Would you turn back to 1 Corinthians
chapter 8, and I'm going to read the whole chapter now before
I try to bring this message. The title of the message is Knowledge
or Charity. And you'll see why I entitled
it as I read this passage of scripture. 1 Corinthians chapter
8. Now as touching things offered unto idols, We know that we all
have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity
edifieth, or builds up. And if any man think that he
knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
But if any man love God, The same is known of him. This is
what God recognizes. As concerning, therefore, the
eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols,
we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there's none
other God but one. For though there be that are
called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there be gods
many and lords many, but to us there is but one God. the Father,
of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom are all things, and we by him. How be it? There's not in every man that
knowledge. For some with conscience of the
idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol,
and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But meat commendeth
us not to God for neither if we eat, are we the better? Neither
if we eat not, are we the worse, but take heed. Lest by any means, this liberty
of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. For if any man see thee, which
has knowledge set at meat in the idol's temple, shall not
the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those
things which are offered to idols. And through thy knowledge shall
thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died. But when you sin
so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, you sin
against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother
to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest
I make my brother to offend. Knowledge or charity. Paul says in verse one, Now as
touching things offered under aisles, we know that we all have
knowledge. Knowledge puffs up. It swells
one with pride, spiritual edema, as it were. But charity builds
up. Now one of the issues that was
brought up to Paul was whether or not it was okay to eat meat
that had been used for sacrifices to a pagan deity. They wanted
to know if it's acceptable to do that. They couldn't go to
Kroger's or Sam's like you and I to buy meat. They had to go
to a marketplace where really the only meat you could get was
meat that had been desecrated and used for idolatrous purposes,
sacrifice to false gods. And they were saying, is it okay
to eat that kind of meat? That seems wrong to eat something
that was used for such a desecrated, idolatrous purpose. So they present
this question to Paul. Is it okay for us to eat that
meat? And through that dilemma, we're
given this important teaching. in 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Now
as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have
knowledge. The knowledge he's speaking of
is what he stated in verse 4. As concerning, therefore, the
eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols,
we know. Here's what we know. We know
that an idol is nothing in the world. and there's none other
God but one. We know those idols that they're
sacrificing to are non-existent gods. We all know that, and that's
proper knowledge. That is not saving knowledge,
but you won't have salvation apart from this knowledge. And
he says regarding this, we all have this knowledge, and then
he makes this Unusual statement. Knowledge puffs up. Knowledge
swells one with pride. Charity builds up. It edifies. Now is he saying that knowledge
is unimportant? Of course not. There is no salvation
apart from the knowledge of the truth. If someone does not have
the knowledge of the truth, neither do they have salvation. Now I
can give so many scriptures that speak of this. The Lord said
with regard to his people, you shall know the truth. There's
an actual knowledge of what is called the truth, the actual
content of the gospel. And if somebody doesn't have
that knowledge, they're not saved. There is no
salvation apart from knowledge. Salvation itself and all that's
implied in that glorious word of God saving a sinner is described
in first Timothy chapter two verse four as God will have all
men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. There is no salvation. apart
from the knowledge of the truth. There's something called the
truth that has a definite content. And I love the way the Lord said,
I am the truth. That's the best way to summarize it. I am the
truth. And to not know the truth is
to not have salvation. Faith. Faith. Paul has spoken Titus 1.1 of,
listen to this, the faith of God's elect. I love that. All of God's elect, all of those
whom he chose before time began to be saved, have the same faith. They believe the same thing. I remember one time hearing one
of these contemporary religious songs and it said, we all believe,
but not the same thing. Wrong. We believe the same thing. It's
called the faith of God's elect, the acknowledging of the truth,
the full embracing of the truth, which is after godliness. That's
where it comes from. The Lord's done something for
that person. There's godliness there. The new birth, they acknowledge
and embrace the truth. Listen to this scripture from
2 Timothy 2.25. Speaking of repentance, what
is repentance? Well, here's Paul's definition
of repentance. If you want to know what repentance
is, he says in 2 Timothy 2.25, if God will peradventure, grant
them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. Now that's what
repentance is. It's a change of mind. and an
acknowledging of, an embracing of, the recognition of the truth. As it is in Christ Jesus, there
is no salvation apart from the knowledge of the truth. Listen
to this scripture. 2 Thessalonians 2 13 says, we're
bound to thank God always for you, brethren, beloved of the
Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you unto salvation
through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. What is the evidence of the sanctifying
work of God the Holy Spirit? Belief of the truth. What is
the cause of belief of the truth? The sanctifying work of God the
Holy Spirit. There is no salvation apart from
the truth. The gospel has a content. The
knowledge of the truth that if I personally don't have, I am
as yet unsaved. So don't devalue the truth, the
knowledge of the truth from what he says. There is no salvation
apart from the knowledge of the truth. That's what the Bible
teaches. So what does Paul mean when he
says we all have knowledge Knowledge puffs up, swells one
with pride, but charity builds up, it edifies. What does Paul
mean by knowledge puffing up? Well, turn with me to 1 Corinthians
chapter 13 for just a moment. Verse two, and though I have
the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
I can tell you what everything in the Bible means. And though I have all faith so
that I could remove mountains, I've got miracle working faith.
