King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 2 notes
Read 1 Corinthians 8 in the app
1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
The Corinthians are an interesting church ⛪. They have a lot of questions...
Fornication issues, marriage, now idol-dedicated foods.
It is good they sought clarity.
2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4As 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 that there is none other God but one.
This scripture often bothered me... Why Paul would say that an idol is nothing in the world 🗺.
I'm from Africa 🌍 and here we see "things".
We see the power of idols and "gods" in real time ⌚.
So I often was confused 😕. It's different if he said they were not as powerful as our God, but nothing?
Herein lies the truth: we are seated with Christ Jesus far above principalities and powers, and there is only one God, Jehovah.
All others are only making false claims of Godship to deceive and receive god worship that is not due them.
Indeed there is no God but our God. With this consciousness, the deception of idols as gods is broken and we walk in freedom and liberty 🗽.
But for the weak mind and believers, their belief in idols and other gods weakens their own conscience and thus affects their faith and even their walk with God.
They may even be snared by attacks spiritually and dreams etc.
You see, what you believe does affect you. See Peter, who walked on water comfortably. However, the moment he saw the boisterous winds 🍃, he feared and doubted 🤷♂️, i.e. he believed that he would drown.
And immediately his belief was manifested. He came again under natural law, though he was doing fine believing in the word of Jesus that he should come to him.
Same thing, as we walk with God, we may be doing just fine until we believe something else or someone introduces a thought, and suddenly we find ourselves snared and the power of God becomes of non effect.
In such times we need a rescue mission on our case; we have to cry out to the Lord like Peter did. We have to go back to the Lord in prayer so we are realigned and our spirits, souls and bodies reset.
5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, ( as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6But 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.
7Howbeit 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.
8But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit 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;
11And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.