Directives on Conduct

people, please turn again to
First Corinthians chapter 10. Who among us wouldn’t be absolutely
thrilled to learn of some formula, some thing that we could do or
say that would make God happy after all that He’s done for
us? Who would not want to know that
formula, right? Well, that’s effectively what
we have in front of us in the verses that we’ll consider this
morning. Commands that if obeyed, bring
God honoring results. With these verses, we come to
a close on this, one of the lengthiest discussions in this epistle.
Paul devoted three chapters to this discussion, ostensibly which
was about idolatry. Chapters 8, 9, and 10. For our
purposes this morning, I just want you to glance down at a
verse that we’ll look at more fully. Look at chapter 10 verse
31, chapter 10 verse 31, and look at just the first two words,
whether then. That little word then is actually
our starting point this morning because it calls us, begs us,
demands of us that we establish the context for this passage. The context is crucial and discovering
it is imperative because suddenly here in his closing, Paul issues
three commands in a row. And so it’s imperative that we
put these exhortations in context. We’re prompted to do so by considering
that little word, then. This word could easily have been
translated, therefore. What is Paul getting at when
he calls this to our attention? That’s our purpose to start this
morning. The context is not at all limited
to the immediately preceding section. He is indicating to
us that he is drawing a great conclusion. And I would suggest
to you that he’s drawing a conclusion on the three chapters of discussion. And so to grasp the context of
these words in 1031 through 111, we have to look back once again
to review where it is we’ve been. And so would you please flip
back to chapter eight. In chapter eight, we come into
the greater, we find ourselves rather, in the greater section
in which this discussion occurs. Chapters 7 through 14, Paul is
dealing with problems in the Corinthian church. They had likely
jotted down a series of questions, sent it to Paul, and Paul is
taking them one at a time, answering those questions. And there were
all kinds of problems, as we have already seen and will continue
to see, all kinds of problems in Corinth. In chapter 7, Paul
dealt with the first issue, the first of these problems related
to marriage, all things pertaining to marriage, divorce, singleness,
unmarried daughters, and the like. But then in the section
that concerns us this morning, Paul turns to another question
posed to him by the Corinthians in chapter 8. What about meat
offered to idols? And as we’ve seen, it was much
more than, it was a much more important question, a much more
difficult question than it originally appeared, especially to us in
this 21st century where we don’t battle with the question of meat
offered to idols. But in chapter eight, what Paul
does is begin by outlining three principles related to this discussion. in verses one through three of
chapter eight. Just glance down. He gives the principle of love
and idols. Knowledge makes arrogant, but
love edifies. Then in verse four through six,
he gives us the principle of truth and idols, and he summarizes
it simply as this. We know that there is no such
thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but
one. Well, that’s an important truth
to lay a foundation upon. but he issues a third principle
in verses 7 through 12, a principle that we identified as the principle
of liberty and idols. Food will not commend us to God. Paul says we are neither the
worse if we do not eat nor the better if we do. but take care
that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling
block to the weak. There is latitude, there is liberty,
there is freedom in Christ. Those principles in that chapter,
as I said, really serve as the foundation for Paul’s overall
discussion in these three chapters. So he lays the foundation, and
then in chapter nine, Paul captures the Corinthians totally flat-footed,
unprepared, because he urges them to a consideration of the
grace of self-denial. You can’t just quit things. You
can’t just abstain from things. They, as believers, would need
God’s grace to practice intentionally the grace of self-denial. and
he urges them to consider self-denial in this matter of meat offered
to idols. But it’s a principle that would
really apply in any area of Christian liberty. We need God’s grace
to practice self-denial in the course of any Christian liberty
that we would limit. And because At the end of chapter
eight, Paul sets forth this stunning and wide ranging principle. If food causes my brother to
stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause
my brother to stumble. There are many, many opportunities
to set aside our privilege and to exercise the grace of self-denial. It isn’t just about meat offered
to idols. And we saw that Paul was likely
responding to a criticism here in this chapter. Who are you,
Paul, to ask us to exercise self-control? And to this challenge, Paul responds
by providing them the powerful example of self-denial that he