And have not charity, I am nothing. Now when he's talking about this
knowledge that puffs up He's talking about knowledge without
love. All that knowledge does is fill
one with pride and it's not saving knowledge. This is that kind
of knowledge that makes you feel proud. I know something you don't
know. I have an advantage over you.
I know this, you do not. That kind of knowledge doesn't
do anything but swell somebody up. with pride. We've all been around the guy that thinks
he's the smartest guy in the room with his inflated, puffed up
opinion of himself. Now that kind of knowledge, unlike the wisdom that is from
above fills one with pride. That's all it does. Knowledge
puffeth up. But charity builds up. Charity, rather than seeking
to lord it over people, I've got this knowledge you don't
have. It seeks to build up others. Now, I want you to think of the
impact of this statement. Knowledge puffs up. Is he saying
anything against knowledge? He's saying something against
knowledge without love. He is. Knowledge puffs up, swells one
with pride and self-righteousness and self-importance, causes you
to look down at the person who doesn't know as much as you.
Charity, true charity, the gift of God's grace builds up. Now look what he says in verse
two, back into our text in 1 Corinthians chapter eight. And if any man think that he
knows anything, he knows nothing as yet as he
ought to know. If there is any part of the scripture,
if there's any doctrine of the scripture of which you or I think,
well, I've got that one down. I've got that. I've grasped that. If I think of any truth from
the scriptures in that light, all I prove is I have no understanding
of it. I know nothing as I ought to
know. When I think I've got it down,
I'm actually letting everybody know what a fool I am and how
deceived I am with regard to my own knowledge. Oh, the Bible
is exceeding broad. Every truth of scripture is exceeding
broad. Somebody says, well, I've got
a grasp of that. No, you don't. We believe. Now we do believe. I believe everything the Bible
says. One of my favorite statements is the statement by Donnie Bell.
He says, if the Bible said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I'd
believe it. I would. I would. I believe the Bible's
the inspired word of God. I believe everything in it. But
as far as having an intellectual comprehension of everything it's
teaching. I just believe it. Can you understand
how God is one God to three persons? Of course you can't. Do you believe
it? Yes, you do. With all your heart. Do you understand how God never
had a beginning? No, it blows your mind. But do
you believe it? Yes, you do. Do you believe that
God is the first cause behind everything? Absolutely sovereign? Yes, I do. Do you understand
how it's all working together? No, I don't, but I believe. This
thing of knowledge, it doesn't mean I've got some kind of full
cognitive grasp of something. And if I think I do, I prove
how filled with pride and wrong thoughts of myself that I have.
Now, that's what Paul is saying. I love that passage of scripture
in Galatians Chapter six, verse three, where it says, if a man
thinketh himself to be something when he's nothing, he deceives himself. Now, do
you hear that? Do I hear that? If a man thinks
himself to be something when he is nothing. Do you believe that you're nothing?
If you believe that Christ is all, you believe you're nothing.
