I Corinthians 8
Love is necessary in the Christian lifeverses 1-3
Now as touching things offered to idols
we know that we all have knowledge
knowledge puffs up – BUT charity edifies
AND IF any man think that he knows any thing
he knows nothing yet as he ought to know
BUT IF any man love God – the same is known to HIM
Only one true God: Father, Son, Holy Ghostverses 4-6
As concerning therefore the eating of these things that are offered
in sacrifice unto idols
we know that an idol is nothing in the world
and that there is none other God but ONE
FOR though there be that are called gods
whether in heaven or in earth
(as there be gods many and lords many)
but to us there is but ONE God – the Father
of WHOM are all things – and we in HIM
and ONE Lord Jesus Christ – by WHOM are all things
and we by HIM
Idols are not realverses 7-8
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge
for some with conscience of the idol to this hour eat it as a
thing offered unto an idol
and their conscience being WEAK is defiled
BUT meat commended us not to God
FOR neither – if we eat – are we the better
neither – if we eat not – are we the worse
Sin against Christ: causing weaker brother to be offendedverses 9-13
BUT take heed lest by any means this LIBERTY of yours become
a stumbling block to them that are WEAK
FOR if any man see you which have knowledge sit at meat
in the idol’s temple shall not the conscience of him
which is WEAK be emboldened
to eat those things which are offered to idols
AND through your knowledge shall the WEAK brother perish
for whom Christ died?
BUT when you sin so against the brethren
and wound their WEAK conscience
you sin against Christ
WHEREFORE – if meat make my brother to offend
I will eat no flesh while the world stands
lest I make my brother to offend
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And if any man think that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. (1163 “ought” [dei] means must, must needs, should, it is necessary, there is a need, to be required by obligation, compulsion or convention, or be proper)
DEVOTION: One of the sins of even believers at times is they think because they have been a Christian for a long time they have all the answers to all the questions. The answer to this problem is that no one has all the answers. Even a man called the “Answer man” doesn’t have all the answers.
What happens to individuals who think they have all the answers is that they will not listen to others. They have stopped learning. They are not showing the LOVE of Christ to others. That makes them sinners that need to confess their sin to return to fellowship with the LORD. Pride always comes before a fall.
Paul wants to inform every Christian that they can fall into this trap. I have been a believer since the age of twelve and I still have so much to learn. I have not arrived and neither has any other Christian. If they think they have they are lying to themselves.
CHALLENGE: Always look into the Word of God to learn more about Jesus and how HE wants you to act.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. (1849 “liberty” [exousia] means power, authority, right, jurisdiction, strength, control, freedom to action, or right to judge)
DEVOTION: There are three positions a Christian can find their self: License, Liberty, and Legalism. Here Paul is warning believers who are mature not to use their rights to eat things offered to idols in the presence of those who are still babes in Christ. They had just come from worshiping idols to worshiping Christ. They wanted to end their old life and start a new life in Christ. Then they were watching mature believers eat meat that they knew was sacrificed to idols and then sold in the marketplace.
Mature believers are not to place the liberty ahead of the growth of a new Christian. They were to try to remember what it was like when they were first a believer and act accordingly.
Too often even mature believers only think of themselves and offend those who are new to the faith. They know that idols are nothing but they also understand that at one time they thought they were something to worship.
Paul doesn’t want new believers to think there was nothing wrong with their old life of worshiping idols. He acknowledged that mature believers have the liberty to eat the meat but asked them to consider the weaker or new believers before they did anything.
We have to ask ourselves these same questions today regarding our actions that might cause a new believer to stumble back into his old life. Our example means a lot to those who watch us to learn what the Christian life is all about. Paul keeps repeating this instruction, so that, mature believers will listen and stop offending.
CHALLENGE: Be the example you needed when you first believed. Don’t cause a new believer to stumble.
: 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died? (622 “perish” [apollumi] means to destroy fully, die, lose, mar, or render useless)
DEVOTION: Remember that there are three types of Christians explained in this letter to the Corinthian church. One type is called “baby” and that individual only eats the milk of the Word of God. The second type is called “carnal” which is an individual who has been saved for a while but is not changing his life to be more Christ-like. Individuals in this category could think that they are saved but really have never done anything with Christ but say a prayer to get into heaven. However, some are saved but are growing very slowly. The third type is called “spiritual” these individuals are growing in the LORD and know that they have liberty in their actions. Paul is instructing this third type not to use their liberty to cause a baby or carnal Christian to stray from the LORD.
