1 Corinthians 10:14

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body. For we are partakers of that one bread.

Behold, Israel after the flesh, the nation of Israel, are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of that altar? What say I then? That an idol is anything? Or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, to demons, and not to God. And I would not that you should have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and of the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Father, as we just sang that You are exalted, Lord, we know that You are the King of kings and Lord of lords, the creator of all things seen and unseen, the Alpha, the Omega, the first and the last, the one who was and is and is to come. You are the great and almighty God. You are enthroned in heaven, and nothing, no one, no thing should ever occupy that throne but You.

Lord, there are so many things that can distract us in our lives that we can exalt, that we can allow to be enthroned in our own hearts.

They take a place that ought only to be for You. Lord, although Your word at times is a rebuke and convicting, certainly there are times when we need that. We need You to reveal if there is anything that has taken the place in our lives that only You should hold. So, God, we pray that You would do that. By Your word and the power of Your Spirit, reveal to us today if there is anything that is hindering us. Lord, speak to us from Your word. We thank You that You desire fellowship with us and communion with Your people. We want nothing to hinder that. We come before You today asking that You would speak, for we ask this in Jesus' name. All God's people agreed, saying, Amen. You can be seated.

I have to confess that as I've been studying through the passage before us this week and really going through the whole of the book of Corinthians, I found that it has been somewhat of a difficult study for me. Not that the passages are too overwhelming or difficult, but the messages that the Lord seems to be bringing out from these passages are kind of heavy—a bit of a rebuke, that discipline. There is a part of me that would honestly like to bring a message that is a little more humorous and happy, yet it's just not 1 Corinthians.

I was even telling Andrea, my wife, last night that sometimes it feels like teaching the book of Corinthians is like one of those days where you feel like all you've done all day long is discipline your kids, and you're just hoping that they still like you by the end of the day. It has been a little more difficult, especially as I've been studying through this passage this last week and meditating upon chapter 10.

Now, I'm certainly not desirous of just being liked. I realize that God wants to speak to us, and our aim is not just that we would be popular. We want to hear from the Lord; we want Him to speak to us. So, I'm just asking that you would be open to the word of the Lord as He speaks from this passage today. The message before us is a heavy one, but you've probably noticed that most of what we've been seeing in the book of Corinthians has been rather heavy.

But I think it's important to recognize that Paul's opening words here in verse 14 are written like the words of exhortation from a father who loves his children and is instructing them. "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." You can't help but read that and sense the emotion in Paul as he writes these things to the church at Corinth, the church that he had founded. Now, he is some distance from them, in the city of Ephesus, as he writes this plea. He had heard of what had become of the church he had planted, and he was moved with compassion to urge them to return to a walk in Christ that would lead them to a place of greater fruitfulness and true joy.

There were certain things hindering them from experiencing what God really desired for them. They were being kept back from truly experiencing the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, kindness, and gentleness. These were the qualities lacking in the church in Corinth. Paul's impassioned plea is that they would return to a place where they could genuinely experience that great blessing. In doing so, they would have to flee from certain things, and here he specifically mentions the need to flee from idolatry.

The same Greek word that is translated as "flee" in chapter 10 was used at the beginning of this section in chapter 6. In 1 Corinthians 6:18, Paul said to flee from immorality and fornication. Throughout chapters 6, 7, and now into 8, 9, and 10, Paul has been addressing these two primary subjects: the issues of immorality and idolatry. When you look at the landscape of the city of Corinth, it was a city completely given to immorality and idolatry. Therefore, it could be rightly said that the church of 1 Corinthians could be called 1 Californians.

As we examine the landscape of our own culture today, we see that the issues of immorality and idolatry dominate our society. When we think of idolatry, our minds typically go to images carved out of precious metals, wood, or stone. However, idolatry is all around us in the 21st century here in California. Thus, the dominating problem in Corinth was that of immorality and idolatry.

In chapters 6 and 7, Paul addressed the issue of idolatry and the liberties that the church in Corinth had taken for themselves. In chapters 8, 9, and 10, he continues to speak on this matter. The word "flee" literally means to seek safety by flight, to run away until you are safe. This concept is most clearly illustrated in the book of Genesis.

