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Expediency - Law - EdificationThe Believer's Liberty (and Agape)Bishop H. Ransom Jr. - Life Enrichment Bible Study

1 Cor. 10: 23 - 33The Believer's Freedom

First Some Definition...

'All' Things

Lawful

Expediency

Edification

All things.....

Colosians 1:16 - Jesus created 'all things'

John 1: 3 - All things. Nothing excluded

1 Cor. 10:23 - All things, (with in the context)

Point - Paul was never saying that Christians can have a free-for- all.

Not everything in human nature is permitted by 'law' for Christians

Eph. 4: 28 - greed, fornication, impurity

Col. 3:9 - lying

Eph. 5:3 - All sin

1 John 3:4 - various sins, breaking laws

Paul's 'All Things'1) Not against the law2) Indulgences - take or leave3) Does not cause harm to others

Expediency

an advantage, profitable,

does not impede the work of Christ

(not just convenient)

Edification

Literally to build a house

1 Thes. 5:11

1 Cor. 8:9

It is clear that Paul would never endorse behavior that would 'tear down' a brother or sister in Christ

Lawful

conformable to law, constituted or established by law

The Law of Christ

The Law of the Land

The Law of the House

Laws of nature ... etc.

The Corinthian ContextA large metropolis.

Heathen temples and idol worship

Animals were sacrificed

The 'church' had a lot of 'ex-heathens' in it

The meat of idols argument produced two issues

1) People who didn't and judged others (Judaizers)

2) People who DID and didn't care about others

Paul was asked to help

2 Cor. 11:13

1 Tim. 4:4

1 Cor. 6: 12-20

1 Cor. 10: 25-26

Psa. 24:1

James 2:8 -10 'Royal Law'

Where the Freedom Ends

Rom. 14:7

1 Cor. 8: 8-10

Is it expedient? - What is the advantage?

Does it edify? - Who is being built up by this?

Is it against the LAW (s)? - It is illegal. Is it immoral?

Does it cause confusion, harm?