3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

As we saw in some of the first verses you get the impression people are questioning Paul’s authority even though he started this church.  He says to them that the apostles living should come from the people he ministers to. There were men and women that traveled with Paul on his journeys as ministers and the journeys could sometimes go on for months. Paul was a tent maker and he was saying that even him and Barnabas could work for what they needed and receive a full financial reward for their work. They did this where  they could pay their own way voluntarily with some help from a few churches but not out of obligation necessity.  To me this is saying that we need to be able to supply our needs in the ministry in case the ones we are ministering to can not supply what we need to accomplished what we feel we are called to do.

1 Corinthians 8 : 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 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.

Here in these last two verse of Chapter 8 Paul strongly warns against causing a bother  or sister to sin by something we do. It is not just an offense against the person you make sin but it is a serious offense to the Lord Himself. He goes on to say that he will do nothing to cause another sin. Even if he can no longer eat meat he would give it up to keep a weaker christian from sinning. This has been a good chapter and to me the best thing out of this is that as we grow stronger in Christ  we need to be more aware of the younger Christians and how we act what we do around them. There are a lot things out in the world today to pull people from Christ and as strong Christians we need to be able to identify them and help people to understand the dangers in participating in these things so they do not go in the wrong direction. It could mean sometimes we have to give up something we do not think is wrong but to them it is.

1 Corinthians 8 : 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

This first verse is saying that someone who is a strong christian may be able to eat meat that may have been offered to an idol without a guilty conscience because they regard the idol as nothing. Now the new christian, who believes it is still wrong to do this, may eat the meat anyway just to show they can do what you do.  So we have to remember what kind of example we are because we would be causing them to sin because of the freedom we feel we have. It is just best to be careful of this for their sake and not for your own sake. Next we see it is not always what we do that is sin but our attitude about what we do is sin. If we do not have faith in our heart that what we are doing is right then it is sin. We have great influence on those who have just received Jesus as their Savior so we must not give even the appearance of evil for their sake. The new Christian is not aware of the privilege of Christianity and thus you might cause him to sin.

1 Corinthians 8 : 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.  8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

This first verse shows us two sides of the proverbial coin. If some is eating something offered to an idol, and knows it was, but does it anyway is committing a sin because it goes against their conscience. Now for those who regard the idol as nothing can eat the same thing would not be sinning because they did not regard the idol as anything and be eating it with a clear conscience. Next we see that the meat is really not the issue. If we do anything without a clear conscience is probably going to be a sin.  Anytime we feel in our heart that we are doing something we should not as a christian then it is a sin. As Christians our conscience, the Holy Ghost, alerts us when we are about to do something we should not and we should not do it. Then we see if what we are doing is going to cause someone to sin we should not do it because they could be weaker in their belief and sin. This could cover a lot of subjects, way too many to mention here, and so we should be aware of the weakness of younger believers in Christ.  Sometimes the only example of Christian living that a person has is the one people see us live.

1 Corinthians 8 : 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Paul is dealing with a subject here that is still very much alive in our world today and that is the worship of many gods. They worship different gods today for the same reason they did back then and that is because they want to see the gods they worship . The God we worship is in spirit and can not be seen with our physical eyes but on can only be seen in the spirit. This next verse confirms what a true Christian believes and that there is one God the father and His equally with Jesus Christ who is our savior. A verse in 1 John says it best, 1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” This lets us know that God is the creator, Jesus is the savior, and the Holy Spirit is our guide. Also this tells us there is only one way to heaven and that is through because of the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross giving His life for our sins. Please attend a church today that preaches the truth of God’s word. My home church is Luverne First Assembly of God and we would love to have you join us.

1 Corinthians 8 : 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

We need to keep in mind that Paul is responding to questions that was ask by some of the Corinthians. Here we should see that idols are nothing to a christian. When we put idols above God we are sinning against God. It is hard to tell when food is has been offered to idols and what was not. To try to regard something as clean or unclean, which in reality there is no way, is to be regarding it as an idol. We should not try to judge that at all because an idol is nothing anyway. We must remember to that there many things in our society today that people put before God and in doing this they are making them an idol. God had shown over and over that idols are nothing as He did in Egypt when He made the Pharaoh let His people go. We need to make sure we try to put God first in everything we do every day so we do begin to worship idols.

1 Corinthians 8 :1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Paul begins in this chapter addressing questions ask about things offered up to idols. He explained to them that they have the knowledge already of knowing not to touch thins offered to idols. To accept food or anything offered to idols would put someone back into pagan worship, the gentiles knew this. because of some the knowledge some showed he was concerned because it was not mixed with love but it was puffed up. Charity, or love, edifies and helps strong believers be able to minister to weaker believers without offending them. He go on to say that most of time when someone thinks they know it all they really know nothing. We all know people like this, but it is those with a humble spirit always eager to learn more that are really knowledgeable.You can know what a Scripture says  but without knowing what it means and to understand what it means it must be revealed to you by the Holy Spirit. To know God exists is one thing and to have Him as your personal Savior is something else entirely. Just to of God is one thing and to love God in your heart is an entirely different thing as well. If we truly love God in our heart then He in turn loves us.

1 Corinthians 7: 39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Paul ends here telling us that marriage is meant for life and is meant to be permanent. If one of the spouses dies he says it is OK to marry again but only to another believer.  Because marriage was meant to be permanent the disciples thought it better not to marry. In really God say not to be unequally yoked which means to marry or remarry it should be to a believer. Paul ends saying it is better if one becomes single after being married it is better to remain that way so they will have more time to concentrate on their devotion to  God. He even with a touch of sarcasm says he believes he got this word straight form the Holy Spirit. Also a lot times it is better just to remember the good memories of the the one you loved for so long rather than look for another.