek name.
• The temple of Aphrodite in Corinth;
• Was one of the architectural wonders of the ancient world – it was impressive!
• And this temple and its idols dominated the city.
• If you did not go to the temple, then the temple might well came to you!
• Because it had 1,000 male and female priests/priestesses (each was a prostitutes),
• Who would descend down into the city at night, to ply their trade.
• The pull of the temple was everywhere;
• There was a religious attraction – worship involved idolatry;
• There was a sexual attraction – immorality was all part of the worship experience.
• And there was a social attraction - it was the hub of community life.
• TRANSITION: Now although Paul has one specific form of idolatry in mind,
• Christian believers must avoid all forms of idolatry.
• Most of us will not bow down to a statue made of wood or stone;
• But the idols in our lives are just as real only a little more subtle.
• Quote: “Idolatry is allowing anything to come between one's self and the Lord.”
• Though we do not face visible idols the Corinthians did;
• We face pressures from a pantheon of false values;
• i.e. Materialism, love of leisure, sensuality, worship of self, and many others.
• Quote: “Today's idols are more in the self than on the shelf!”
Quote: Saint Augustine the early Christian theologian and philosopher:
“Idolatry is worshiping anything that ought to be used,
or using anything that ought to be worshiped”.
Now when the apostle Paul says in verse 14:
“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry”.
• I do not think that the apostle is concerned that these Christians are going to go back;
• And return to bowing down and worshipping an idol.
• What he has in mind is not bowing and scraping before an image,
• But succumbing to the temptation to enjoy again the atmosphere found at the idol temple.
Roman pagan religion in Corinth appealed to all the senses of human beings:
• The most exciting place in town was the temple;
• There you could get the best food, served up in the open-air restaurant.
• There they had musical entertainment;
• And all the seductive pleasures of wine, women/men and song.
• If you wanted to enjoy yourself ‘to excess’ in Corinth,
• You went out to the temple.
• It was a magnet that pulled in and appealed to the human sensuality.
Ill:
• On the Caribbean island of Barbados,
• Is a castle that once belonged to the pirate called Sam Lord.
• Sam Lord was a very cunning and crafty pirate, because he did not use a ship,
• Instead he used to hang lots of lanterns in the palm trees in front of his castle.
• Then when a ship having crossed the Atlantic,
• Saw Barbados at night and saw those bright lights.
• It used to think that it had arrived at the port of Bridgetown,
• And the ship would turn into those lights,
• Thinking that that was where all the other boats were anchored.
• Unknowingly it would turn into the coral reef and be wrecked,
• That is exactly what Sam Lord wanted to happen, because he was a pirate.
• His men could then row out to the wreck,
• Take prisoners or kill any survivors and steal all the goods and treasure.
• Those alluring lights offered the sailors so much, but it gave them nothing;
• It promised them freedom, enjoyment, & a good time,
• But all it did was shipwreck and destroy them.
• TRANSITION: The apostle Paul was concerned that these Corinthian believers;
• Would again be attracted to the bright lights of the temple;
• It promised them enjoyment, & a ‘good time’ but all it would do is shipwreck them!
So the apostle gives a command: “Flee idolatry”
• The word “therefore” at the start of verse 14 links this section to the last.
• At the end of the last section the apostle targeted two types of people:
• FIRST GROUP: The self-confident (vs 12);
• “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
• Some Christians were absolutely convinced they would not fail;
• Paul says to them, ‘be careful’,
• Pride comes before a fall (Proverbs chapter 16 verse 18);
• And if you do not keep close to God even YOU confident Christian will fail!
• SECOND GROUP: The discouraged (vs 13).
• Those who felt overwhelmed and overcome by temptation.
• The apostle gives them a word of comfort;
• He tells them every Christian struggles with temptations, you are not alone;
• And along with the temptation there is a way of escape!
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Ill:
• I like the old joke:
• About a man goes to the doctors and tells him he has broken his arm in two places.
• The doctor looks him in the eyes and says; "Well then, stay out of them places!"
• We laugh but the doctor may well have something!
• We cannot regularly put ourselves in the face of temptation and not be affected.
• When faced with the problem of temptation,
• We need to take the good doctor’s advice and "stay out of them places."
• TRANSITION: That is what the apostle is saying in these verses;
• When we are with the wrong people in the wrong places;
• We can so easily compromise and bit by bit by bit join in the wrong ways.
(2). The Reasons:
• Having given a command in verse 14;
• The apostle Paul will now give three reasons why they need to ‘flee’ idolatry;
• And not compromise with it.
(2a). Reason #1: Association with idolatry leads to participation with idolatry (vs 16-18).
• The apostle Paul will use two illustrations to make his point;
• He talks about the Lord’s table (communion) in verses 16-17;
• And he talks about the nation of Israel in verse 17.
“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
18 Consider the people of Israel: do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?”
Note:
• Three times the idea of ‘sharing’ or ‘participation’ comes up in these verses;
• Twice in verse 16 and once in verse 17.
• The apostles point is simple;
• By taking communion we are associating with the body and blood of Jesus.
