BIG IDEA:
MEMBERS OF THE ONE BODY OF CHRIST CAN HAVE NO ASSOCIATION WITH IDOLATRY (FALSE RELIGION)
INTRODUCTION:
Paul continues his general discussion about the propriety of believers eating meats offered to idols. This was the subject introduced back in 8:1 “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols.” The context in this paragraph (10:14-21) relates to participation or at the least association with the culture of false, man-made worship. Instead of actively confronting the evil and the contradictions to biblical truth and practice, the individual adopts a very careless and ecumenical spirit of indifference towards the upholding of truth regarding the One True God. Christianity is a narrow, exclusivistic approach to the worship of God. We need Paul’s strong admonition here to “Flee from idolatry.” Once we understand the danger of the demonic activity behind false religions and the jealousy we will provoke from a holy and powerful God we should act sensibly in this area.
I. (:14-15) THE COMMAND – PADDLE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION –KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM FALSE RELIGIONS
Picture getting sucked into the fast-flowing current and tumbling over a waterfall
A. (:14) Separation from Idolatry Must be a Top Priority
1. Separation from Idolatry is Essential to our Faith and our Testimony
“Therefore” — connective to previous sections in chaps. 9-10
a. Connection to our own endurance in the faith
b. Connection to our testimony to win many to Christ
2. Separation from Idolatry Presupposes a Loving Family Connection within the Body of Christ
“my beloved”
Hodge: Paul addresses them in terms of affection, although his epistle is so full of serious admonition and warning.
3. Separation from Idolatry Involves Immediate and Drastic Action
“flee from idolatry”
a. Must be able to Identify False Religions
b. Must Respond Aggressively and Urgently
B. (:15) Separation from Idolatry Should Make Sense to Believers
1. Separation from Idolatry is the Path of Wisdom
“I speak as to wise men”
This issue is not an easy one; not for the immature; requires great wisdom to sort out how to conduct oneself
2. Separation from Idolatry is the Path of Discernment
“you judge what I say.”
Where are the people of discernment today? Believers are so easily duped. Have we developed our critical thinking skills under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Lenski: The questions which Paul now asks bring out the vital facts. All of them are plain, and all of them are undisputed. On the basis of these Paul wants the Corinthians to make a definite decision on their own account. Sensible Christian people will not only at once give the self-evident answers to these questions but will also perceive the force of these answers as far as conduct is concerned.
II. (:16-21) THE CONTRAST — UNDERSTAND THAT PARTICIPATION INVOLVES IDENTIFICATION
A. (:16-18) Positive Example of Identification with the True God
1. (:16-17) NT Example – Centering around the Lord’s Supper
a. Sharing in the Blood of Christ
“Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ?”
b. Sharing in the Body of Christ
“Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?”
c. Unity in One Body
“Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.”
2. (:18) OT Example – Centering around the sacrifices
“Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?”
B. (:19-21) Negative Example of Identification with the Demons Behind False Religions
1. (:19) Don’t Miss the Point of the Contrast – Not talking about Inanimate Objects
“What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?”
2. (:20) Participation in False Religion Involves Identification with the Demons Behind the Idols – Talking about very real and very powerful evil spirits
“No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.”
Rugh: “Gentiles” not in the earlier texts
Piper: So here is the key word again: sharers. What does it mean? Again it does not mean that we eat demons when we eat meat offered to idols. It means that we get entangled in their power. We submit to them. We become vulnerable to them. We enter into some kind of fellowship. We affirm them in some way and give them leeway in our lives.
3. (:21) Identification with the Lord is Mutually Exclusive from Idolatry
a. The Cup of the Lord vs. the Cup of Demons
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons”
b. The Table of the Lord vs the Table of Demons
“You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”
III. (:22) THE CAVEAT – PROVOKING GOD WOULD BE A SERIOUS MISTAKE — FEAR THE JEALOUS, OMNIPOTENT GOD
Very solemn warning – Don’t mess with God – He is extremely jealous and powerful
A. Don’t Mess with a God Who is Extremely Jealous
“Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?”
B. Don’t Mess with a God Who is Extremely Powerful
“We are not stronger than He, are we?”