Video summary
In the first part of this lecture, the focus shifts to 1 Corinthians chapter 7, where the Apostle Paul addresses complex questions regarding marriage, singleness, and widowhood within the context of a distressed world. Paul clarifies that while he has no direct commandment from the Lord on these specific matters, his advice is given under God's grace as a matter of wisdom rather than strict law. He encourages believers to remain in their current state—whether single or married—because the present circumstances are difficult and distracting. While marriage is not sinful and remains a blessed covenant, Paul notes that those who are unmarried have the distinct advantage of being able to devote their full energy, time, and resources to serving the Lord without the responsibilities of caring for a spouse or household. Conversely, married individuals must navigate worldly concerns to please their spouses, yet they are still called to maintain their primary devotion to God above all else.
The core principle Paul establishes is that neither singleness nor marriage should cause a believer to neglect their relationship with God; however, the practical application differs based on one's state. For the unmarried, life offers fewer distractions, allowing for undivided focus on spiritual matters. For the married, the challenge lies in keeping Jesus as the first priority amidst daily responsibilities. Paul explicitly states that if a wife or husband dies, the surviving spouse is free to remarry, but only within the Lord, meaning they must marry another believer. Similarly, widows are not forced into remarriage; if remaining single brings them happiness and allows them to serve God without distraction, that is also acceptable. The overarching message is that both singleness and marriage are gifts from God, and believers should not view one as superior to the other but rather strive to honor God faithfully in whichever state they find themselves.
The lecture then transitions to chapter 8, which tackles the issue of food offered to idols, a significant concern for the Corinthian church where temples sold meat that had been sacrificed to false gods. Paul begins by addressing the believers' knowledge that idols are nothing and that there is only one true God, warning against using this knowledge to become proud or to look down on others who do not yet share that understanding. He emphasizes that love builds up the community, whereas unchecked knowledge can puff up the ego. The central argument here is about how freedom in Christ must be exercised with sensitivity toward "weak" brothers and sisters whose consciences are still sensitive to idolatry. Even though eating such food is technically harmless physically, doing so could cause a weaker believer to stumble into sin by thinking that idol worship is acceptable.
Paul concludes this section by urging the church to prioritize love over personal liberty, stating that if exercising freedom causes another believer to fall, it is better to voluntarily restrict one's own rights for the sake of the community. He illustrates this with modern examples, such as listening to secular music, attending festivals like Langa, or even dating practices, explaining how actions that seem harmless to a mature believer can serve as stumbling blocks to those new to the faith or from different cultural backgrounds. The responsibility lies in ensuring one's testimony glorifies God and draws others closer rather than leading them into confusion or sin. Ultimately, the lesson is that true spiritual maturity involves self-restraint and a willingness to sacrifice personal comfort if necessary to protect the faith of others, ensuring that the body of Christ remains united and focused on serving the one true God.
Read the full video transcript
All right, welcome to our next lecture.
Uh we are in 1 Corinthians chapter 7.
Yes. So now we will look at a long
passage 25 to 35. Now uh because it's a
long passage I won't tell us to read the
whole passage but I'll summarize okay
because we need to cover chapter 8 also.
So verse 25 to 35. Okay. So I'll just
just follow along with me. Right? Is
that okay? Yeah. Just for this passage
because it's a long passage. Okay. Verse
25 to35. I'll read till verse 28. Now
concerning virgins, I have no
commandment from the Lord. Yet I give
judgment as one whom the Lord in his
mercy has made trustworthy. So again
he's saying here, I have no commandment.
I have this is not a commandment from
God. But I am writing as though I have
received the mercy, the grace, the
wisdom from God to you. So it's a place
of wisdom. It's a place of instruction.
Right? It's still inspired.
Verse 26. I suppose therefore that this
that this is good because of the present
distress that it is good for a man to
remain as he is. So he's talking about
the world around them. Uh the present
distress in the world in in the
Corinthian culture. A lot of things were
going on, lot of challenges, lot of um
trials, tribulations. And what he's
saying is because of the present
distress that it is good for a man to
remain as he is. Whether he's single,
remain single. He's married, remain
married. But verse 27, are you bound to
a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are
you b Are you are you loose from a wife?
Do not seek a wife. But even if you do
marry, you have not sinned. And even if
a virgin marries, she has not sinned.
Nevertheless, such will have trouble in
the flesh, but I would spare you. So
what he's trying to say is, are you
bound to a wife? Are you married? Don't
separate.
Are you single? Remain single. But if
you are single and you got married, it's
okay. Basically, what he's saying is
stay where you are. But even if you want
to get married, it's okay. It is not
sinful.
Are we understanding? Right? So he's
trying to he's trying to paint a picture
of the world that they're in. The world
the the culture that they're in. Lot of
problems, lot of issues, cultural
issues, all of that. He's saying remain
where you are. Be simple. If you're
single, remain single. If you're
married, remain married. If you are
single, you got you want to get married
and you got married, it's okay. It's not
sinful. You can get married. It's still
right. Okay. And then verse 29, but I
say I but this I say, brethren, the time
is short so that now on so that from now
on even those who have wives should be
as though they had none. What is he
saying? He's saying when you are married
in this section when you are married you
will have many responsibilities
right of course you're married you are
responsible for your spouse you are
responsible for the home you have to
take care of your spouse you have to
take care of the home right but even if
you are married you have to still give
your devotion to God as though you're
single
that's what they say even though you're
married you do not neglect your devotion
to God. You still focus on him even
though you're married. Although with all
the responsibilities,
with all the things that come with
marriage, with all the distractions,
uh with all the things, you still keep
Jesus the first.
Okay, that's what he means in this in
verse 29.