But that doesn't bother him because he's all. And having nothing,
but Christ, you have all things. That's a great place to be, isn't
it? If any man thinketh that he knows anything, he knows nothing
yet as he ought to know. All I do is prove to everybody
how ignorant I am when I have such a high opinion of my knowledge. Verse three. Before I read verse three, I
want to make this statement. True knowledge always brings
humility. If it doesn't bring humility,
it's not that knowledge that's from above. It's not God teaching
you. Where God teaches someone, there
will always be humility. But, verse three, if any man
love God, the same is known of him, of God. This is what God
recognizes. Somebody says, does God recognize
all the knowledge I have? Do you think he's impressed with
your knowledge? He's omniscient. He's never learned anything. I think of what the Lord said
to Job, Who is this that darkeneth counsel with words without knowledge? God's not impressed with any
man's knowledge. Oh, I know that you don't know
anything as you ought to know. You know, I really feel that.
I feel it. I know you do too. I know nothing
as I ought to know. I know the Lord, but there's
so little of him I know, because he's so glorious. He's so vast. He's so infinite. We all have knowledge. Knowledge
puffs up. Charity edifies. This is what
the Lord recognizes, is love to his person. This is what he recognizes. Romans 8 28 says we know that
all things work together for good to them that who? That what? Love God to them who are thee
called according to his purpose. First John chapter four verse
19 says we love him because he first loved us. Because he first
loved us, we do love him. We love his person. When a man
loves God, he loves who he is. He loves all of his attributes.
He loves his word. He loves the way he saves by
Christ. He loves the way he saves by
grace. He trusts his character. He wouldn't
change a thing about God if it was in his power to. Now, he's
the only one. I wouldn't change him if I could.
with regard to all of his attributes. I love them. I love his holiness,
his otherness. I love his sovereignty. The fact
that he controls and rules and reigns in everything, that everybody
is in his hand. You're in his hand. I'm in his
hand. Everybody else is in his hand.
And he's gonna do with us whatever he's pleased to do because that's
who he is. I love his independence. You
know, a God that needs me, I don't need. A God that needs anything,
I don't need. He's God. He doesn't need you. He doesn't need me. He's God.
I love His power, His omnipotence, that He has the power to do whatever
it is He wills to do. I love His wisdom, the way He's
made a way to be absolutely just and make me just. When in and
of myself, I know I'm nothing but sin. I love His wisdom. I
love every attribute of God. I love His immutability, how
He never changes. He's always the same. I love God. Now, when you think
of your love to God, you probably don't feel, you ought to love
Him a lot more, shouldn't you? You ought to love Him a whole
lot more than you do, and nobody's making any argument against that.
I know that's the case with myself, but I do love Him. The Lord said to Peter, Peter,
do you love me? He didn't say, Peter, are you
sorry? Peter, have you shown sufficient remorse? Peter, do
you promise that this is never gonna happen again? Peter, have
you taken steps to make sure this is not gonna happen again?
Peter, do you love my person? I'm not asking you about the
depth of your love. I'm asking you this. Do you love
my person? Do you love who I am? Do you
love my way of salvation? Do you love me? Oh, I love Peter's
answer. Yea, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. They might not. They might even
not have been the other Apostle said, let's see what he says,
hypocrite. He goes out and denies the Lord before that little maid. Let's see what he says. Let's
see how he answers this question. I'm sure he was being judged
by the disciples, although they were just as guilty as he was,
but I'm sure this was going on. But you know, Peter wasn't thinking
about them or what they would think. He said, Lord, you know
all things. I'm appealing to your omniscience. You know that I love you. We love His justice. We love His grace. We love His
mercy. We love the way He forgives sins.