Is it possible for someone who has accepted Christ to go to Hell? I believe that this word is saying that a brother in Christ is marred by the actions of stronger Christians. He is not on his way to Hell. Some stronger Christians realize that some things they do will not send them to Hell but will hinder their growth.
This passage is warning them to watch out for their fellow believer instead of only thinking of themselves. We are here to encourage each other. Are your actions encouraging others to serve the LORD? Many older Christians don’t see the need to get into a small group or a prayer meeting and this causes a weaker brother to feel that small groups or prayer groups are not important. Remember a piece of coal taken out of a fire will soon lose its heat. Our habits affect others. Our actions can affect the actions of other believers. Parents who are training their children can cause them to drift from the LORD by their actions. They might be able to handle some habits but their children might not be able to handle the same habits.
He states that if we use our rights as mature believers and it offends a new believer we are sinning against not only the new believer but against Christ.
Some people are professional weaker brothers. Watch out for them also. They enjoy causing “spiritual” Christians problems because they know they are not there and don’t want anyone to be further along in their spiritual growth them themselves – they are carnal Christians looking for faults in others.
Ask the LORD to give you the wisdom to see the difference between a weaker brother who is offended by our actions regarding his spiritual growth and the professional weaker brother who just wants to cause us problems with legalism.
CHALLENGE: Ask yourself when you are practicing a habit that might offend a weaker Christian who is trying to grow for him to go further away from the LORD instead of closer to the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 13 Wherefore, if meant make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, lest I make my brother to offend. (4624 “offend” [skandalizo] means to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, cause to sin, cease believing, fall into sin, to give up his faith, to cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another, or to cause one displeasure at a thing)
DEVOTION: Paul is asked a question in a letter from the church at Corinth. He was called upon to settle the matter of mature Christians eating meat offered to idols in front of weak or baby Christians.
He wrote this letter to the church with a conclusion that he prayed all believers would honor because he was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit regarding this matter.
His conclusion for his life was that he would never again eat meat, so that a fellow believer will not stumble into habits that will hinder their conscience. We are told that we are to let our conscience be our guide.
Here were believers who had a weak conscience and were willing to follow whatever they saw their teachers do in public. The teachers knew that idols were fake but the new believers were still learning.
Paul wanted to help the new believers become mature believers by the mature believers stopping what they knew they could do but didn’t do it to help them grow.
We have to fix our eyes on Jesus and think through each time we use our liberty in front of those who are new believers. We even have to watch what we say regarding what we do.
CHALLENGE: Paul was willing to make a change in his life to help those who were weaker. He was showing the love of God to them.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverse 3, 4, 6, 8
One Godverse 4, 6
Fatherverse 6
Creatorverse 6
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lordverse 6
Jesusverse 6
Christverse 6, 11, 12
Lord Jesus Christverse 6
One Lord Jesus Christverse 6
Creatorverse 6
Christ diedverse 11
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Conscienceverse 7, 10, 12
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Offering sacrifices to idolsverse 1, 4, 7, 10
Being puffed up by knowledgeverse 1, 2
Thinking you know it allverse 2
False godsverse 5
False lordsverse 5
No knowledge of Godverse 7
Conscience weakverse 7, 10
Defiledverse 7
False use of libertyverse 9
Being a stumbling block to weak believersverse 9, 12
Idols templeverse 10
Sin against the brethrenverse 12
Sin against Christverse 12
Offend a brother (fellow believer)verse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Charityverse 1
Edify othersverse 1
Love Godverse 3
Knowledge of true Godverse 7
Libertyverse 9
Brethrenverse 12
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Problem: Eating things offered to idolsverse 4
Last Things (Future Events)
Perishverse 11
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QUOTES regarding passage
: 1 By the peri de (“now about”) Paul shows he is referring to another question asked by the Corinthian delegation (cf. 7:1, 25). The importance of the question of “foods offered in sacrifice to idols” (eidōlothutōn) becomes evident when one realizes how thoroughly idolatry and pagan sacrifices permeated all levels of Greek and Roman society. Indeed, people could hardly escape contact with the pagan practices and their influence. The meat offered on the pagan altars was usually divided into three portions: one portion was burned up, a second given to the priest, and the third given to the offerer. If the priest did not use his portion, it was taken to the meat market. Thus a considerable amount of sacrificed meat ended up in the public market, on the tables of pagan neighbors and friends, or at the pagan festivals. The problems Christians faced are obvious. Was the meat spiritually contaminated? Did the pagan god actually have an effect on the meat? Even if one did not think so, what would his participation do to his Christian brother who might have scruples about this? Though Christians today do not have to deal with this particular problem, they too must face questions of how to conduct themselves in a non-Christian society.