You may remember the story of Joseph, how his brothers, the sons of Jacob, sold him into slavery. He ended up as a slave in Potiphar's house in Egypt. Potiphar's wife had eyes for Joseph and repeatedly tried to entice him into an illicit relationship. At one point, she took hold of his cloak and said, "Lie with me." Joseph let it go and fled. This is the perfect picture of fleeing, running away from the opportunity to sin.

The Corinthians had allowed themselves liberties in two principal areas: immorality and idolatry. These liberties were not helpful or constructive to their personal lives or to the church as a whole, leading to division within the church. Sadly, some of the liberties they had taken were a misinterpretation and misapplication of Paul's previous teaching. Paul had taught them that there was liberty in Christ and that they had been set free.

In chapter 6, he discussed this liberty, and again in the passage before us today, in verse 23, he speaks of that liberty. "All things are lawful." Chapter 6, verse 12, stated the same thing. They had taken this idea of all things being lawful to the point of indulging in immorality and idolatry, which stemmed from the teaching of grace.

The reality is that the teaching of grace, as revealed in the New Testament, is considered by some to be a dangerous doctrine. There are certainly dangers in teaching people that they have received the grace of God and have been set free. Some misinterpret and misapply the grace of God, allowing themselves to continue in carnality and sin.

Paul wrote to the church in Rome in Romans chapter 6, verse 1, asking, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" Some people take the liberty that we have in Christ and misuse it.

The grace that we receive from God is meant to be fulfilled in our lives. We can continue in sin, and God's grace will abound, but Paul says, "God forbid." How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer in it? In verse 15, he asks, "What then? Shall we sin because we're no longer under the law but under grace?" Again, he responds, "God forbid." Twice in that chapter, Paul emphasizes that this should never be the result.

This means that if you meet a person who claims to be a Christian yet lives in carnality, making a defense for their behavior by saying, "Hey, I have grace. I have liberty in Christ," that person has misapplied and misinterpreted the grace of God. They do not understand what the grace of God truly means. The exhortation to use our liberty properly is given multiple times throughout the New Testament, not just by the Apostle Paul but by several others as well.

In Galatians chapter 5, Paul states in verse 13, "For brethren, you have been called unto liberty." God has called us to be set free, but he goes on to say, "Only use not your liberty as an occasion for the flesh." He adds something interesting that Peter essentially echoes. Paul says, "But by love, serve one another." On the surface, this seems paradoxical. God says, "I have set you free from slavery, and now I've called you to be a slave." This can be confusing. He has set us free from a slavery that we had no choice in—the slavery to sin—and now He calls us to be servants by choice, bondservants of Christ.

In between being set free and becoming a servant to Christ, there is the opportunity for people to stray into sin, thinking they are allowed to do so. However, they ultimately find themselves ensnared and enslaved once again. God has called us to liberty, but we are to use that liberty to serve Him.

Peter expresses a similar sentiment in 1 Peter 2, verse 16. He says, "As free, church, you are free, and do not use your liberty as a cloak for maliciousness, but as the servants of God." We are to use our liberty to become servants of God. It is the ungodly who turn the grace of God into an opportunity to sin, and by their actions, they reveal their denial.

Of the very Lord whom they claim to follow, in the book of Jude, that one-chapter book before Revelation, Jude, the brother of the Lord, says in verse 4, "For there are certain men who crept in unaware. They've crept into the church, who were before ordained, who were of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men." Notice what classifies them as ungodly men: turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, turning the grace of God into a license to sin.

Paul says to the church at Corinth, "You're not to use your liberty to involve yourself in immorality or in idolatry. You're to flee immorality" (Chapter 6). "You're to flee idolatry" (Chapter 10). Then he says something interesting in verse 15: "I speak as unto wise men. So you judge what I have to say." This is now the fourth jab that Paul takes at the wisdom of the Corinthians because they boasted that they were very wise. They boasted that they were knowledgeable, intelligent, tolerant, gracious, and loving. They boasted in all these things and even began to look down upon the Apostle Paul because he didn't speak as well as he wrote.

