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Trippin’ 1 Corinthians 8
[Note: much of the best content and input is only found on the audio versions!]
It’s not nice to trip someone. It’s illegal in football. It’s the stuff of grade school playgrounds, and unfortunately, many churches. And it’s cruel, because often it’s the more mature tripping up the less mature.
Who are the mature? Not always necessarily the elder or those saved longer, and not always those with the higher standards.
Three L’s: Legalism, License, Liberty Legalism makes strict rules that aren’t Biblical and imposes preferences of one on another. License says I can do whatever I want, I don’t answer to anyone, it’s between me and God. Liberty says I’m free in Christ, and there are many gray areas in life that the Bible doesn’t speak directly to, so I’m going to view my liberty as freedom to do what’s right both by God and my fellow man, and I don’t want to trip anyone else up in the process.
We need Christians who have some convictions. Any dead fish can just float downstream and go w/ the flow of the course of this world. We need to stand for some things!
Our text has 3 key words: v. 1-2- ‘knowledge’
Albert Einstein said: “Any fool can know. The
point is to understand.” Just because you know something, doesn’t mean you
really understand it. We need to make sure we have the right knowledge and the right convictions, and that’s it’s not a pride thing. Some get too smart for their own good. We need Biblical reasons for what we do, and if the Bible doesn’t speak directly to something there’s a good chance that some Bible principles will impact it.
v. 3- ‘love’ is the right motive in dealing w/ others about what is right and wrong. To be sincere in your own convictions is one thing, but how we deal w/ others about our convictions gets personal unless it’s done in love.
v. 4 and following- ‘conscience’ Don’t offend and trip up a ‘weaker’ brother who feels differently about a gray area issue. Err on the side of caution, not of offense and Christian liberty.
Here’s several types of convictions we can have:
So often people w/ very high standards do it
to impress others, themselves, or God. They want to feel superior, and they
have their reward.
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Ill.—How about traveling on the Lord’s day or skipping church for the reunion or whatever? In the former case I think it’s a grey area so I don’t do it. In the latter the Bible answers the question for us. Besides, how are you going to reach your family if you are not a good example for them?
Ill.—How about mixed bathing. My dad said he thinks blacks and whites should be allowed in the same pool. [That’s a joke! It’s about males and females!]
In some cultures co-ed swimming is sinful.
Now that might not stop me from going to the beach where there are lots of
people – but I’m not going to have someone over who feels the other way and
cajole them into a co-ed swimming situation if that makes them
uncomfortable.
Perhaps we should ask some practical questions in the grey areas: 1. Does it promote edification? Don’t just ask what’s wrong w/ it, but what’s right with it! 2. Can it lead to bondage (addiction)? 3. Do you have any uneasy conscience about it? 4. What does the Bible say about it?
Here’s 6 scriptural tests to apply to anything questionable/gray area, not specifically mentioned in scripture: [should I or shouldn’t I?]
1. Proclamation Test *This test asks, “Has God clearly proclaimed it to be wrong in His Word?” Many believers approach the Bible “cafeteria style”. [Take what I like/leave the rest!/exposure to God’s Word doesn’t change our lives/nor does hearing or reading it/…it is obeying God’s Word that changes our lives (James: be ye doers/not hearers only!) If it’s in the Word, there’s no question…you don’t have to pray about it!
2. Principle Test *This test asks, “Is it forbidden in God’s Word in principle?” [mature Christians live by principle/spirit of law…not just letter] examples: Gambling—violates God’s work principle/something for nothing/not work/not eat
Proverbs 13:11
Also God’s greed principle/love principle—love for God and neighbor—remember where gambling winnings come from: gambling losses [hoping others lose as you hope to win]! We’re supposed to love people and use things, but gamblers love things and use people! [lottery is gambling in every way/stock market is different, benefits everyone] Look for principles in other areas like smoking/dancing/tv viewing/movies/dress, etc.
3. Partnership Test Col. 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. *This test asks, “Could I invite Jesus to do this with me?” God is my co-pilot?/pilot! Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit! He does go w/ you!
Ill.—little boy told to go down the street, over the bridge, and straight to school…ok/but on the bridge he saw a fish, then a butterfly, wandered, couldn’t find the bridge!/only knew 2 prayers, now I lay me down to sleep/and Lord’s prayer…tried that one: Our Father…[yes son, he heard from behind him…his dad had followed him that day!] He goes w/ you even when you do wrong!
4. Presence Test *This test asks, “Would I be ashamed to be found doing it [thinking it/saying this] upon Christ’s return?”
Philippians 1:20
Looking for that blessed hope/watch ye therefore!
5. Purity Test I Cor. 10:31 “whatsoever ye eat or drink…” *This test asks, “Is there any glory for God in it?” or “Can I honestly ask God to bless it?” Pray: “God, bless this movie I put in the vcr now, it has some cursing and sexual content”
6. Peace Test Rom. 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. *This test asks, “After praying about it, is there the least bit of doubt in my mind about it?” We need to learn to give God the benefit of the doubt…if it’s doubtful, don’t! Not, how close to the line can I walk!
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NOTICE! Our sermons are free to download, copy and paste, edit and use as you see fit...but only our free subscribers get the newest messages, featured sermons, and some free gifts we shower on them from time to time! Help keep this service free by recommending it using the links above the sermon
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