In v. 1 Paul concedes that all Christians know—at least theoretically—the real meaning about the meat sacrificed to idols. But, he implies, there is something more—some may really feel that there is something wrong with that meat (v. 7). So he adds that the mere knowledge that there is nothing wrong with it inflates one to a level of false security and indifference. Thus, love (agapē) is necessary. Love takes one beyond himself to aid another; it builds up. (It is possible to take v. 1a, as some do, as a quotation from the Corinthians themselves: “We know that you say we all have knowledge.”) (Mare, W. H. (1976). 1 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, p. 238). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Now concerning things sacrificed to idols (περι δε των εἰδωλοθυτων [peri de tōn eidōlothutōn]). Plainly the Corinthians had asked also about this problem in their letter to Paul (7:1). This compound adjective (εἰδωλον [eidōlon], idol, θυτος [thutos], verbal adjective from θυω [thuō], to sacrifice) is still found only in the N. T. and ecclesiastical writers, not so far in the papyri. We have seen this problem mentioned in the decision of the Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15:29; 21:25). The connection between idolatry and impurity was very close, especially in Corinth. See both topics connected in Rev. 2:14, 20. By εἰδωλοθυτα [eidōlothuta] was meant the portion of the flesh left over after the heathen sacrifices. The heathen called it ἱεροθυτον [hierothuton] (1 Cor. 10:28). This leftover part “was either eaten sacrificially, or taken home for private meals, or sold in the markets” (Robertson and Plummer). What were Christians to do about eating such portions either buying in the market or eating in the home of another or at the feast to the idol? Three questions are thus involved and Paul discusses them all. There was evidently difference of opinion on the subject among the Corinthian Christians. Aspects of the matter come forward not touched on in the Jerusalem Conference to which Paul does not here allude, though he does treat it in Gal. 2:1–10. There was the more enlightened group who acted on the basis of their superior knowledge about the non-existence of the gods represented by the idols. Ye know that we all have knowledge (οἰδαμεν ὁτι παντες γνωσιν ἐχομεν [oidamen hoti pantes gnōsin echomen]). This may be a quotation from the letter (Moffatt, Lit. of N. T., p. 112). Since their conversion to Christ, they know the emptiness of idol-worship. Paul admits that all Christians have this knowledge (personal experience, γνωσις [gnōsis]), but this problem cannot be solved by knowledge. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Co 8:1). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
There were two sources of meat in the ancient world: the regular market (where the prices were higher) and the local temples (where meat from the sacrifices was always available). The strong members of the church realized that idols could not contaminate food, so they saved money by purchasing the cheaper meat available from the temples. Furthermore, if unconverted friends invited them to a feast at which sacrificial meat was served, the strong Christians attended it whether at the temple or in the home.
All of this offended the weaker Christians. Many of them had been saved out of pagan idolatry and they could not understand why their fellow believers would want to have anything to do with meat sacrificed to idols. (In Rom. 14–15, the weak Christians had problems over diets and holy days, but it was the same basic issue.) There was a potential division in the church, so the leaders asked Paul for counsel.
Paul called to their attention three important factors.
Knowledge (vv. 1–2). The Corinthians were enriched in spiritual knowledge (1 Cor. 1:5) and were, in fact, rather proud of their achievements. They knew that an idol was nothing, merely the representation of a false god who existed only in the darkened minds of those who worshiped it. The presence of an idol in a temple was no solid proof that the god existed. (Later, Paul would point out that idolatry was basically the worship of demons.) So the conclusion was logical: A nonexistent god could not contaminate food offered on his altar.
So far, it is the strong Christians who are ahead. Why, then, are the weak Christians upset with them when their position is so logical? Because you don’t always solve every problem with logic. The little child who is afraid of the dark will not be assured by arguments, especially if the adult (or older brother) adopts a superior attitude. Knowledge can be a weapon to fight with or a tool to build with, depending on how it is used. If it “puffs up” then it cannot “build up [edify].”
