The Blue Church

The Christian and God: Worship vs. Idolatry    1 Corinthians 10:1-–11:1    When God says that He is a “jealous God,” He is not confessing a flaw or telling us how bad He feels when we ignore Him. He is reminding us that since He is the highest and greatest Good and Glory, anything or anyone who usurps Him as our greatest delight is an idol which devalues Him and makes us idolaters. God has revealed Himself in Creation, leaving us without excuse for not loving and worshiping Him (Romans 1). But the Bible reveals Him in greater detail to be loving and forgiving and righteous beyond compare, not only in Jesus and His death for sinners, but all that led up to Jesus. So what we call the Old Testament is the record written for us, to demonstrate the joys of loving Him and the dangers of loving other things or people more. Heaven and Hell are at stake. What or whom we worship matters, now and forever.

The Christian and Others: Learning vs. Loving 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Some find chapters 8-10 a little hard to follow, but if considered together, we see they are about one thing: Idolatry, in general, and in particular, whether or not to eat meat which had been sacrificed in pagan temples. In chapter eight, Paul explains that even though to a thoroughly knowledgeable believer, an idol is nothing, others (new Christians) have not quite processed that thought. What about them? Then, in chapter nine, Paul uses himself as an example. Even though as an apostle, he is “free” on many levels, he voluntarily gives up those rights for the gospel, so that people will be saved. Chapter ten ties it all together, warning the arrogant, assuring the weak, and giving practical examples which show that we must do all things, even mundane eating and drinking, to the glory of God in the salvation of sinners. He concludes the section in 11:1 with, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” It’s all back to Jesus.

Passion, Purity, and Purpose --        What is it to be human? Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.” The first thing God says about us is that we are His, the second, that we exist as His image-bearers, and the third, that each of us is either male or female. It is as male and female that we are stewards of creation, and can “be fruitful and multiply.” Our sexuality, then, is not social construct, but creation order, not a burden, but a blessing, not a choice, but a destiny. No wonder that some of our greatest temptations come in this area, from Satan, society, and our own sin nature. Paul does not use the “Just say ‘No!’” approach, but as explains that our passion and purity are tied to God’s purposes for us: We are His possession, called to His holiness, and graced with His presence.