Now the reason we take false doctrine personally is because
we love His person. I can't listen to that which
is contrary to Him without being upset. You know why? Because
I love His person. I love who He is and I can't
stand somebody trying to bring Him down to human terms. He's
God. He's other. And I take that which
is contrary to him personally because I love his person and
I know his person. If you love somebody, if somebody
doesn't like that person you love, you're not okay with that
because you love that person. Now this is what God recognizes,
that person who loves him. Not the person who has all kinds
of knowledge. That person who thinks they have all kinds of
knowledge, it's false knowledge, it's not real knowledge, or they
wouldn't be thinking the way they did because true knowledge
always humbles a man and brings him into the dust and brings
him to the feet of Christ. This is what God recognizes,
love to his person. Let's go on reading, verse four. As concerning, therefore, the
eating of those things, that are offered in sacrifice unto
idols. Now, they had been sacrificed
to idols. There had been sinful activity
involved. There had been sexual immorality
involved. There was every perverse thing
that was involved in this pagan culture and this sacrificing
to their false gods. Surely, we shouldn't eat something
that had been used in such a desecrated purpose. Well, here's how Paul
answers this. As concerning, therefore, the eating of those
things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol
is nothing in the world. And that there's none other God
but one. Now, these idols are non-existent
gods. And let me be real plain. The
God of the Muslims is a God that does not exist. The God of the
Hindus is a God that does not exist. The God of most of what
goes on under the name of Christianity, A God that can't do things unless
you let him. He's got to wait to see what
you do before he can act. That is a God that does not exist. It is a false God, an idol, a
non-existent God. So that meat was offered to a
non-existent God. We understand there's none other
God but one. For though, verse five, there's
only one true and living God, the God of the Bible. He's God. Everything else is an idol. Everything
else is a non-existent God. For though, verse five, there
be that are called gods, you know, there's a lot of different
kinds of gods that are called gods, my gods, I don't know how
many times, I've heard this a lot of times. My God's not like that. When I say who God is, my God's
not like that. Well, I know he's not. But your
God's a non-existent God. And I'm not saying that smart-alecky.
I'm saying that he's not God. God is the God of the Bible.
Now, there are a lot of gods. There's the God of the Muslims,
the God of all the different religions, the God of the Jews,
the God of so-called Christianity, a lot of different gods. for
though there be that are called God's, whether in heaven or in
earth, as there be God's many and Lord's many. You know, there's
a lot of people who call Jesus Christ the Lord Jesus, but they
don't mean what the Bible means. It's a difference. There are even landlords. There's
all kinds of gods. There's God's many, there's Lord's
many, but verse six, to us. There is but one God. Hear, O
Israel, the Lord thy God is one God, the God of the Bible. I'm so thankful for the scripture.
We couldn't even know God apart from him making himself known
in this word. I'm so thankful for the infallible,
holy scriptures, all scriptures given by inspiration of God.
We wouldn't know God had he not given us his word to tell us
who he is. Now, to us, there's but one God,
the Father, of whom are all things and we
in him. Now, the God of the Bible is
the one of whom are all things. That's speaking of his absolute
sovereignty. Everything he's in control of,
he purposed. Doesn't matter what it is. He's
in control of all things. Whatever you take, whatever's
under the umbrella of all things, he's in absolute control of that. And he says, There's one Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom are all things, saying the same thing, and we by him. You see, God the Father and God
the Son are one. The Lord said that. He said,
I and my Father are one. Whatever God's attributes are,
are the attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever God's
purpose is, is the purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ. They're
one. I and my Father are one. I love the way he said to Thomas,
he that has seen me has seen the Father. All you and I will
ever see of the God of glory is Jesus Christ, God's Son. There's one Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, He is Lord. That means He's
your Lord. But I don't see that. He's still
your Lord. He's everybody's Lord. Lord of
the dead, that person who's dead in sins, He's their Lord. They
don't know it, but He's their Lord. That one who lives, He's
their Lord, and they know it, and they love His Lordship. The
Lord Jesus, don't you love His name? Jesus, thou shalt call
His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.
