1 Cor 10:21&22 “You Can’t Have Both”

For the Corinthians eating meat had become a problem. Meat offered for sale in the market came from pagan temples where the animal had been offered in sacrifice. Sometimes this was advertised and often not. Since only the best animals were offered in sacrifice, being sacrificed was like the FDA seal of approval.  The question the church had was “if this food was offered to an idol can we still eat it?” Paul’s answer gives us something to think about.

1.      The Communion connection 

a.      When we take communion we become connected to Jesus on the cross and the others taking communion.

b.      Not the actual blood and body but there is a spiritual connection, presence.

c.       Spiritually you are joined to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

2.      Food offered to an Idol shares a connection

a.      A connection to demons

b.      Multi faith services

c.       A world that worships many Gods

d.      Any God and Any worship

3.      The call for separation as the people of God

a.      In worship 1 Cor 10: 214-22

b.      In actions 1 John 1:5&6

c.       In life values 2 Cor 6:14-17

 

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 10:21&22 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 
I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 
Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 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. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

1 John 1: 5 & 6 ⁵This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.   ⁶If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.   ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 ¹⁴Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?   ¹⁵ What accord has Christ with Belial?  Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?   ¹⁶ What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,  “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.   ¹⁷ There fore  go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing;

 

 

 

Do we stand out from our non-Christian friends? Is there a sharp contrast between us and the world? While God calls us to be in the world He calls us not be of the world. To be a light in the darkness. Therefore let us examine our lives to make sure our connections are clear.