Apparently, when he came to the Corinthians, his speech was stammering, and he just was not a powerful speaker among them. That doesn't mean he was never a powerful speaker, but he was speaking in a language that was not his home language. Here he is, just not a powerful speaker among them, but he wrote in such a way that they began to question. It seemed strange that he wrote his words differently than he spoke. They boasted in their wisdom over Paul, and he said, "Well, okay, if you're so wise, then I want you to judge what I have to say."

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread." Behold, Israel after the flesh, are they not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

When Paul founded the church at Corinth, he delivered to the believers there that which he received from the Lord regarding the institution of communion. We will see that when we get to 1 Corinthians chapter 11 in about nine weeks. There in verse 23...

He says, "For I delivered unto you that which I received of the Lord, that the Lord Jesus, on the night that he was betrayed, took bread and broke it. When he gave it to his disciples, he said, 'Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'

In the same way, after supper, he took a cup. He said, 'Take, drink this, all of you. This is my blood. This is the blood of the new covenant. This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.' As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Paul received this by revelation from the Lord Jesus and delivered it to the church. After he did, the church at Corinth continued to partake of what we might call that sacrament.

It was an identifying characteristic of that group of people in Corinth. It was something that they uniquely did that nobody else did: the partaking of the bread and the cup in remembrance of the Lord. There were other false gods worshipped in Corinth and other feasts that the people would partake of in the worship of these false gods, but this set the church apart. This made them different. The act of that meal was unique to the body of Christ and was a sign of the unity of the fellowship they had in Him.

They, being many individuals, all partook of a common cup. They all partook of that same loaf of bread together. By doing so, they both remembered and declared at the same time that they were united together to Christ and to one another in the body of Christ. They were one flesh, one body. He reminds them that they are one because of this. They have been united together in Christ. It's not just about eating the bread or drinking the cup, but in Christ. He is the one they remember; He is the one who has made them one who were formerly not one.

He then reminds them of the nation of Israel in much the same way. The people of Israel were united to the altar by the sacrifice they would bring, by partaking of that which they sacrificed. When an individual would bring a sacrifice to the temple, whether it was a bull or a goat or whatever it may be, that sacrifice would be killed, and the blood would be shed. A portion of the meat would be burned on the altar to God, a portion would be given to the Levites, the priests, and the rest would be taken by the one offering the sacrifice. In partaking of it, they were all united together in a sense. They all ate of the same food. They all ate.

Of the same meat, they are united together as one. There is a oneness, a fellowship, and this communion. Paul uses the Greek word "koinonia," which is brought about through the partaking of these things: that which came from the Lord's table, the bread and the cup, and before that, that which came from the altar of the Lord.

One is representative of the old covenant, the altar, while the other is representative of the new covenant, the table of the Lord. The altar was brought about by the law and a sacrifice offered by individuals, while the table of the Lord was brought about by grace and the sacrifice of the Lord God on our behalf. One is consumed under legal obligation in the law, the altar; the other is shared openly to all who would receive it, to any who would come to the Lord's table. The way is open.

Now, this table of the new covenant that Paul speaks of here in this passage is not, however, the only table. There are many other tables that people can dine at, many other places where they can be united in fellowship together in this world. There are many other temples, so to speak, that people can go to. Paul reminds them of this in verse 19 when he says, "What say I then? That an idol is anything? Or that which is offered in sacrifices to idols is anything?" No, those things are nothing. Back in chapter 8, Paul established that an idol is nothing, and he made the case that food sacrificed to an idol is just no big deal.

However, I say to you that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I would not have you have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and of the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.

The word "fellowship" that Paul uses in verse 20, where he says that he desires you not to have fellowship with demons, is the exact same Greek word, "koinonia," that is translated as fellowship or communion in verse 16. There, Paul says that in the cup, we are communing, we are fellowshipping with the Lord and with one another. In the bread, we are fellowshipping, we are communing with one another. Then he says you should not fellowship or commune with demons.