Christ, God's prophet, the Word of God, God's priest, God's King. I love it when that Philippian
jailer said, sirs, what must I do to be saved? He knew he
couldn't save himself. He didn't say, what must I do
to save myself? He said, what must I do to be
saved? I love Paul's answer. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. Now to us, there's one God. the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. There's one Son of God,
our Savior. Verse 7, Albeit, there is not in every man that
knowledge. For some with conscience of the
idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol
and their conscience being weak, is defiled. There are some who they have the knowledge of God, but they're weak in their knowledge. You know, I know a whole lot
more than I did 10 years ago. I'm still aware that my knowledge
is minuscule compared to what it ought to be, but I know a
lot more than I did 10 years ago with regard to the Bible,
with regard to God. I know more than I did 40 years
ago. Now, here is somebody who they see that meat sacrificed
to an idol and they think, I couldn't eat that. It would be sinful
for me to eat that. That would be wrong. Being used
for such desecrated purposes? I'm not gonna eat that meat.
That's what he's speaking of in verse seven. Howbeit there
is not in every man that knowledge. For some with conscience of the
idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto a idol,
and their conscience being weak is defiled. If they did eat it,
it would be sin to them, because they believed it to be sin. So
if they eat it, it would be sin. Somebody says, well, the Bible
says it's not. To them it is. Because if you
believe something to be sin, and you commit that sin, to you
it is sin, even if it's something you can say, well, that wasn't
sinful. You see, God looks at the heart. God looks at the motive. God looks more at why you do
something than what you do. He looks at the heart. Now look
at verse eight. Now, Paul says, but meet, commended us not to
God. Somebody says, well, I'm not
going to eat that meat. I'm going to be faithful and I'm going
to be true to my own conscience. I'm not going to eat that meat.
You know how much that commends you to God? Zero. Zero. Somebody says, well, I got better
sense than that. I know that meat doesn't commend
me to God. I've got knowledge with regard
to this thing. You know how much that means to God? Zero. Nothing. Meat commends us not
to God. If we don't eat it, somebody
says, I'm not gonna eat it. You're no better for it. Well, I'm gonna
go ahead and eat it. That doesn't help you either.
I think, hold your finger there and turn to Galatians chapter
five for a moment. This will illustrate what's being
said. For in Jesus Christ, verse six,
Galatians 5 verse 6, For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails
anything, nor uncircumcision. Now this is the same principle.
Somebody says, I know I don't need to be circumcised. That
avails you nothing. Somebody says, I need to be circumcised. That avails you nothing. What
avails with God? Faith which worketh by love. Knowledge The knowledge of faith
that works by love. I turn back to chapter eight. But, now here's a man that has
knowledge. He understands, I'm no better
if I don't eat it. I'm no better if I do. It's a
thing of indifference. It doesn't matter. But, take heed. Let's by any means this liberty
of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. There
is the weak brother, the brother who doesn't have the same understanding
of knowledge of you at this time. We pray he will, but right now
he's weak and he's got scruples that you could say those are
ridiculous. Well, they are, but look at Paul, how Paul says your
attitude toward that weak brother is. Four, verse 10. If any man see
thee which has knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple.
You think, I know that there's nothing to that. I know there's
meat sacrificed to an idol. That's a good filet mignon. That's
a ribeye. I want something, I want some
good steak. I'm gonna go into that temple. I'm gonna buy that
steak. I'm gonna sit down and eat it.
And I'm gonna enjoy every bite. I know there's nothing wrong
with that. You'd be right. But what if that person who doesn't
feel that way, he thinks it's sin to eat that meat. And he
sees you eat it, and it emboldens him to go against his conscience
and eat it because he sees you eat it. What about that? For if any man see thee which
has knowledge, said it meet in the idol's temple, shall not
the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those
things which are offered to idols. Well, he's doing it, I can do
it. No right reason, just he's doing it, I can do it. And through
that, verse 11, through thy knowledge, shall thy weak brother perish
for whom Christ died. Now, is that saying that person
who's emboldened to eat that meat, even though Christ died
for him, they're going to go to hell through your knowledge? Of course it doesn't mean that.
Everybody that Christ died for will be saved. He said, I lay
down my life for the sheep. Everyone Christ died for will
be saved. What he's talking about is through
your indifference toward your weak brother, you have emboldened
him to eat meat when he knew it was wrong, and you've brought
him to sin against Christ, and it's your fault. That's what
he's saying. This is knowledge without charity. It's not caring about your weaker
brethren. Why should I live up to his scruples?
