No Offense
God's grace and peace be with you today.
Having just addressed Christian freedom and how our freedom is not to be used to do anything we want, but the live is God's people in this world not giving offence to other people, Paul now addresses his reason.
New line here what he says to us; Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God; just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
In the closing verses of this chapter Paul speaks of our purpose for life in this world. So many people believe the goal in life is to achieve as much as you can, experience as much fun as possible, and obtain as many toys as is humanly possible. In other words, the goal of life is to live for yourself having as much fun and experiencing as much joy as possible. Paul turns this focus for life on its head.
Paul's focus for his life was to live serving the cause of Christ in all that he did. He says, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. The issue is not what you are doing but why you were doing it. Are you living for yourself or are you living for God? Are you seeking to please yourself or are you seeking to please God? Is it for your own vain glory, or for the glory of God?
Can you imagine attempting to live in that 1st century society where on the one hand the Jews lived by a strict set of laws and standards which addressed everything from the clothes they wore to the food they ate and among the Gentiles who basically believed anything goes, and not offending anyone!
The more challenging issue is how Paul ends his statement. Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God. Paul had dealt with this situation with regard to attempting to adapt what you will and will not do based on who you are with at any given moment. He determined it was hypocrisy. He confronted Peter and the danger of playing at the game of religion.
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:11-14)
What was the end result of Peter’s actions? He says, even Barnabas was led astray. What greater damage can a person do than to lead faithful Christians astray? To give offense to the Church is to compromise the Gospel of Grace and turn the Church into an institution of the Law.
Instead of living for the self-indulgent pleasures which life in this world offers, Paul understood his calling to give all they he was for the cause of Christ. To make it the goal of his life to save as many sinners as possible. He said it this way, just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved. The Kingdom of God and the eternal salvation of the people of this world, regardless of who they are, was the focus of Paul’s life.
Maybe that is where the problem lies today. There is no urgency for salvation, so there is no concept of giving an offense unless of course you are actually willing to address sin! The church of Jesus Christ today has compromised the truth thinking this would be the way to offend no one. But in actuality what is sacrificed is the salvation of those who are trapped in sin and who now have no understanding of the righteousness of Christ and forgiveness in His name. Paul’s goal in life was that the lost would be saved, not that they would be made to feel secure in their sinfulness.
Paul held the Apostle Peter accountable and called on him to be consistent with the truth of the Gospel regardless of who he was keeping company with on any given day. This is the calling we have for our lives. Set aside the idea of comfort and ease. Get off your high horse, believing the world revolves around you. Humble yourself before Christ and find your assurance and your meaning for life in what God has done for you. Let the Gospel be the focus of your life and the goal for which you exist every day.
The truth is that each of us is simply to be the avenue through which Jesus is able to touch people’s lives and then impact them with the Gospel. Each of us will either be an open avenue or a roadblock to what Jesus desires to do. May we all learn to find joy in living for others and for the glory of God.
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
Having just addressed Christian freedom and how our freedom is not to be used to do anything we want, but the live is God's people in this world not giving offence to other people, Paul now addresses his reason.
New line here what he says to us; Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God; just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
In the closing verses of this chapter Paul speaks of our purpose for life in this world. So many people believe the goal in life is to achieve as much as you can, experience as much fun as possible, and obtain as many toys as is humanly possible. In other words, the goal of life is to live for yourself having as much fun and experiencing as much joy as possible. Paul turns this focus for life on its head.
Paul's focus for his life was to live serving the cause of Christ in all that he did. He says, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. The issue is not what you are doing but why you were doing it. Are you living for yourself or are you living for God? Are you seeking to please yourself or are you seeking to please God? Is it for your own vain glory, or for the glory of God?
Can you imagine attempting to live in that 1st century society where on the one hand the Jews lived by a strict set of laws and standards which addressed everything from the clothes they wore to the food they ate and among the Gentiles who basically believed anything goes, and not offending anyone!
The more challenging issue is how Paul ends his statement. Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God. Paul had dealt with this situation with regard to attempting to adapt what you will and will not do based on who you are with at any given moment. He determined it was hypocrisy. He confronted Peter and the danger of playing at the game of religion.
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:11-14)
What was the end result of Peter’s actions? He says, even Barnabas was led astray. What greater damage can a person do than to lead faithful Christians astray? To give offense to the Church is to compromise the Gospel of Grace and turn the Church into an institution of the Law.
Instead of living for the self-indulgent pleasures which life in this world offers, Paul understood his calling to give all they he was for the cause of Christ. To make it the goal of his life to save as many sinners as possible. He said it this way, just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved. The Kingdom of God and the eternal salvation of the people of this world, regardless of who they are, was the focus of Paul’s life.
Maybe that is where the problem lies today. There is no urgency for salvation, so there is no concept of giving an offense unless of course you are actually willing to address sin! The church of Jesus Christ today has compromised the truth thinking this would be the way to offend no one. But in actuality what is sacrificed is the salvation of those who are trapped in sin and who now have no understanding of the righteousness of Christ and forgiveness in His name. Paul’s goal in life was that the lost would be saved, not that they would be made to feel secure in their sinfulness.
Paul held the Apostle Peter accountable and called on him to be consistent with the truth of the Gospel regardless of who he was keeping company with on any given day. This is the calling we have for our lives. Set aside the idea of comfort and ease. Get off your high horse, believing the world revolves around you. Humble yourself before Christ and find your assurance and your meaning for life in what God has done for you. Let the Gospel be the focus of your life and the goal for which you exist every day.
The truth is that each of us is simply to be the avenue through which Jesus is able to touch people’s lives and then impact them with the Gospel. Each of us will either be an open avenue or a roadblock to what Jesus desires to do. May we all learn to find joy in living for others and for the glory of God.
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
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