An idol in and of itself is nothing. That which is sacrificed to the idol and sold inexpensively in the markets of Corinth, Paul said, is nothing, as stated in chapter 8. In the city of Corinth, there are many different places to worship idols. People would bring their offerings, such as a bull or a goat, and it would be sacrificed. A portion of it would be offered to that god, and then a portion would be given to the priests in those temples. They would have so much meat that the priests would sell it in the open marketplace, the agora, in Corinth, and it would be sold at a lesser value. It was more inexpensive, like the Walmart of Corinth.

Everybody was looking for a good deal. It was cheaper to go and buy the meat that was offered as a sacrifice to an idol. Paul tells us in chapter 8 that it doesn't matter; there is nothing real in this idol. The idol is fake, so the meat sacrificed to it is not contaminated. There is nothing wrong with it. If you don't have a conscience problem with it, you can go and buy it. You can shop at Walmart if you don't have a problem with it. However, there were some who did have a problem with it.

There was also a false teaching among the Gentiles of the day that there were demons everywhere, and they would attach themselves to food. When you would eat that food, these demons would get inside of you. This was a scary thought for many people. They feared that a demon might come inside them by eating this meat. To deal with this fear, they would offer the meat as a sacrifice to an idol, believing it would then be clean. Not only was it cheaper, but it was also considered "clean beef."

There were Christians in the church who knew that idols were nothing and that these demons did not exist. They thought, "Hey, if anyone likes a good deal, we'll buy it." Paul reiterates that an idol in and of itself is nothing and that which was offered to an idol is no big deal, so you can buy it more inexpensively.

However, Paul makes it clear that the idolatry that the Gentiles of Corinth were involved in when they offered the sacrifices was something significant. The idol itself, the image to which they offered it, is just a piece of gold, silver, or rock. As the psalmist said, the idols of the gods of this world are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have eyes but do not see, mouths but do not speak, noses but do not smell, hands but do not handle, and feet but do not walk. They are deaf.

The psalmist says that those who worship idols are like them; they become deaf, dumb, and blind too. It is complete stupidity and foolishness. Idolatry is foolishness. In Isaiah chapters 40 through 46, God repeatedly tells the people that idolatry is foolish. He illustrates how foolish it is for a man to go out into the woods to look for a tree. Of course, he must find a strong tree; he doesn't want some soft cork or something like that. He needs to find a stout, strong tree, so he cuts it down.

While cutting down the tree, he becomes tired because it is hard work. Once he has cut the tree down, he decides to take a little bit of it and burn it in a fire. As he kindles that fire and warms himself by it, he realizes he is hungry, so he cooks a meal on that fire. After partaking of that meal, he thanks the fire for feeding him and making him warm. How foolish is this? An idol is nothing. However, the idolatry and that which is behind it is a problem. The idols themselves are not demons, but that which is behind them is demonic.

Paul did not want the Corinthian Christians to have anything to do with idolatry. He urged them not to be a part of it in any way, especially not to participate in the practices that took place in the temples of Corinth. Yet, they were taking liberties, claiming it was acceptable to be part of this idolatrous culture. By participating in the idolatrous practices of the Corinthians, they were joining themselves in fellowship and communion with those temples and the demonic entities behind them.

Paul emphasizes that if the food eaten from the Lord's altar in the Old Covenant and the food eaten from the Lord's table in the New Covenant means something, then certainly the food eaten at the temples in worship of these false gods means something as well. He states that they cannot drink or partake. Notice that Paul does not say they should not; he does not suggest that it would be better if they refrained. He says they cannot. It is emphatic. It is an impossibility for an individual to both fellowship with God and fellowship with demons through idolatry. It is an impossibility.

Remember the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter 6, verse 24: "No man can serve two masters." For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. In this passage, mammon refers to wealth, one of the gods associated with materialism. However, if you want to take this a little deeper, Jesus is simply saying that you cannot serve God and idols. You cannot be involved in the practice of idolatry and serve God while being pleasing to Him.

Paul makes a very clear distinction regarding eating meat that was sacrificed to an idol. In and of itself, that act is not idolatry, but involving yourself in the practices that take place at the temple is. You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and of the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.