• That’s obvious, by joining in we are no longer onlookers;
• But we are ‘participators’ with him.
• And notice too that we also become participators with other Christians;
• As they too ‘share’ this experience.
• The emphasis in the name ‘communion’ is with one another.
• Now what is true for Christians in the New Testament;
• Was also true for the Israelites in the Old Testament.
• The Israelites also ‘participated’ with God and with other Israelites;
• In the sacrifices that they made.
• They did not do make a sacrifice in isolation but with other people.
Now follow the logic here:
• If God is behind the two examples given in verses 16-17;
• Question: Then who is behind the sacrifices made to idols.
• Answer: Not the true and living God;
• Therefore it is Satan who is behind the idolatrous sacrifices of the pagan religion.
• And we are therefor to have nothing to do with them!
(2b). Reason #2: participation in idolatry leads to involvement with the devil (vs 19-20).
“Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”
In these verses the apostle takes them back to what he has already discussed in chapter 8:
• Where we noted that an idol is made of just stone or wood – nothing else;
• Meat offered on a pagan altar was good meat but it was again just meat.
• Paul reemphasises the truth he unpacked in chapter 8;
• Here in verse 19 (Quote: vs 19 in J.B. Phillips paraphrase):
“Now am I implying that a false god really exists, or that sacrifices made to any god have some value? Not at all”
But notice now in verse 20 the apostle adds something to the argument;
• Although an idol is made of just stone or wood – nothing else;
• Although meat offered on a pagan altar was good meat - it was again just meat.
• But here in verse 20 he says behind the outward visible act of idolatry;
• There is an invisible act of darkness taking place.
• “…the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, “
• When a Christian gets too close to idolatry and starts to compromise;
• They are letting themselves in for all sorts of spiritual repercussions!
Or to apply to us today:
• When we get to entrenched by a certain sin, an idol is created.
• And once an idol is carved,
• We have allowed Satan to get a foothold in our lives!
Quote: I like what Paul Ruzinsky says:
“I don't play in Satan's playground. If I played in his playground, he'd eat my lunch.”
Quote: More serious:
“You can't stop birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from making a nest”.
(2C). Reason #3: Involvement with the things of the devil leads to spiritual disaster (vs 21).
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”
• Clearly there are some things in life that are mutually antagonistic,
• And one of them has to do with the matter of what you worship.
• That any form of idolatry (be it idols of wood or stone or our modern idols)
• Any form of idolatry will displace our love for Christ.
Ill:
• A Mormon acquaintance once pushed Mark Twain the American humourist;
• Into an argument on the issue of polygamy.
• After long and tedious expositions justifying the practice,
• The Mormon demanded that Mark Twain cite any passage of scripture;
• That expressly outlawed polygamy.
• Mark Twain he replied and quoted the words of Jesus:
• "Nothing easier, ‘No man can serve two masters’."
Jesus said those words (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13):
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other,"
• TRANSITION: That is exactly what the apostle Paul is saying here:
There are some things in life that are mutually antagonistic,
• And one of them has to do with the matter of what you worship.
• You cannot mix them!
• ill: Like oil and water or like light & darkness - they refuse to mix.
Note: God does not tolerate split loyalties (vs 22):
“Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?”
• God does not tolerate split loyalties,
• He would not in Israel’s day (see vs 5-11) and he won’t in ours!
• Idolatry awakens the jealousy of God.
• All through the Old Testament we are told that God is "a jealous God,"
• (Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, 5:9, 6:15, Josh 24:19).
Note:
• Now to us Jealousy is an ugly word.
• Quote: Shakespeare in Othello. “It is the green-eyed monster,”
• Because human beings are ‘sinful’ creatures our jealousy is flawed;
• It has overtones of selfishness, suspicion, and distrust,
• It is often possessive, demanding, and overbearing; and that is repulsive.
• It stifles freedom and individuality, it degrades and demeans,
• It breeds tension and discord, it destroys friendships and marriages.
• We view jealousy as a horrible trait and rightly so.
But God is ‘holy & perfect’ he is not flawed:
• Therefore his jealousy is different, it does not harm rather it protects;
• In both the Old and New Testament words for jealousy are also translated “zeal.”
• Being jealous and being zealous are essentially the same thing in the Bible.
• God is zealous—eager about protecting what is precious to Him
Ill:
• Just like a loving parent will not stand by and watch their child being hurt;
• God will not stand by and see his children led astray by idolatry;
• He is zealous to protect them.
• This passage reiterates the fact:
• That God will not stand idly by and let his children drift away;
• Into some idolatrous preoccupation with something of the world.
(3). The Objective (ch 10 vs 23 to ch 11 vs 1)
“ ‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’– but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice,’ then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God – 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”.
• The ultimate objective of every Christian has to be verse 31:
• “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
• Remember that we exist for God - God does not exist for us!
• Our purpose on earth to quote the Westminster catechism is:
• “Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
• A. 1. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever”
Ill:
• Everything needs a purpose:
• A bridge’s purpose is to allow people and goods to get from one side to another
• A telescope’s purpose is to bring things that are very far away into sight.