A know-it-all attitude is only an evidence of ignorance. The person who really knows truth is only too conscious of how much he does not know. Furthermore, it is one thing to know doctrine and quite something else to know God. It is possible to grow in Bible knowledge and yet not grow in grace or in one’s personal relationship with God. The test is love, which is the second factor Paul discussed. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 594–595). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
8:1 We know that we all have knowledge appears to have been a slogan used by certain Corinthian believers as an arrogant statement against weaker Christians. The weaker Christians believed that eating food offered to idols was a sin. Other Corinthian believers thought that such concerns were ridiculous. They argued that if the idols were worthless, then the meat offered to them was fine to eat. Paul agreed that food offered to idols was not contaminated, but he wanted the knowledgeable Christians not to flaunt their enlightened point of view. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies: This is one of Paul’s five attacks on the arrogance of some of the church members at Corinth (4:6, 18, 19; 5:2). These people belittled their weaker brothers and sisters with their knowledge. They had missed the point. They should have been using their knowledge to help other believers in the church. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (1 Co 8:1). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
8:1 things sacrificed to idols. The Greeks and Romans were polytheistic (worshiping many gods) and polydemonistic (believing in many evil spirits). They believed that evil spirits would try to invade human beings by attaching themselves to food before it was eaten, and that the spirits could be removed only by the food’s being sacrificed to a god. The sacrifice was meant not only to gain favor with the god, but also to cleanse the meat from demonic contamination. Such decontaminated meat was offered to the gods as a sacrifice. That which was not burned on the altar was served at wicked pagan feasts. What was left was sold in the market. After conversion, believers resented eating such food bought out of idol markets, because it reminded sensitive Gentile believers of their previous pagan lives and the demonic worship. we all have knowledge. Paul and mature believers knew better than to be bothered by such food offered once to idols and then sold in the marketplace. They knew the deities did not exist and that evil spirits did not contaminate the food. See note on 1Ti 4:3. love edifies. Knowledge mingled with love prevents a believer from exercising freedoms that offend weaker believers and, rather, builds the others up in truth and wisdom (cf. 13:1–4). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Co 8:1). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 1. Now as touching things offered unto idols, &c.] This was another of the things the Corinthians wrote to the apostle about, desiring to have his judgment in; it was a controversy that had been before moved, whether it was lawful to eat things that had been sacrificed to idols. This was considered in the council at Jerusalem, Acts 15 and it was agreed to, for the peace of the churches, that the Gentiles, among other things, be advised to abstain from them; which, it seems, the church at Corinth knew nothing of, for the controversy was now moved among them: some that were weak in the faith, and had not, at least, clear notions of Gospel liberty, thought it very criminal and sinful to eat them; others that had, or boasted they had, more knowledge, would not only eat them privately at home, having bought them of the Heathen priests, or in the common shambles, where they were exposed to sale, and at public feasts, to which they were invited by their friends; but would even go into an idol’s temple, and sit and eat them there, to the great grief and prejudice of weak Christians; and what they had to plead in their own defence was their knowledge, to which the apostle here replies: we know that we all have knowledge; which is said either affirmatively and seriously; and the meaning is, that the apostles and other Christians knew, and were conscious to themselves of their light and knowledge, and were assured, and might affirm with confidence, that they all, or the most part, only some few excepted, see ver. 7 had the same knowledge of Christian liberty as they had; knew that an idol was nothing, and that eating meats offered to them could not defile, or do them any hurt; for they were very sensible there was nothing common or unclean of itself, and yet did not think fit to make use of their knowledge to the grieving and wounding of their fellow-Christians: or else this is said ironically, we are wise folks; you particularly are men of knowledge, and wisdom will die with you; you know that you know; you are very knowing in your own conceits, and very positive as to your knowledge. ’Twas the saying of Socrates, that that this one thing he knew, that he knew nothing; but men wise in their own opinions know every thing: knowledge puffeth up; not true knowledge; not that which comes from above, which is gentle and easy to be entreated; not sanctified knowledge, or that which has the grace of God going along with it; that makes men humble, and will not suffer them to be puffed up one against another; but a mere shew of knowledge, knowledge in conceit, mere notional and speculative knowledge, that which is destitute of charity or love: but charity edifieth; that is, a man that has knowledge, joined with love to God, and his fellow-Christians, will seek for that which makes for the edification of others; and without this all his knowledge will be of no avail, and he himself be nothing. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 656). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Christian fellowship is a lovely gift, but it carries great responsibilities. Being all one in Christ is precious, but we have to make our every decision not only in regard to our relationship to the Lord Jesus, but also in regard to our relationship to our brother and sister in Christ. Have you thought about that in terms of your entertainment, of what you eat and drink, of where you go and what you watch? (p. 104)
There are others who will inssit that you are compromising by your fellowship with others who do not agree on some points of doctrine. But the master principle is not what you know by revelation, but how you love by the impartation of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter what others think if you can look into the face of your lovely Lord and hear Him say, “Well done!” (p. 104,The Royal Route to Heaven by Alan Redpath)
Shepherds and teachers are for churches, not churches for shepherds and teachers. Churches do not exist for our benefit or for our livelihood. We exist rather for their good. (p. 47)
The word present is also worth pondering in Colossians 1: 28 – “that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” – in that it reminds us that we are to have in view always that glorious moment of presentation when our Lord returns and His servants meet Him to give an account of their service. (p. 54)
To give warnings is an expression of Christian realism – of dealing with things as they really are. Since all Christians are in the spiritual battle (Ephesians 6: 10-18), they must be alerted to moral and spiritual dangers. All need to be warned against perils such as pride, self-confidence, Satan and his devices, false teaching, unhelpful emphases, and idleness ( Acts 20:30-31; I Thessalonians 5: 14). (p. 55)
The wisdom is not so much that which comes from training and the gaining of expertise, but the wisdom that comes from the fear of the Lord, respect for His Word, and sensitivity to His Spirit – the wisdom that is from above (James 3: 17-18) (p. 55)
The only weapons adequate for this struggle with Satan and his influences are prayer and the Word of God. (p. 55, On Being A PASTOR by Derek J. Prime & Alistair Begg)
Exodus 8
Additional plagues are inflicted upon Egypt.