Last week, in the first 13 verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 10, we considered the danger of presumptuousness. Some might say, "I'm a part of the church, I'm elect, and so I'm safe. I can indulge in the things of this world because I have liberty." We recognize that it is very dangerous to walk in that position of presumptuousness, presuming upon the grace of God. Some might think, "Well, God is gracious, and I went to church on Sunday, so that will cleanse the rest of my week. If I'm involved in all these other things the rest of the week, it's okay." This is presumptuousness.

Now, in these verses, starting from verse 14 and onward, we look at the danger of compromise. There are certain things that are non-negotiable for the Christian. There are certain things that we cannot do and cannot compromise in these areas. There is a difference between cultural issues and things that are scripturally wrong. Cultural differences may include tattoos, piercings, foods, and musical styles. However, there are things that are scripturally wrong, such as idolatry and immorality.

This was a cultural issue in Corinth. Everywhere you turned, the place was filled with temples and idols, and bowing down to these things was common. Immorality was rampant. People would go to Corinth to experience the idolatry and immorality of the place; it was like the ancient world's Las Vegas.

In Corinth, as I've said before, what happens in Corinth stays in Corinth. It was a cultural sort of thing; it was culturally accepted to be involved in idolatry and to engage in immorality through the harlots of the city. However, while it was culturally accepted, it was scripturally wrong. Therefore, it is a misapplication of the liberty of Christ to indulge in these things. Liberty quickly becomes licentiousness when it lays hold of that which is scripturally forbidden.

Some in Corinth adopted the mindset that since Paul had told them that meat sacrificed to an idol is okay, it shouldn't matter if they partake of it at the temple and engage in temple practices. They reasoned that the idol is nothing, the food is okay, so it should be fine. Similarly, there were those who wrongly thought they could involve themselves in the harlotry of Corinth because Paul taught that sex is good. Of course, Paul taught that within the context of marriage, it is good and okay. However, they extrapolated this to mean that since sex is okay, they could involve themselves with the harlots in Corinth. No, it is scripturally forbidden; it is not permissible.

Paul's exhortation is that they flee the temples and get away from these idolatrous practices. They should not compromise in any way because it is not possible for Christians to both fellowship with the Lord and His body while simultaneously fellowshipping with the demonic entities behind these idols.

In our day, one can scripturally argue that simply partaking of alcohol is not, in and of itself, a sin. The Scriptures very clearly lay that out for us. Ephesians chapter 5 says, "Do not be drunk with wine, which is excess." When you move into the area of excess and drunkenness, then you have sinned. However, to say that it is a sin to drink wine or to drink alcohol is not necessarily true, according to Paul. But it would be a gross compromise to extrapolate that and say that drinking alcohol is not a sin; therefore, it shouldn't be a concern.

No matter where I drink, I guess I can go down to Pounders or maybe one of the gentlemen's clubs, as they are called, because drinking is okay. So, wherever it's done is alright. No, that's a gross misinterpretation of it. The meat that was sacrificed to these idols was not sin, but that which took place where it was sacrificed was. The drink itself may not be sin, but you'd be hard-pressed to argue that you're right in the center of God's will as you're pounding another one back at Pounders. It's just impossible; it's an incongruity. It does not fit with Christianity.

You may be able to scripturally argue that it's okay and that you have the liberty to get a tattoo or some form of piercing. In our culture today, the younger generation sees it as just not that big a deal. However, there are certain aspects of the scene behind all of that that are very seriously involved in things that are outright against the Scriptures, such as immorality and idolatry. Your involvement in that scene would therefore be unacceptable.

There are people in our church who have tattoos; they get tattoos. I don't see any scriptural basis in the New Testament that says you cannot do that. There are, however, certain things behind the scenes that we shouldn't be involved with. Even Pastor Mark doesn't have a problem with that; he has a couple of tattoos. I'm serious, he does.

You may argue your right to listen to certain forms of music, certain styles of music, and I probably wouldn't put up a fight. I wouldn't argue with it. Sure, fine, you can listen to that form of music. But involving yourself in what is practiced at the concerts of some of these bands, we would recognize that there is some immorality and idolatry behind the scenes. Sometimes, there are even issues of demonic influence.