had already modeled before them. Remember this? That even though
he had a right to earn a living, even though his efforts of service
on their behalf were spiritual and of infinitely greater value,
their salvation, verses 11 and 12. Even though the priesthood
had long established the support of those in ministry, even though
all of those things were true, Paul had not forced the issue
of financial support, especially by this church. And it was his
clear example of selflessness that enabled Paul to encourage
the Corinthians to emulate his example of self-denial in verses
24 through 27. That as believers, we should
be striving for victory, running to win. As believers, we should
be disciplined for a reward, an imperishable wreath. As believers,
we should be aiming for results, running or boxing with a purpose,
and that we should be trained to finish disciplining our bodies. And as such, it was an infinitely
practical lesson on self-denial to a church that desperately
needed to address their greedy self-indulgence. Their issues
went far beyond meat offered to idols. It was their careless
and callous response to this issue that now had Paul’s attention. Paul could see the signs of idolatry
developing right before his eyes in Corinth. The signs were evident. Selfishness, overindulgence,
an unfeeling insensitivity, toward their fellow believers. Idolatry
seemed now to be taking root in Corinth. And so as Paul turns
the corner into chapter 10, he introduces an illustration of
the wayward tendency of the human heart. That inclination is an
inclination itself to idolatry. Idolatry, as we saw, was loving
anything or something more than God himself, even if that something
is ourselves and our so-called liberty. We saw here that for
us, perhaps for the first time in this lengthy discussion, we
were becoming a bit uncomfortable, weren’t we? because we could
see some of those same tendencies in us in our day. Self-centered,
insensitivity to our brothers in Christ. We may not be tempted
with the matter of meat offered to idols, but we face idolatry
every day. The idol self is alive and well. And worse yet, we noted that
we are not only susceptible to the sin of idolatry, we are inclined
to it. So Paul takes the Corinthians
and us back to the example of Israel in chapter 10. Paul is
not finished with his exhortation to the Corinthians because in
chapter 10, as we saw, he focuses on the nation of Israel for the
purpose of extracting lessons. from them. He addressed their
squandered privileges in verses one through five, their indifference
to God’s great outpouring of miracles in the midst of Israel,
all of those divine manifestations which God had intended as faith
builders, but which Israel squandered, the glory cloud, the parting
of the Red Sea, spiritual food, spiritual drink, none of these
individually or collectively succeeded in leading Israel to
a greater fidelity to God himself. But beyond that, this wayward
nation embraced wickedness of all sorts, idolatry and immorality,
testing or trying the Lord, grumbling, That alone served as a caution
to the Corinthians and to us, that even though we have enjoyed
a mighty measure of God’s grace, we are not above falling. And
so Paul urges his readers in verses 12 through 14 to wisely
learn from Israel’s mistakes. He urges the Corinthians and
us to be watchful for the very universal problem of sin and
to avoid it. A little piece of advice that
works every time. Then, as a caution of the dangers
with which they were flirting, Paul reviews that principle of
communion. We celebrate it at the Lord’s
table, communing not only with God, but with one another. Israel
communed with the sacrifice that was offered, and when someone
flirts with idolatry, they are flirting with communion with
demons. It’s not a light matter. This
was a very serious matter, and so Paul prepares to close in
verses 23 through 30, and he gives some very practical guidelines,
didn’t he? for managing these areas of Christian
freedom. Does this thing promote my personal
benefit? It’s a good question to ask.
Is this good for me, spiritually speaking? Does it promote strengthening
of the church, the greater portion of the body of Christ with which
I’m a part? Does it promote the advantage
of others? Does it bless them? And with
that, Paul brings himself to some very important commands. Commands that, if followed, produce
God-honoring results. Would you direct your attention
to chapter 10, verse 31? And the passage actually courses
through chapter 11, verse 1. I’ll talk more about why in a
moment. Chapter 10, verse 31, whether then you eat or drink
or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense
either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as
I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit,
but the profit of the many so that they may be saved. Be imitators
of me. just as I also am of Christ. I’ve already indicated to you
some of the structure of this passage. I told you that there
were three commands. I mentioned it in passing a moment
ago. What Paul does here in closing out this incredible discussion
is to utter three imperatives. Glance down at them if you would.
