"Things Contaminated by Idols" (Acts 15:19)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/31/2018 9:41 AM

My Worship Time                                                            Focus:  “Things Contaminated by Idols”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 15:19

            Message of the verses:  "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20  but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

            We ended our last SD stating that there four practices that the Gentile church were told to abstain from.  Then at the end of MacArthur’s commentary he wrote the following.  “To needlessly violate the Mosaic sanctions would destroy the church’s credibility with unbelieving Jews and also offend believing ones.  It would be an abuse of the freedom in Christ believers enjoy.” 

            The first practice that believers were to abstain from:  “Things contained by idols.”  I have to say that this subject has been a bit confusing to me as I have looked at different passages in the Word of God.  Paul writes that because of looking out for a believer whose conscience is weak that they should not go to the market and buy meat that had been sacrificed to idols.  Meat that has been sacrificed to idols in that day was cheaper than meant that was not so it was a matter of economy for some believers who realized that there is no such thing as an idol to buy it from that kind of a market.  There also seems to be a sterner warning not to do this like in our passages from today.  I am thankful that this problem is not around today; at least not have to worry about eating meat that was sacrificed to idols.

            John MacArthur writes that idolatry was “a repulsive, blasphemous matter to the Jews,” as well it should be.  After all it was the worshiping of idols that caused God to take the Israelites from their country the first time in 586 BC.  I want to quote a couple of rather long passages from the pen of Paul on this subject, first from 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, and then from 1 Corinthians 10:14-23.

“1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.  4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5  For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6  yet for us there is but one 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. 7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.  13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble” (1 Cor. 8:1-13).

 

            “14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?  23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. 27  If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28  But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 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” (1 Cor. 10:14-23).

 

            I think because of the many verses that we have looked at this morning we will not look at the next practice (fornication) until our next SD.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I don’t want to do anything that could cause a brother to stumble as Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 8:13.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I trust that the Lord will give me wisdom as I began to teach from Daniel 9:20-27 in our Sunday school class tomorrow.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “The Lord” (Job 38:4).

Today’s Bible question:  “Where did the sixth angel in Revelation 16:2 pour out his vial?”

Answer in our next SD.

3/31/2018 10:26 AM