There is liberty in Christ, but there are things that we have to recognize. There are areas where we are moving into sin. So, if you find yourself defending your actions, saying, "Hey, I'm a Christian. I go to church. I partake of communion. I give. God sanctified me; therefore, it's okay for me to be a part of this environment," be careful.

What did we see last week in verse 12? "Wherefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." Such a place is not a place for a Christian. Remember the words of Jesus to the church at Laodicea in Revelation chapter 3. Turn in your Bible to the last book of the Bible. You can turn to Revelation like you're an authority on Scripture.

Revelation chapter 3. Perhaps the most famous verse in this passage is verse 20, where Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Another verse that you've probably read before, or at least heard before, is in Revelation 3, verse 16. Jesus says to the church at Laodicea, "So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth."

Now, that's a picture, isn't it? That's an image of Jesus saying, "I will spew you out of my mouth." The Laodiceans were compromised; they were neither hot nor cold. They were in the middle of this world, with one foot in the world and one foot in the church. Jesus Himself says, "You are in very real danger. You're neither hot nor cold. Since you're lukewarm, I will spew you out of my mouth."

I don't know where we ever came up with the idea that someone could be a "lukewarm Christian." Obviously, it's taken from this passage, but I just have a hard time understanding how we can honestly label someone a lukewarm Christian. It is inconsistent to be both lukewarm and Christ-like. It's not possible to be involved in the fellowship of the church and be in the world, partaking of the things of this world wholeheartedly, and at the same time be pleasing to God.

Who can honestly argue that when Jesus says in verse 17 that you are "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked," this is descriptive of someone who's pleasing to God or Christ-like? Jesus Himself looks at them and says, "You're wretched, you're miserable, you're poor, blind, and naked." Yes, that's the description of a Christ-like follower of Jesus.

If you're compromised, know that Jesus is not a part of it. What do we see in verse 20 of the same passage? Behold, I stand at the door and knock. He is not at your table; you are not at His table. He's outside of that. He will not be a part of it.

Now, He gives grace, doesn't He? Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears My voice and opens, I will come in to him and will sup with him at My table. If you open up, I will come in, but I'm standing at the door and knocking. It's an interesting concept. I'm standing at the door and knocking. If you open unto Me, then you'll come in unto Me and sup because you're in My house. That's My house. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and you've closed Me out.

To him that overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, even as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit has to say to the churches.

Paul, in 2 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 14, says, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers." Most of the time, people take that and use that verse in relation to marriage. It's not speaking about marriage. Sure, we can apply it to marriage, but it's not primarily about that. Paul says to the church, "Don't be unequally yoked together with unbelievers."

For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? What communion, the Greek word "koinonia," has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? What part has a believer with an infidel? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

Wherefore, because of this, come out from among them and be separate. Paul uses six different Greek words to say to the church at Corinth: do not be yoked with, do not fellowship with, do not commune with, do not have accord with, do not have part in, do not have agreement with idolatry. Don't be a part of it. Could he get any more emphatic? I don't think there's any way we could be more clear.

Well then, Paul lays the heavy one on us in chapter 10, verse 22: "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?" Idolatry strikes deep.

The heart and character of God are revealed in the first two commandments in the law. In Exodus chapter 20, we find the Ten Commandments. We read in verse 3, "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make unto yourself any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down yourself to them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God."

It is interesting to note that a number of years ago, Oprah Winfrey made the statement that she left the church when she heard her pastor describe God as a jealous God. She said that it didn't make any sense to her. If God is jealous of her, then He shouldn't be God. How could He possibly be jealous of her?

However, God is not jealous of Oprah Winfrey. He is not in heaven wishing He were the richest woman in the world. She completely missed the point. God is not jealous of us; He is jealous for us. He is for us and jealous for our devotion. Why? Because He is the only one who ought to be worshiped. He is the only one who has the authority to be enthroned. If we place anything else in that position, it is not right; it should not be there.

He is the only one to be worshiped. He who worships an idol declares by his actions that God is not all that He has revealed Himself to be, that He is not the true God, and that He is in some way lacking. Idolatry impugns the character of God and, therefore, provokes His rivalry. When we read that it provokes His jealousy, it also provokes His anger and His wrath.