Verse 31, he gives the first command, do all to the glory
of God. In verse 32, he gives a second
order, give no offense. And in verse one of chapter 11,
a verse that only reasonably belongs to this discussion, he
gives his third admonition, be imitators. So in closing this
epic discussion, he gives us three commands, and these are
the means Paul says, of honoring or exalting or glorifying God
Himself. The fact that Paul issues commands
here, that he issues three imperatives, is a remarkably different tone
than that which he has taken throughout this whole discussion.
Think back, throughout the first two chapters, eight and nine,
Paul doesn’t even demand anything of the Corinthians. He doesn’t
issue any imperative command. In chapter 10, he does gather
some steam and he scatters a handful of imperatives there. Verse seven
of chapter 10, do not be idolaters. Verse 10, do not grumble. Verse
12, take heed. Verse 14, flee from idolatry. But suddenly here in the final
four verses of this long address, Paul issues three strong commands
in a row. It’s a fitting way for him to
close this section. A section that presented us with
such shocking pitfalls. That perhaps we have not only
been dabbling, but even leaning into idolatry. It wasn’t just
meat offered to idols, but godless idolatry that Paul was addressing
of the most destructive sorts. Destruction of, destructive rather
of individuals, destructive of families, and destructive of
churches. Well, let’s look at these three
commands if we could this morning. Commands that produce God-honoring
results. And we need to pray for the grace
to be able to honor the Lord in the keeping of these commands.
Look at verse 31. The first command that He gives
to us is to exalt God in our motives. Exalt God in our motives. Verse 31 says, whatever then
you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God. And now, reminded of our context. We happily embrace this little
word then. We know what Paul is referring
to. He’s again gathering up the entirety
of the discussion from 8-1 all the way to 10-30. And he’s drawing
some conclusions about the whole matter. He’s summing up the information,
communicated, and he’s putting forth some consequences. Given
this, we must do that. And the word here easily could
have been translated, therefore. Based on all that he’s communicated
to these believers, he’s prepared now to issue these three commands,
these three imperatives, which if followed will bear the sweetest
fruit, the pleasure of God himself. So much so that when Paul says
whether, it stands as a comprehensive claim that for a Christian, every
aspect of life can be an opportunity to glorify God. The first command
that Paul gives in closing this important discussion is do all
to the glory of God. That connection here is not difficult.
Throughout this lengthy section, chapters eight through 10, Paul
has been discussing the matters of eating and drinking. And we
know for certain that eating has been addressed throughout
this entire discussion as it was generally styled under the
heading of meat offered to idols. That’s what started the whole
thing to begin with, remember? But just as in our celebration
of the Lord’s table, as also the Jewish feasts, and even the
idolatrous cults, they all included eating and drinking as part of
their ritual. Paul also addressed the basic
matter of drinking with regard to his right as an apostle, remember?
He wasn’t talking about communion there. He wasn’t talking about
meat offered to idols when he said that he has a right to eat
and drink. He was just talking about eating
and drinking as a matter of the course of life, the basic care
with which he was entitled. He had a right to eat and drink.
