Sermon Direct Link
12/3/23
Rev. Clint Smith
- God demands faith and faithfulness from His followers. God is holy. God is jealous for what belongs to Him; worship and service. We deeply offend Him when we sin. Exodus 20:1-6
- God is all powerful. The very things He warns us to stay away from are the very things which cause us harm and destroy our lives. Sin always brings death. James 1:12-17
- God gives Christians freedoms in this life. Freedom in Christ should be profitable to every Christian. We can live life His way with a clear conscience. Paul understood meat from the market was just that, meat – it didn’t matter if it was sacrificed to idols.
- God has divine ownership of the earth and everything in it. It does not matter if a pagan priest or any other declares it otherwise. Psalm 24:1, 10
- Christians should maintain social fellowships with believers and unbelievers. It is appropriate to discuss boundaries discreetly.
- If challenged regarding the Christian faith, one must respond to the unbelievers challenge, because it is a challenge to the lordship of Christ. Psalm 24:1
- The Apostle Paul summarizes our Christian lives, our freedoms, and our ability to keep our consciences and our neighbor’s conscience clear; do all things to the glory of God! This is the greatest love. Matthew 22:37-40
- People are precious to God.
- God loves the Jews, so we love the Jews.
- God loves the people of the nations, so we love the people of the nations.
- God loves His Church, so we love His Church.
He wants none to be offended. There is no glory brought to God when a Christian exercises freedoms and it harms a weaker brother, sister, or unbeliever.
- The Church at Corinth and the universal Church today must receive the challenge Paul issued. The challenge is to have a zeal for the souls of all people. We must be unselfish soul-winners.