When someone says, "I’m not going to worship the one true God, the only one who is worthy of worship, but I’m going to worship something created," are you prepared to defend yourself and that false god to which you have devoted yourself? Are you prepared to stand before the one true and almighty God and know for certain that your false god, because it is nothing, will not defend you on the day of Christ Jesus? Are you ready to stand before Him and say, "Well, you know, there’s a good reason why I have this thing"? Really consider what the Apostle James has to say.

James chapter 4, verse 4 says, "You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" You don't even need to turn there; you know these verses. They're planted in your heart. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Whoever, therefore, makes himself a friend of the world is the enemy of God—the enemy of God.

Then notice what James goes on to say: "Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain?" Do you think it's empty words when the Scripture says, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? I believe it's a rhetorical question that every single one of us would answer "no" to. But do you want to make yourself the enemy of God? The best way to do it is to play with the world and to live a compromised Christian existence.

I once had a Christian, or someone who claimed to be a Christian, tell me to my face, "I'm just a lukewarm Christian." If you're willingly going to live in that place, do not for a moment expect the abundant Christian life. Do not claim the lovely promises of God that we print on bookmarks and greeting cards; they are not for that person. Do not be upset when your prayers are hindered or go unanswered. If you're going to walk in compromise, do not wonder why, when your children grow up, they say, "I don't want to go to church because it's full of hypocrites." That's what you showed them.

Hypocrisy is idolatry. Idolatry is worshiping something other than the true God in the true way; that's clear, and we understand that. But idolatry is also believing in or placing confidence in anything other than the one true God revealed in the Scriptures. When a person says to you, after you have shared with them that you have sinned against God, that if you do not repent and receive refuge in Him...

Jesus Christ will send you to hell. When they say to you, "My God is a loving God; He would never send anyone to hell," they have created a God of their own making. It's an idol; it's not the God of the Scriptures. They put their confidence in something that is false. Idolatry is distrust of God. When we fail to believe and trust in Him for our protection and provision, we are still trusting in something, and most likely, we are trusting in ourselves.

You see, even the atheist believes in something; they believe in themselves. Worshiping the true God in the wrong way is idolatry. Unbiblical forms of worship can be seen in the example of Israel worshiping the golden calf in Exodus chapter 32. They worshiped in the name of the true God, but they worshiped in the wrong way. They came to Aaron when Moses was on Mount Sinai and said, "We want you to make us a God that we can worship, because as for this Moses, we don't know what happened to him." So, Aaron took their gold, fashioned it into a golden calf, and said, "This is the God that brought you up out of Egypt."

Worshiping angels, demons, heroes, ancestors—dead or alive—persons, possessions, power, and pleasure, all of it is idolatry. It may not be in the form of a little golden image or a silver image; it may not be a carved stone or a piece of wood, but it's still an idol. Christ is to be worshiped, not the likeness of Christ. John MacArthur said, "Idolatry does not begin with the sculptor's hammer; it begins in the worshipper's mind and heart."

Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 23, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify." Can you go to that concert? Can you be involved in the scene? Can you go into a bar and have a drink? I guess some might be able to make a scriptural case for this, but you have wisdom. You must judge: Is it building you up in Christ? Is it strengthening your walk and your character? Is it drawing you near to Him? Is it expedient? Is it edifying?

Do all as unto the glory of God, as Paul says in verse 30 and 31. Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Can you do it openly before the body of Christ and say, "Let God be glorified; I'm drunk"? It doesn't seem to fit.

Paul goes on to say, "Therefore let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." We should be seeking to build one another up, not just seeking our own pleasure. The church at Corinth was self-focused, seeking only their own interests. Paul says we need to seek that which would build up another.

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, in the open marketplaces where they would sell the meats that were sacrificed to idols, Paul says, "Whatsoever is sold out there, eat, asking no question for conscience sake, for the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast and you are disposed to go, whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. Paul says if you're out in the open marketplace and a non-believer, just your casual Gentile in Corinth, says, "Hey, come over to my house for dinner," and you feel disposed to go, then sure, go. Whatever is set before you, eat of it.