And Paul addressed the matter of drinking again in chapter
10 with regard to the nation of Israel, with their miraculous
encounter with the supply of spiritual water. And so here
Paul is simply following along the same train of discussion
he’s had throughout. Drinking is a part of our daily
lives. And in this too, we should seek
to glorify God in drinking. A simple task, a simple part
of our everyday life, something about which we didn’t even think
about. Yet this morning we just did it. Paul is not limiting his admonition
here to idle sacrifices. Neither is he advocating nor
condemning any religious practice having to do with drinking. In
fact, look at it. Paul broadens it infinitely here. Look at the passage, whether
then you eat or drink or whatever you do. In saying so, Paul says
that every facet of our lives is an opportunity to bring glory
to God. As he says here, do all to the
glory of God, we have this tendency, don’t we? We have this tendency
to divide up the elements of our life into the inherently
spiritual things on the one hand and the inherently earthly things
on the other. And true it is that there are
some things, sinful things that can never bring honor or glory
to God. Immorality, idolatry as we’ve
seen, violence, all of those things. obvious sinful things. Sin in any form does not glorify
God. But we have the tendency to think
of those spiritual elements of our life, even if they’re done
half-heartedly, they’re still pleasing to God. We tend to think of those things
as inherently honoring to the Lord, spiritual things, worship,
Just being here. I get some kind of credit just
for being here. Prayer. I don’t even have to
pray. If I just go to the prayer meeting,
that’s an inherently spiritual thing. Bible reading. Even if I’m reading by the fan,
right? And the pages are flipping by
as quick as I can glance at them. or ministry of some sort. Those things are inherently spiritual. And those things glorify God,
we think, regardless of how they are done, with what sincerity
or passion or joy. But what is more, we think that
there are those earthly things that remain forever mundane and
can never reach to the level of being pleasing to God. In
other words, in those earthly things we can never glorify God. Paul says otherwise here. Eating and drinking are about
as basic an earthly activity as you can even imagine, right?
I suppose we could add breathing to that short list. But Paul not only cites eating
and drinking, but he broadens out the scope of our life to
include anything that isn’t outright sinful. Whatever you do, he says,
cooking can be done to the glory of God. Working can be done to
the glory of God. School can be done to the glory
of God. Shopping can be done to the glory
of God, as long as your husband is aware of your efforts mowing
the lawn can be done to the glory of God. Whatever, Paul says. Whatever we do is an opportunity
to glorify God. If nothing else, in the attitude
in which we approach it. Are we doing what we do as unto
the Lord? That’s a simple test. Is this
done in view of God or not? Are we doing whatever we’re doing
with a joyful heart? Are we doing whatever we’re doing
for God’s glory? It’s the attitude of the heart.
It’s our intention that makes all the difference. If we do
what we do, whatever we do, as unto the Lord, that itself will
direct our efforts. And not only, pardon me, and
only with this intention, only with this mindset, do our efforts
even begin to glorify God. One scholar has carefully defined
the glory of God as the splendor of His perfections, particularly
of His holiness and love manifested in the midst of His creatures.
Isn’t that beautiful? glorifying God, honoring Him
in all that we do, this is the Christian’s number one goal. It’s his all-consuming goal,
seeing to it that God’s glory is displayed in the world in
which we live. And one thing is certain, if
our aim, if our desire, if our motive is not to glorify God, we will almost certainly succeed
in missing the mark. But as the reformers of the church
identified it, it is man’s chief end. This is why God made us,
to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. Similarly, Paul appealed
to the Colossian believers, whatever you do in word or deed, do all
in the name of the Lord Jesus. Same command. It’s the motive. It’s the intentionality that
Paul has in view. And so the examination question
here is, will my activity, will my relationship, will my aim,
will my conversation, will my avocation, whatever the case,
will it glorify God? As one godly shepherd put it,
let self. Be forgotten. Let your eye be
fixed on God. Let the promotion of His glory
be your object in all you do. Strive in everything to act in
such a way that men may praise the God whom you profess to serve. We need to exalt. God in our
motives first and foremost, but Paul isn’t finished. He has three
commands here. Three commands that will produce
God honoring results, not only exalt God in our motives, but
