Sungai Nibong Gospel Hall The Problems of the Local Church in Corinth (21 July) Pt. 1 – Chs. 1-5 (28 July) Pt. 2 – Chs. 5, 6 (10 Nov) Pt. 3 – Chs Nov., 2013 Pt. 4 – Chs. 8, 9
1. The Problem of Disunity – Paul’s Appeal for Unity in the Church. I Cor. 1: The Problem of Immaturity – Paul could not Advance with them. They were Childish and Carnal: they still needed Milk and not Meat. I Cor. 3:1-3, 4 3.The Problem of Immorality – Paul was Appalled by their Tolerance of Incest in their midst.I Cor. Ch. 5 4.The Problem of Litigation (Legality) They Accused one Another in Court. I Cor. Ch. 6 Recapitulation The Problems of the Church in Corinth (Chs. 1-6) as reported by Chloe (1:11)
5. P AUL A NSWERED THEIR P ROBLEMS ON P ERSONAL L IBERTY, R IGHTS & R ELATIONSHIPS (C HS. 7-10) Letter from the Church Concerning...(7:1) a. Relationship between Male and Female. A Person Surrenders his Right to Marry… to Minister to the Lord.7:32, 33 b. Relationship between Strong and Weak brethren – do not Stumble.Ch. 8 (8:1) A brother in Love Surrenders his Rightto Self… to Consider the Conscience of another. 8:13
a. Relationship between Male and Female. I Cor. Ch. 7 b. Relationship between the Strong and Weak Brethren. 8:13 I will eat no meat while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.8:13 i. Concerning/Touching Food offered to Idols, 8:1a – We know. What do we know? We know that we all have knowledge
a. Concerning Food offered to Idols touching/concerning.8:1a cf. 7:1 ii. Consider a Few Contrasts:- 8:1-3 Knowledge puffs up; Love Builds up. 8:1b One who Claims to know Completely (perfect tense) may just know nothing. 8:2 If one Loves (present tense) God, then God knows him. 8:3 Love God, Love your neighbour. Lk. 10:27 Love Christ, keep His commandments. Jn. 15:12 Hence, concerning food offered to idols, Consider What you Know and Whom you Love.
ii. Consider a Few Contrasts. 8:1-3 iii. Concerning eating of Food sacrificed to idols.8:4-13 What and Whom we should know: 8:4-6 An idol is nothing in the world. 8:4 ct. 10:20 There is none other God but one – an idol is no god. 8:4, 5 cf. Deut. 6:4; Isa. 44:17-19 There is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in [for] Him; one Lord Jesus Christ, by [through] Whom are all things, and we by [through] Him. 8:6 I Cor. 10:20, 21, NIV But the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 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.
What and Whom we should know: 8:4-6 Know, how eating food offered to idols may affect the brethren:- 8:7-12, 13 The Weak Conscience – it Associates an idol with past beliefs.8:7 The Defiled Conscience – it is Affected by what it sees as wrong.8:7 The Emboldened Conscience – it follows After Another that it considers wrong. 8:10,11 The Wounded Conscience – it is Stricken a blow and is wounded Seriously. 8:11, 12 the offending person Sins against Christ. 8:12
b. As touching Relationship between those who eat Meat offered to idols and those who do not – the Strong and the Weak.8:1-13 i.The Strong must not Stumble the Weak. 8:8 Meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. ii.The Strong must not make the Weak Suffer. 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
i. The Strong must not Stumble the Weak. 8:8 ii. The Strong must not make the Weak Suffer. 8:11 iii. Liberty vs. Love: 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, Lest I make my brother to offend. Love Limits what Conscience Permits. Also Consider Rom. 14:1-15
Next Lord’s Day (D.V.) 5. Paul’s Answers (7:1) Concerning… Relationships, Rights and Personal Liberty. Chs Relationship with others – be an Example, be Expedient and EdifyCh. 10 A Believer surrenders his right to Please himself to Profit all in all (things) that many be saved. 10:24, 33 AND NOW MAY "THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WTH YOU ALL. AMEN. - II Cor. 13:14