• The purpose of going to the gym is to keep fit and healthy.
• Everything needs a purpose!
• The purpose of human beings is to glorify God and enjoy him;
• Christians without that purpose are a little like Alice in the fairy tale
Ill:
• Alice in Wonderland.
• A conversation takes place between her and the Cheshire Cat,
• Alice asked, "Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" "
• The cat replies: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,"
• Alice responds: "I don't much care where,"
• The cat replies: "Then it doesn't matter which way you go."
• TRANSITION:
• The purpose of human beings is to glorify God and enjoy him;
• We are a purposeful people, made to know God, enjoy God and serve God.
Note:
• Now to help these Corinthian Christians ‘glorify God’,
• The apostle Paul gives them some guidelines:
• Their situation is a cultural problem;
• Should a Christian eat meat that has been sacrificed to an idol;
• Remember from our studies in chapter 8 in temple sacrifice;
• There was always meat left over and this was sold in the market place;
• To help fund the priests and the temple.
• Because it was meat used for sacrifice it was usually the best;
• So if you wanted a good steak or a nice leg of lamb;
• Then it made sense to buy your meat in the market place next to the temple.
Now in this closing section of chapter 10 the apostle answers two more questions:
Question 1: Meat in the market place (vs 25).
“Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’”
• The apostle Paul puts no restrictions on their shopping list!
• There is nothing wrong with the meat itself;
• Because there is no substance to an idol (vs 19)
• The apostle says, ‘don’t raise questions’ about it;
• In other words get on and enjoy life - don’t look for a problem that is not there!
• Don’t become introspective spending all your time trying and find one!
• If the meat is good, give thanks to God and enjoy it!
Question 2: Meat in an unbeliever’s home (vs 27-28).
• This verse moves from a private issue to a public issue;
• And other people and other consciences make this issue more difficult.
• But again the apostle gives us some clarity in what we should do:
“If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.
• The apostle says if your host serves you a meal then enjoy it;
• The Christian is free to enjoy all good things that God has made.
• You can even have seconds…providing there is some left over!
Notice now in verse 28 we have an exception;
28 But if someone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice,’ then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.
29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours.”
• What the apostle Paul is doing in 10:28-29a
• Is raising a hypothetical situation.
• In which you’ve been invited to a non-Christian friend’s home,
• When you arrive another of your Christian friends has also been invited;
• Only this Christian has a weaker conscience than you.
• And they are offended or confused by the freedom with which you’re indulging:
• They remind you:
• “Didn’t you know this is idol food? Are you sure you ought to be eating this?”
• The apostle Paul suggests that we might decide to refrain from eating the meat;
• So as not to risk leading that younger brother or sister in Christ into sin;
• Or confusing their conscience.
• The apostle Paul says; But Paul says modify your actions;
• Don’t eat the food for the good of the weaker brother or sister.
Ill:
• Let’s contemporise the situation.
• You and another Christian are invited to a non-Christians home;
• When they greet you they offer you an alcoholic drink.
• Your natural reaction is to say; ‘yes please, I love a glass of red wine’.
• But the other Christian says; ‘We shouldn’t drink, it might lead to drunkenness’.
• Rather than cause the younger Christian to stumble or go against their conscience;
• On this occasion just have a coke;
• You have every right to drink wine, but for his sake you abstain.
• That way you have shown concern and will have helped the weaker Christian.
• And his conscience will be clear.
In conclusion:
Chapter 11 verse 1:
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. Follow my example,
as I follow the example of Christ.”
• The apostle Paul had a "focused life."
• There was one thing he wanted to accomplish, and that was the glory of God.
• He says and encourages you to follow his example;
• "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,"
• Do everything so that God is pleased.
Ill:
• A brilliant young concert pianist was performing for the first time in public.
• The audience sat enthralled as beautiful music flowed from his disciplined fingers.
• The people could hardly take their eyes off this young virtuoso.
• As the final not faded, the audience burst into applause.
• Everyone was standing - except one old man up front.
• The pianist walked off the stage crestfallen.
• The state manager praised the performance,
• But the young man said, "I was no good, it was a failure."
• The manager replied, "Look out there, everyone is on his feet except one old man!"
• "Yes," said the youth dejectedly, "but that one old man is my teacher."
• TRANSITION: The young man was only concerned with pleasing his master & teacher
• Punchline: Are we?
Quote: Prayer by Ray Steadman:
• “Lord, we live in a dangerous world. You have made that very clear to us.
• We often forget it;
• We often think that we can go along with many of these things;
• And we find ourselves beginning to be drawn away,
• To lose our fervour for the things of God.
• We begin to think of life as the worldlings around us do,
• To seek after the same values they do.
• Help us at that moment, Lord, to flee idolatry.
• Help us to understand that we are where we ought to be,
• Even in feeling the temptation,
• But that our only safeguard is to renew our fellowship;
• With our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
• Guard us in those moments,
• That we may be sheep in the midst of wolves.
• We ask in his name,
• Amen.”