watch this one, delight observers in our choices. Yikes. Verse 32, give no offense. either to the Jews or to Greeks
or to the Church of God, just as also I please men in all things,
not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, so that
they may be saved.” Paul’s second exhortation here ties back nicely
into the entire discussion to give no offense In keeping with
Paul’s overall theme, an offense would be something we do over
which another brother would stumble. We don’t want to do that. We
don’t want to be a cause of stumbling to a brother in Christ. This
has been Paul’s concern all along. Back in chapter eight, in the
so-called discussion of the so-called gray areas, Paul urged, take
care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling
block. In contrast to this, we are,
as believers, to delight those who watch us in the choices that
we make. This is just a positive way of
stating. Give no offense. As the body of observers here,
those watching the believers’ behavior, Paul breaks it up into
three portions. First of all, the Jews. those
who were religiously still Jews, not converts to Christianity,
the Greeks, those who were religiously still heathen, godless, they’re
certainly not Gentile Christians, because thirdly, Paul mentions
the church of God. All of those believers, whether
Jewish or heathen background, now converted to faith in Christ,
People from each of these groups would have their own preferences
and convictions and sensitivities. The Jews were confined, you’ll
remember, to a myriad of legalistic observances, days and feasts
and rituals and all kinds of things. Greeks, they would have
been more likely offended by a Christian’s over-scrupulousness
and strictness unless it was very carefully explained over
time why we do what we do. A Christian brother, a Christian
brother could be offended by either extreme, either by being
too libertine or too scrupulous. But individuals from all of these
groups deserve our utmost thoughtfulness. We have to be mindful and careful
not to sin against a member of any of those. people groups. We cannot even think of causing
an offense for an unbeliever that would serve as a stumbling
block, a roadblock to his consideration of the gospel. Are you kidding
me? How heartless and cruel would
that be? That your activity stands in
the way of somebody entertaining the gospel. Regarding our behavior before
unbelievers, Peter admonished, keep your behavior excellent
among the Gentiles, so that the thing in which they slander you
as evildoers, they may, because of your good deeds as they observe
them, glorify God on the day of visitation. That tells me
they became a Christian. Our behavior may just open the
door for the gospel, and the gospel presented may just open
the door to them for salvation. And for a Christian brother,
in his letter to the Romans, Paul admonishes believers not
to destroy with your food your brother for whom Christ died.
Once again, we cannot love any earthly enjoyment more than we
love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Overall, this is an
admonition against careless, even reckless living. And Paul
sets himself forth as an example here. As Paul took great pains
to illustrate this chapter, this very issue in chapter nine, he
was not about pleasing himself. He was exemplary in his selflessness. He wasn’t out to please himself.
This is what Paul sought to do without betraying his principles
or the principles of his savior. He sought to please others whenever
possible. This word translated here as
to please, this is the word that might have frightened you in
our definition that we want to delight observers. We need to
go around pleasing everybody else. But this word translated
here as to please speaks of one who is a benefactor. He’s a giver. Someone who generously gives
to others. And this is precisely how Paul
employs this word to articulate that same exact principle in
Romans 15. Each of us is to please his neighbor
for his good, for his edification. That doesn’t mean that Paul was
willing to compromise the gospel in any way. But where it was
a matter of things that were in themselves indifferent, neither
good nor bad, Paul was willing to bend or even to yield altogether. In Paul’s case, it was the gospel,
which he sought to impart as a benefactor to others. Nothing
could stand in the way of that for Paul. And this, with a purpose,
the salvation of souls, Paul wanted nothing more than to see
people come to Christ. And what would glorify God more
than bringing souls to Christ for salvation? This is an echo
of what Paul said earlier in 922, I have become all things
to all men so that I might by all means save some. We’re looking at commands, three
in total, that produce God-honoring results. And Paul calls on us
to exalt God in our motives, to delight observers in our choices. And thirdly, in verse one of
chapter 11, we are to emulate the godly in our behavior. emulate the godly in our behavior. Look at verse one of chapter
