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Living Beyond Offense
1 Corinthians 10:23.33
Paul warned against alliance with the world. He declared That in Christ Jesus we are 'one bread' (loaf) Verse 17. Therefore we must not be in union with any other pagan or non-Christian fellowship. In fact, he states this to be impossible, 'Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils'; Verse 21.
In this lesson before us we, as Christians, are urged to live above offense; offense to our fellow men and God. A key verse for proper living is verse 31: 'Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
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Anyone who knows the grace of God and the Word of God, knows we are not under the law. Legalists may chant all they wish, condemn and blaspheme the message of grace as they choose, but the fact remains: we are in no way under law. A woman is never under the rule of a man she has never married. We, as Gentiles, have never been under the law. The law was given only to Israel. Psalm 147:19-20: 'He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them.
Praise ye the Lord!
In fact, since Calvary Israel is free from the law. Romans 7:4 declares: 'Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God' Now when a man's wife is dead, that man has the moral right to remarry, and in this case, the law having been set aside, the sinner is invited to be married or united to another; to the risen Christ. It is for this reason that Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, 'All things are lawful for me, ' and this is so; 'but all things are not expedient....all this edify not, ' i. e., they do not build us up.
In this light the great apostle invites the believer in the Corinthian Church to be considerate of two persons as he lives in the midst of a pagan world, FIRST -- be considerate of a weaker brother. 'For conscience sake.....conscience, I say, not thine
own, but of the other.' Verses 28-29.
What you do may not brother your conscience, but it might another's. It is not proper to say 'I'll let my conscience be my guide!' This may be unchristian, for often we must let another's conscience be our guide. 'Take a little wine for thy stomach's sake and for thine oft infirmities', Paul tells Timothy. This, therefore, is in order maybe, depending on the conscience of others. It would not do here because of Christian conscience in this land; where Timothy lived it was no offense. But we do not live in Asia. The conscience of others is a great factor in what we do and say. I have often heard Christians say, 'I don't care what others think, I'm going to do it anyway.' If this be your attitude you are out of fellowship with your Savior. You are an offense to another member of his precious body.
SECONDLY- be considerate of your Lord and Master. If He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. Paul's cry rings down through the ages: 'Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' God help us to test all of our conduct with this spiritual axiom. If you can do what you are doing to the glory of God, then you are at liberty to do it. Someone asked Spurgeon if you could smoke to the glory of God? (For he smoked at that time) He said 'yes'. Some students made placards which read: 'Spurgeon can smoke to the glory of God.' He read just one. Spurgeon quite smoking. Do you not see? It was an offense both to man and God.
The need today in the Christian world is a walk that is different from the world. One of joy and peace. A life constantly in tune with heaven. One that spells salvation to an unbelieving world. A life that is not an offense, 'neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.' Verse 32. God help us to do as Paul says: 'Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
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