Holiness Holiness and Liberty

Holiness is Separation from sin. The nature and character of God. Leviticus 11.44 The calling and duty of man. Leviticus 11.45 Imposed in clear, visible, and external fashion in the Law. Implanted in our nature, through the nature of Christ, and lived out through people who are “in the world.”

Living holy lives has been, is, and will be, a continual problem for the Church. Eras in church history have varied from monasticism to full blown engagement with the surrounding culture. God provides a large quantity of material to help us in the decision making process. I Corinthians 8-10 So there’s a lot more to the decision than just finding one verse that says “yes,” or “no.” Sometimes we include Romans 14, but shouldn’t. It is about true believers who differ over practice of law. Paul sees weak and strong and sides with strong. Here, the issue is the weakness (8.10) of believing that an image represents a “real” deity. Paul sides with weak. 8-10 are about living out life in an idolatrous world.

Some serious questions to consider Do I really accept that God has never changed, and that His demand for holiness has never changed? He freed us from the curse of the Law by giving us the nature of Christ, and so writing His Law upon our hearts. Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Let’s take a moment and notice some of what Paul told the Corinthians before and after his long explanation of liberty I Corinthians 7.36-40 I Corinthians 11.2-16 I Corinthians 14.34 Do I really accept that the world is an enemy, and I need to be saved from it? Gal_1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Do I really understand that my flesh still loves the world and hates God? Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Whatever progress ( I Timothy 4.15) we make as believers, it is in the new man, not the old Do I really believe that there are demonic forces out there, influencing human events? Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Do I really care about doing things that are pleasing to God? Do I really accept that the world is still hostile towards God, and that unbelieving people walk in the vanity of their minds? Eph. 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Do I really care about doing things that are pleasing to God? 1Thess. 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

The issue in I Corinthians 8-10 is eating meat offered to idols. Notice I Corinthians 5.9-13 Notice I Corinthians 6.9

We can make these observations about I Cor. 8-10 They provide Scriptural guidelines for living in an idolatrous world They are a significant source of help and information The answers to our questions are not always short Neither are they simple; but often include cultural, generational, and personal matters

The same answer may not fit every situation Self restraint and deliberate concern for others is mandatory