However, in verse 28, if any man says unto you when he calls you into his house and sets something before you, "This is offered in sacrifice unto idols," eat it not for the sake of him that showed it and for conscience sake. For the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.

What is Paul saying? He is saying that if you go to this person's house and they set food before you, and as they do, they say, "This was offered to an idol," Paul says, "Don't be partaker in their idolatry." You have the freedom to say, "No, I can't eat that." Why? Because you are separate; your God would say no, you shouldn't be involved in idolatry.

So, for their conscience sake and for the opportunity to witness to them, abstain. But then he reminds us again, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Conscience, I say, not thy own, but of the other. For why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if by grace I be a partaker, why am I?

Evil is often spoken of for that which I give thanks. Whether therefore you eat or drink, whatsoever you do, do it as unto the glory of God. Our lives should be lived in such a way that, with the liberty that Christ has given to us, we seek to bring glory to Him in every aspect of our lives.

Does that mean that we are never involved in or never partake of that which God has given to us in this world? No, not necessarily. Does that mean that we walk around like somber prudes and never enjoy that which God has given and blessed? No. He even said to Peter, "Rise, kill, and eat." Let me tell you, pork sounds pretty good. He didn't say that, but who doesn't like bacon?

We give none offense, so why are we doing all this? Give none offense neither to Jews nor to Gentiles, nor to unbelievers. Don't give an offense, nor to the church of God. Even as I please all men in all things, I do this not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. I am seeking an opportunity to witness for Christ and to glorify Him.

Now, the chapter distinction here between chapter 10 and 11 is not a good one because chapter 11, verse 1 goes with this passage. Paul calls to the church and says, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." Be imitators of me as I imitate Christ. That's a heavy statement. I endeavor in my life to live in such a way that I can point to my children, that I can point to the church, and I can say, "You want to know what it is to live as a Christian? Watch my life."

I seek to do that. Do I fail? Absolutely. And I'm sure Paul did too. But that was what he endeavored to do: to say to people, "You want to know what it looks like to be a Christian? Follow me." This is as much an encouragement as it is an exhortation to the church because I believe God wants every single one of us to live in such a way that we can say to this world, "You want to know what a Christian is? Look at my life."

Now, I want you to honestly ask yourself this question, because this is the thing I've been struggling with all week long: Can I honestly say to the world, "I'm a Christian. You want to know what it means to be a Christian? Watch me"? That's a heavy thing. And I'll tell you, if it hasn't before, it'll challenge you this week. It kept me up all night last night.

The coffee is ready. Let's stand and pray.

Lord, it is with humility that we even stand in Your presence right now. Father, we know that in and of ourselves, we are not worthy to come before You. What grace You have shown to us! We who were dead in trespasses and sins have been made alive and brought near to commune with the only wise God, the only true God, the King of kings. What an awesome reality that we can have fellowship with You!

Teach us what it means to walk in the light as You are in the light. God, work this out in our lives so that we can honestly say to our family members and friends around us, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." If you want to see an example of Christianity, watch me. Lord, work that out in us. Help us to understand what it means to love You and to love those in community with us.

If there is anything in our lives that needs to be stripped away, perhaps an area of immorality or idolatry, Father, Your Word makes it very clear that idolatry always tends toward immorality. We want to flee from that, and we recognize that we are powerless in and of ourselves. We have to walk in Your Spirit; we have to put off the old man. Lord, teach us how to do that. Convict us when we fail, and may the time between our failure and our confession be short.

Thank You for giving us Your grace and mercy. We who deserved wrath and punishment have had it set upon Your own Son. He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we would receive righteousness. Now, having been set free and given Your righteousness, help us to walk in a way that is glorifying to You, so that people in this world see our good works.

We glorify our Father who is in heaven. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Who are you? We ask for Your glory, Lord. We seek You so that we may find a solution to our beliefs and will. We ask for forgiveness, so that we may raise our voices. May our prayers be heard. We ask, do You remember what You have done and that You have paid the price for us?