1 Corinthians 10

FREEDOMS, RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES

1 Corinthians 10

Chapter 8
There is incredible freedom in Christ! In Paul's day the city of Corinth was a religious place. There were lots of temples and many opportunities to enjoy meals sacrificed to idols. Because idols really represented no god, meat offered to them was sacrificed to nothing. There is only one true God. However, then as now, there was potential to confuse and offend a new Christian by exercising one's freedom in Christ. As I participate in the freedom that Christ so dearly paid for, I must keep others in view.

Chapter 9
Paul delineates his rights in the first verses of chapter 9. No doubt it can be inferred that each follower of Christ has “rights,” however, the greatest good for others doesn’t necessarily come through the exercising of one’s rights. So the freedom or rights of a Christ follower should be exercised with the well-being of others in mind. Thinking of others and the impact we have is a sign of maturity and love.

Chapter 10
Is it possible that our freedom and rights in Christ can become idols? If the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, and a primary means to glorify Him is obedience as demonstrated through our commitment to Love God with everything and our neighbor as ourselves, then demonstrating restraint in the exercise of freedoms and rights for the good of others is a means by which we comply with God’s purpose for us. If however our primary focus becomes the exercising of the liberty, freedom, and rights we have in Chris, then it is possible for said priveleges to become idols.


Scripture is AUTHORITATIVE for Matters of Faith and Practice. Vv 1-10

1 Cor. 10:1-2
For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

Exodus 13:21-22
The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

1 Cor. 10:3-4
and all ate the same spiritual food; 4and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

Exodus 16:31
The house of Israel named it manna, and it was like coriander seed, white, and its taste was like wafers with honey.

Exodus 17:6
"Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

John 4:14
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

John 6:35
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

1 Cor. 10:5
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

Numbers 14:29
your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me.


We Must PROTECT our hearts by Refraining from . . . .
1 Cor. 10:6 (NASBr)
These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did.

Worshipping IDOLS.
1 Cor. 10:7 (NLT)
They worshiped idols, just as the Scriptures say, "The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to dance around." So don't worship idols.

Exodus 20:5 (CEV)
Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the Lord your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me, I will punish your families for three or four generations.

Engaging in SEXUAL Immorality.
1 Cor. 10:8 (NIV)
We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

Testing JESUS CHRIST.
1 Cor. 10:9 (NLT)
Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.

Grumbling.


We Must Never OVERESTIMATE our Own Strength. Vv 12-14


The boundary of my freedom is the GLORY of GOD.
1 Cor. 10:31
Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.

In All I Do I Should Strive to IMITATE Christ!
1 Cor. 11:1
And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's.