INSIGHT
In the Old Testament, God makes a distinct difference between how He treats the Jewish nation and how He treats others. God lets none of the plagues that fall on Egypt fall upon Israel
How we wish sometimes that God would do the same for us in the church! How we wish that, because we are Christians, we would have none of the unpleasant things happen to us that happen to the world!
We must recognize that in the Old Testament, God wants the recognizable difference between Israel and the world to be physical. In the New Testament, He wants that difference to be spiritual. In the Old Testament, God’s blessing is the fruit of the vine. In the New Testament, it is the fruit of the Spirit. We must focus on spiritual blessings to be the difference between us and the world. (Quiet Walk)
WHAT IS LEGITIMATE IN PRAYER?
O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Psalm 74:10
Pleas and arguments and requests are perfectly legitimate in prayer. Have you noticed how men of God prayed? They knew God was omniscient; so they not only made their requests known to Him but also pleaded with Him. And what I like above everything else is the way they argued with Him. Moses, for example, did so. On one occasion he came down from the Mount and found the people rebellious, and when he found God threatening to disown them and leave them to their own devices, Moses said to God, “You cannot do this.”
Look too at the man in Psalm 74. “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach?” (Psalm 74:10). He says in effect, “Lord, why do You allow men to do these things?” I believe God as Father delights in listening to such pleas and reasonings and arguments. This flabby generation of Christians seems to have forgotten what our fathers used to delight in when they talked about “pleading the promises.” They did not regard that as offensive. They had no sort of mock humility, but they felt they were entitled, according to this teaching, to go to God as the psalmist did and remind him of His own promises. They said, “Lord, I do not understand. I know it is my imperfection, but I am certain of these promises. Lord, help me to see how the promises are to be related to these perplexities.”
So it is perfectly right to plead with God; our Lord pleaded with Him. In His great prayer in John 17 our Lord argued with God by bringing His requests. He reminded God of His own promises and of His own character. I believe God delights in this as Father, and as we do these things in this way our hearts will be reassured before Him, and often we shall be amazed and astonished at the answers that we receive.
A Thought to Ponder: Pleas and arguments and requests are perfectly legitimate in prayer. (From Saved in Eternity, p. 37, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Great Reward
“Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” (Luke 6:23)
Sometimes great rewards are promised to those who help locate dangerous criminals, or to those who win a lottery, but such pecuniary rewards are trivial compared to those awaiting all the faithful servants of Christ. The “great reward” promised by Christ in our text is specifically for those believers who willingly have endured hatred and ostracism, reproach and slander “for the Son of man’s sake” (v. 22).
Such rewards are distinct from salvation, of course, for that reward is given only “to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly” (Romans 4:5). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3:5-6).
That is, salvation is a free gift, received only through personal faith in Christ and His sacrificial death for our sins. Rewards, on the other hand, are earned by faithful witness and work for Christ. In that day when “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10), many will learn to their dismay that, although they have indeed received everlasting life, they will have very little reward. For “the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:13)—not the quantity, but its quality and fidelity to God’s Word. Then, “if any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved” (v. 15).
We need to remember that one of the last and thus most significant promises of Christ was: “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Likewise, lazy believers need to be reminded that if thye are serious about remaining in Christ’s love and experiencing abundant life they must get serious about obeying the Father’s commandments (John 15:10-11)
(p.127, The Hole In Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung)
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