11, be imitators of me just as I also am of Christ. Now I’ll tell you, I’ll just
tell you the obvious here. The chapter division here is
just clumsy. It’s not a crime or a sin to
think that or say that. Scholars and exegetes for centuries
have agreed that the chapter break here is premature, that
this verse undoubtedly belongs to the discussion begun in 8.1. Chapter and verse divisions are
not part of God’s inspired text. It was actually a Greek scholar
named Stephanas who first introduced verse numbers and chapter divisions
But some of these are so arbitrary that one critic suggested that
he marked these divisions while he journeyed on horseback. And that some of these awkward
divisions arose from the jogging of the horse that bumped his
pen at just the wrong place. Well, regardless, of who made
this determination and when, we can observe from the content
of chapters 10 and 11 that this verse clearly belongs with the
discussion of chapter 10. And it forms, in fact, its conclusion. Look at the obvious transition. In 10.32 and 33, he cites his
own practice on the matter of Christian liberties. Give no
offense. Please men.” And all he does
is drive this point home and here in 11.1. This is Paul’s
third and final exhortation. Indeed, it’s his final words
on this complicated subject. And Paul says here, be imitators
of me. That makes us really nervous,
doesn’t it? Sounds incredibly arrogant to our ears. We would
all sustain the command to Christ likeness, but Paul likeness? Not hardly. This is not arrogance
at all. This is Paul having the courage
to exhort his disciples to watch and do likewise. Would that more
people were like this. Would that more believers were
willing to be emulated. The truth is people don’t typically
want to be watched. They certainly don’t want to
be imitated because their life is not worth exporting in the
first place. Theirs is no godly example. And this is why it’s much more
common for people to say, do as I say. Don’t do as I do. People don’t want to set themselves
up for examples of anything. Not Paul. By God’s grace, he
was able to very capably emulate the Lord Jesus Christ as a visible
earthly example of what Christ-like conduct looked like. And he could
say, be imitators of me just as I am of Christ. Paul said
this same thing earlier in this letter in 416, he said it even
more strongly there, I exhort you therefore be imitators of
me. I’m commanding it. This somewhat surprising exhortation
is really quite common in Paul’s letters. He was again not afraid
to be watched and copied. When he caught the Thessalonian
believers imitating him and his companions, his fellow workers
in the gospel, Paul didn’t rebuke them. He didn’t point them back
exclusively, no, focus on Christ. Instead, in 1 Thessalonians 1,
6, he commended them for it. To the Philippians, Paul likewise
urged, join in following my example. He wasn’t afraid to be watched.
and emulated. Later on in that same epistle,
he says it even more forcefully. In 4.9 he says, the things which
you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice
these things and the God of peace shall be with you. In Acts chapter 20, where Paul
has gathered the Ephesian elders to himself, remember that scene
on the shore. There’s a feature there that
is somewhat alarming at first read. During the course of his
address, he boldly makes 20 I statements. I, I, I, I, I. Paul is not arrogant. He’s
not boastful. Instead, he’s humbly willing
to set himself forth as a living, breathing example. Do as I do. This is not surprising. In his second letter to the Corinthians,
he said that he and his companions were commending themselves to
every man’s conscience in the sight of God. You want to know
what a Christian looks like? Paul says, look at me. Godly commentator Thomas Taylor,
excellent commentary on Titus. He said, great is the force of
godly example, both to the believer, to provoke him to further obedience,
and to the unbeliever, either to bring him to a liking for
religion or to condemn him. You see, the way people live
will either be commendatory or condemning. There is no in between.
And Paul obliterates the idea of pride associated with his
initial comment, be imitators of me, because he quickly adds,
just as I also am of Christ. With regard to self-sacrifice,
he follows Christ’s example. He asks the church to follow
his. And when we immediately ponder
Christ’s self-sacrifice, who emptied himself, taking the form
of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men, Philippians
2, we’re reminded what a wonderful model Christ was for Paul to
follow and for the church to follow in Paul’s footsteps. Pretty simple advice. But you’re
going to need a great measure of the grace of God to fulfill
these commands. The command to exalt God in our
motives, to delight observers in our choices, to emulate the
godly in our behavior. That’s Paul’s recipe for honoring
the Lord Jesus Christ in our life. Would you humble yourself
before him in prayer?