Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians
"You sin against Christ."
Text: 1 Corinthians 8:12
WHAT IS THIS “LIBERTY”
The word “liberty” needs to be understood carefully. It is wise not to understand this word from the English language.
1. The word “liberty” comes from the Greek word “exousia”.
2. It is translated.
a) “Right” John 1:12
b) “Liberty” 1 Corinthians 8:9
3. Other nuances of the word “exousia”
a) Ability
b) Authority
c) Or even “power”
THE USE OF THIS LIBERTY
Paul urged the Corinthians to carefully and wisely use this “liberty” God had given to all believers.
“But when you thus sin against the brethren,
and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble,
I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”
1 Corinthians 8:12-13
1. We can end up sinning against a brother
a) By abusing our “liberty”.
b) Thus, wounding the conscience of a weaker brother.
2. Grave consequences
a) We do not just stumble a weaker brother.
b) We actually sin against the Lord Jesus Christ!
c) This is a serious thought to which we must give due consideration!
d) This set of grave consequences may not have been in the mind of the people who were exercising their “right” (“liberty”) to eat (food offered to idols).
3. Paul’s example
a) Paul applied this principle to himself.
b) If by eating (food offered to idols), he could end up stumbling a weaker brother.
c) He would give up his “liberty” to eat freely.
d) This was the way to apply “love” in real-life circumstances!
This is a great application of the love of God poured into our life!