That's ridiculous. I can eat that meat if I want
to. I don't care what he thinks. That's knowledge without love.
Knowledge without charity. That's not caring about your
brother. Now look what he goes on to say,
but 12, when you sin so against the brethren and wound their
weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Now, if my brother feels
like, oh, it'd be wrong to eat that meat, sacrifice to idols,
it'd be wrong. You know what I'm going to do
if I practice love? I'm not going to eat it. But he's wrong. I'm still not
going to eat it. And that's what Paul says. And
that is knowledge with love. Love to your brethren, not wanting
them to be offended not wanting them to be emboldened to sin
against Christ because of a misunderstanding of my knowledge. He thinks it's
okay, I must be okay, I'm gonna go ahead and do it. He said,
no, don't do that. Wherefore, verse 13, if meat make my brother
to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world
standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. Oh may the Lord give
you and I the grace to give up our rights and not look down
at the scruples of others and live as Paul did. Now I want
to close by simply reading Romans chapter 14. The same thing is
being covered here in Romans chapter 14. Now he talks about that weak
brother. Him that's weak in the faith, receive ye. But not to doubtful disputations. Look, that guy's so wrong. Don't
receive him like that. For one, believeth that he may
eat all things. Another who's weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise
him that eateth not. And let not him which eateth
not Judge him that eateth, for God hath received him. Now, if
you see somebody eating and you disagree with it, don't judge
him. If you see somebody not eating and you disagree with
him, don't judge him. Let's go on reading. Who art
thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he
standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up, for
God's able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above
another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth
it unto the Lord. And he that regardeth not the
day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth
to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks. And he that eateth not,
to the Lord he eateth not, he gives God thanks. For none of
us live to himself, and no man dies to himself. For whether
we live, we live under the Lord. And whether we die, we die under
the Lord. Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For
to this end, Christ both died and rose and revived, that he
might be Lord, both of the dead and living. But why dost thou
judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set it not thy
brother? Why, he's so ridiculous, not
eating that meat, is he that silly? Why are you setting him
a knot? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,
he and you, we're all gonna stand. For it's written, as I live,
saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall
confess to God, so that every one of them shall give an account
of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore. Do you hear that? Across the board. Let us not
judge one another anymore. Wouldn't it be a blessing if
I never judged you again and you never judged me again? Now,
it goes without saying that everything we hear, we have to judge to
see if it's according to the word of God. But I'm talking
about judging you, becoming your moral judge. He said, let's not
judge one another anymore, ever again. Oh, make that your ambition. May I make that my ambition.
But judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or
an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know and persuaded by
the Lord Jesus, there's nothing unclean of itself. You can eat
that meat if you want to, there's nothing sinful in that. But to
him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved
with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him
with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not your good be evil
spoken of, for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but
righteousness, his righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Ghost, for he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable
to God and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after
the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may
edify, build up one another, for meat destroy not the work
of God, All things indeed are pure, but it's evil for that
man who eateth with offense. It's good neither to eat flesh,
nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth,
or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself
before God. Happy is he that condemneth not
himself in the thing which he alloweth. If you can eat that
meat, happy are you. There's not a thing in the world
wrong with you eating it. You're happy in doing it. And
verse 23, he that doubteth, he that Feels like it's wrong for
him to eat that meat. Is damned if he eat. Condemned,
it's not talking about going to hell, but being condemned
because he eateth not of faith. For whatsoever is not of faith
is sin. Let's pray. Lord, we ask in Christ's name.
That we might be by your grace. Have knowledge that is not puffed
up. But it's with that charity that
builds up. Lord, give us this. Attitude. Toward our weaker brethren that
we would not want to offend them. And Lord, give the weaker brethren
the grace to not sit in judgment upon those who do what they disapprove
of and think is wrong. Lord, enable us to obey this
commandment. Let us not judge one another
anymore. How we thank you for the knowledge
of the gospel. Lord, cause that knowledge to
bear fruit for your glory. In Christ's name we pray, amen.