When you travel on the London Underground you will told to Mind the gap! You need to keep a gap between you and the edge where the train may hit you! There are many gaps in our spiritual lives. There are gaps between what you let yourself away with and others. Corinth was full of gaps. The biggest gap is freedom about eating food offered to idols. Some where legalists and others libertines. Mind the gap! There will be trouble. Paul calls them brothers and sisters in Christ before he gives them some strong words of warning. Warnings do matter!

1. Danger of over-confidence (vs. 1-13)

The Libertines are addressed first. Paul wants to take them back to Exodus and give them a warning from history.

• Blessings (vs. 1-4). It is important to count your blessings. Not all their ancestors made it through the wilderness. The wilderness was strewn with the bodies of those who died.
• Sins (vs. 5-10). Idolatry and immorality led to many being killed for their sins. They need to be careful not to wander off into sin.
• Consequences (vs. 5-10). People died. People were killed. We are supposed to learn from past history and not repeat the mistakes of others. Sin has consequences.
• Warning (vs. 11-13). God is faithful. Temptation is not uncommon to all. God will provide a way out. Did you find the exit!?

2 – Danger of compromise (vs. 14-22)

They are to flee from idolatry. Your freedom could compromise the truth. The breaking of bread and drinking of wine is a partnership in the death of Christ. It is spiritual rather than a ritual. It is a mystery. We are one body. We are in relationship with God and with each other. The food sacrificed to idols is not harmless as although idols are nothing, behind them is the demonic.

3 – Danger of legalism (vs. 23-30)

There are limits to Christian freedom. Are you building up the body of Christ? You must do it to the glory of God but also build up the body of Christ. Christ is our example.

Categories: 1 Corinthians