3/25/18 – The Supremacy of God in All Things in Life for a Christian

1 Corinthians 10:23-33 ESV
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

I.LAWFUL DOESN’T NECESSARILY MEAN LOVING (23-24)
A.Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean it’s good for you or others.
B.In Christ, I trade my independence in for an interdependence on Christ and His church. (1 John 3:1)

II.GOD’S CREATION & THE CHRISTIAN CONSCIOUS (25-26, 30-31)
A.Everything created by God was created by God for us to enjoy. (Psalm 24:1, Genesis 1:28-29)
B.The earth is ours to enjoy. The earth is ours to take care of, too.
C.Almost anything is fine if it received as a good gift of God and enjoying it leads to the glory of God. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)
D.2 Things to remember about enjoying what God has made:
1.Build your theology on the Bible as a whole and not just one verse.
2.Build your worship to be of the Giver, not the gift.
E.We can and should do all things, including drink orange juice, to the glory of God.

III. PURSUE PEOPLE TO PURSUE THE GLORY OF GOD(27-29, 32-33)
A.What is best for the glory of God is what will help other people in their relationship with God.
B.My liberty in Christ is ultimately defined by the cross, and not someone else’s conscious.

NEXT STEPS
1.We do all that we do for the glory of God and not the gratification of ourselves.