Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

1 Corinthians Chapter 8 concerns how we should use the liberty that we have as Christians.  In this first part of this chapter (today’s Scripture), it introduces the subject example of eating things sacrificed to idols, but this first part does not specifically answer the question of whether or not we can eat things sacrificed to idols.  Today’s Scripture is more general.

Today’s Scripture provides the general motivations that we should have. 

First, the answer (as to how we should use the liberty that we have as Christians) is not just provided by knowledge.  “Knowledge makes arrogant“.  See verse 1.  In other words, just because we know that we can do something does not necessarily mean that we should do it.  “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge;  and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:2.

Second, “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:4  Simply but powerfully, “love edifies“.  See verse 1.  We should be motivated by our love for others rather than just by selfish love for ourselves.  “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”  Romans 14:19.      

Third, above all, we “exist for God”.  Our foremost motivation for how we should use our liberty is “God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him;  and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”  See verse 6. 

In summary, “And He (Jesus) said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”  Matthew 22:37-38.

³⁶ But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin;  let her marry.  ³⁷ But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well.  ³⁸ So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

³⁹ A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.  ⁴⁰ But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is;  and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.”  1 Corinthians 7:32-40.

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Undistracted devotion to the Lord keeps us in the paths of righteousness.  Like a wise captain of a ship keeps his eyes fixed to the lighthouse to steer his ship to safe harbor, so we should keep our eyes fixed on Christ. 

Distractions can cause us to take our eyes off Christ and wander.  If we veer off course by only one percent, and do not make corrections, over time, we could get lost, miles away from our goal.  

“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”  2 Corinthians 11:3.

There are many things in life which are good and which we as Christians have liberty to do.  The problem arises when our pursuit of these things causes us to be distracted and lose our focus and devotion to Christ. 

As one example, the Galatians turned their focus from Christ to the Law, and they tried to perfect themselves by the flesh through the Law.  That pursuit may sound good, but Paul admonished them.  “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?  This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:1-5. 

In our path through life, there may be many things which tempt us to get off the path.  But, we look directly ahead and do not turn to the right nor to the left.

“²⁵ Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
²⁶ Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.”  Proverbs 4:25-26. 

We may want to tend to emergencies or even just look back and dwell in past memories.  But, the cost of discipleship will not let us.

“As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”  And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”  But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead;  but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”  Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord;  but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.”  But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:57-62. 

We focus on the prize.

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2.

Today’s Scripture reminds us of the lesson that we learned from the story of Martha and Mary. 

“Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village;  and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.  But Martha was distracted with all her preparations;  and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone?  Then tell her to help me.”  But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42.

We can worry and be bothered about so many things.  We can be like the seed which fell among the thorns in the Parable of the Sower.  “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”  Luke 8:14.  

We should be like Mary who “has chosen the good part”, “seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word”.  This is the “only one thing is necessary” equivalent of “what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God” in verse 19 of today’s Scripture.  

“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.  But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter;  and his praise is not from men, but from God.”  Romans 2:28-29. 

The “only one thing is necessary” is ultimately our Lord and Savior and Jesus Christ.  “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life;  he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”  1 John 5:11-12. 

“Do not worry about it;  but if you are able also to become free, rather do that.”  In other words, we should not worry about our condition.  We can and should improve our condition so long as we don’t let the concerns of our condition cause us to worry or be bothered to the extent that these concerns of our condition choke us off from devotion to Christ. 

Sometimes, we may be able to keep our devotion to Christ and improve our condition.  In such situation, we should then improve our condition.    

Other times, we can not keep our devotion to Christ and improve our condition.  In such situation, it is better that we remain in our condition even if that condition is that we are a slave.  “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’  Matthew 16:26

“²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, ²⁶ so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.  ²⁸ So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his own wife loves himself;  ²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are members of His body.  ³¹ FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.  ³² This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”  Ephesians 5:25-33. 

“In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.”  1 Peter 3:1.

The central teaching on the surface of today’s Scripture is that there is hope for the salvation of an unbelieving spouse.  Therefore, if a believing spouse has an unbelieving spouse who consents to live with the believing spouse, the believing spouse must not send him or her away.  “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband;  for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.”  1 Corinthians 7:14.  ^“For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?  Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?”  1 Corinthians 7:16. 

“But, you don’t know my spouse!”:  some may exclaim.  For hope, we can then turn to consider the marriage of Christ and the Church.

We can think about the patience of Christ with the Apostle Paul who persecuted the church.  Paul said:  “even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.  Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;  and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.  It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.  Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”  1 Timothy 1:13-16.     

Isaiah 42:3
“A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;  He will faithfully bring forth justice.”

But, there is more hope than just such a demonstration of patience by Christ.  We have the Spirit of Christ who bears such fruit of patience in our lives.  Moreover,  we have the Spirit of Christ who also bears such other fruit in our lives that will also help us in our relationship with our spouse.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

Prior to God’s sovereign work in us, we all were alienated from God, hostile to God, and engaged in evil deeds,  Colossians 1:21.  “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”  Ephesians 2:1-3.   

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21. 

But, there is hope!

God has predestined some to salvation.  “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30. 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:4-9.

“… but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:11.

⁷  Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another.  Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be defrauded?

⁸  On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.”  1 Corinthians 6:1-8.

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This is a difficult passage, particularly for me as an attorney.  From the start, I need to admit that I don’t have the belief that church members should never resolve their cases against other members in public courts before such unbelievers.  There may be those Christians who do interpret the Scripture that way, and we should consider not only their interpretation of this Scripture but other Scripture as well.  As stated, this is a difficult passage requiring much cross-referencing with other Scripture and other care and wisdom.

However, at least, church members should be reluctant to bring their cases against other members in public courts before such unbelievers.  They should try to first use the resources of the church to resolve their case within the church.  And, there are reasons to do so in addition to that it is consistent with the “judging” position of believers stated in verses 3 and 4.  Reconciliation and good-will between believers may be more important than who gets the better financial outcome.

If common grace were given to unbelievers, then there would be that basis for church members to resolve their cases in public courts before such unbelievers.  But, common grace is not given to unbelievers.  Unbelievers may have and do have worldly wisdom and skills, but they may not have the grace that may be needed to resolve such disputes between believers. 

Specific Godly wisdom is needed in addition to (or as part of) grace.  1 Corinthians 6:5.  It is interesting to me that although the elders of a church should be the first thought as to the pool of men who should be first considered to mediate or adjudicate the dispute within the church, the qualifications of elders (a/k/a overseers) in Titus Chapter 1 and 1 Timothy Chapter 3 do not specifically include that quality of wisdom.  In other words, there may very well be wise men within the group of elders who can best mediate or adjudicate a specifc dispute;  if so, great, then you can use one of them.  But if there is not such a wise man who can best mediate or adjudicate a specific dispute within that group of elders, then it may be necessary to look outside of that group to find such a wise man within the church who can best mediate or adjudicate the dispute within the church.  As part of that specific Godly wisdom, it may also be best for that wise man to have specific intellectual knowledge of science, business, or other area involved in the dispute. 

All of this is easy to say for those who are not involved in such a dispute.  If you fortune is at stake, this and other Scripture may be very difficult to digest and apply. 

But, there is hope!