The time is sought so that from now on
even those who have wives should be as
though they had none. Those who weep as
though they do not weep, those who
rejoice as they do not rejoice. But
those who buy as though they did did not
possess and those who use this world as
not misusing it for the for the form of
this world is passing away. What is he
mean? Time is short. World is passing
away. You have one life. Take care of
your responsibilities. Yes. But keep
your devotion to God. Number one, do not
neglect. Do not think just because
you're married your devotion for Jesus
changes. No, you still keep him. The
focus. Verse 32 onwards. But I want you
to be without care. He who is unmarried
cares for the things of the Lord, how he
may please the Lord. Okay. When you are
unmarried, when you are single, because
you don't have all these
responsibilities, you have more time,
you have more effort, you have more
energy to focus on God. That's what he's
writing, right? So, uh, I want you to be
without care. For he who is unmarried
cares for the things of the Lord, how he
may please the Lord. But he who is
married cares about the things of the
world, how he may please his wife. So
he's giving a contrast of someone who's
married, someone who's unmarried.
Someone who's unmarried does not have
all these additional responsibilities
which is why being single comes with its
own responsibility.
Put your whole effort towards God.
Right? So he's trying to just paint a
real world scenario. When you're
married, you care for the things of the
world so that you may please the wife or
your spouse. You have to take care of
the home. You have to earn well. you
need to, you know, put food on the
table. You have to do all those things,
right? Um, but he who's married cares
about the things of the world that he
may please his wife. Verse 34, there is
a difference between a wife and a
virgin. The unmarried woman, so he's
saying there is a difference between a
wife and a virgin. Virgin means
unmarried. Okay? The unmarried woman
cares about the things of the Lord that
she may be holy both in body and spirit.
But she who is married cares about the
things of the world, how she may please
a husband. And this I say for your own
profit, not that I may put a leash on
you, but for what is pro, what is
proper, and that you may serve the Lord
with without distraction. So Paul's main
point from verse 21 onwards, 29 onwards
is whether you are married, whether you
are single,
your devotion for God shouldn't change.
Your focus for God shouldn't change.
Right? But
when you are unmarried, when you are
single because of you have more time,
more energy, less responsibilities when
compared to a married person, you focus
those that energy, you focus that
resource, you focus that time for God.
Are you understanding?
So being married is good. So now Paul by
making this comparison we can he is
saying oh being unmarried is a better no
marriage is very important. Marriage is
actually a covenant before God. Marriage
is a blessed thing. So we can't use this
passage and say oh being unmarried is
better or being married is better.
Right? The point is whether you are
unmarried or married your devotion for
God shouldn't change. Your focus for
God, your worship for God, your
relationship with God shouldn't change.
Right? And um so Paul also is not
forbidding marriage.
He's saying do only be single. No, that
is a gift. That is a call only God can
give. Are we understanding? So marriage
is something to be desired. It's a good
thing to to desire. I think it's
proverbs that says he who finds a good
wife finds a good thing. Marriage is a
good thing. Ah everyone memorize that
verse. So marriage is a good thing. It's
a good desire. Right? So Paul is not
forbidding on or just by Paul comparing
singleness and marriage. We are not
putting one above the other. Both are a
gift. both have a grace from God. Right?
So, uh he is just simply describing the
real world challenges
and considering the real world
challenges of being married, taking care
of your wife, taking care of your, you
know, of your responsibilities.
Keep your devotion for God first, your
purpose for God first.
Amen. Yeah. So, I know I rushed through
that passage, but if you have any
questions, you can pause and ask, but
we'll go to the next section.
Next section verse 36-4. This one you
can read. It's a short one. 1
Corinthians chapter 7 verse 36-4.
But if any man thinks he is behaving
improperly toward his virgin, if she's
passed the flower of youth, and thus it
may thus it must be, let him do what he
wishes. He does not sin, let them marry.
Nevertheless, he who stands steadfast in
his heart, having no necessity,
but has power over his own will and has
no determined determined in his heart
that he will keep will keep his virgin
does well. So then he who gives her in
marriage does well, but he who does not
give her in marriage does better.
Sorry.
>> A wife is bound by a law as long as her
husband lives. But if her husband dies,
she is at liberty to be married to whom
she wishes only in the Lord. But if
she's But if she is happier, if she
remains as she is according to my
judgment and I think I also have the
spirit of God. Okay. So,
sorry, sorry, sorry. I I think I was
unmuted. Okay. So this passage verse
36-4
um especially verse 36 we do not know
exactly what Paul is um what the exact
circumstance he's talking about. Okay.
So u what's your name?
>> Um Omesh you read from which version?
NKJV. So NKJV version it says if any man
thinks he is behaving improperly towards
his virgin can someone just go to NASB
or um or uh maybe good news
or good news Bible
or um
NASB Amplified American Standard
Version.
Maybe just read NASB or let me just
share my screen.
It was 36. Yeah,
I'll just share my screen so that people
online can also see this.
Not amplified. Um, NASB, New American.
Okay, let me just share my screen just
for this. Okay, can all of you see my
screen?
Oh, you're not online. Okay. Okay. Okay.
You can do this as a homework. Ah, just
read NASB
36. Verse 36.
But if anyone thinks that he is acting
dishonorably toward his version, if
she's past her youth and it ought to be
so, let him.
>> So, which this is NASB?
>> NB.
>> Okay. So NASB 1995 it says this. So I'm
just sharing my screen. If any man
thinks that he is acting unbecomly
towards his virgin daughter.
So there are some translation that say
this verse is talking about a man
engaged to a woman or a father who is
considering marriage for his daughter.
We do not know exactly the and the NKGB
version actually leaves it to the
reader. You interpret how you want.
Okay. So we do not know exactly like it
can it is most of the translations say
it is about a man who is engaged to a
virgin meaning unmarried engaged they
are engaged they are betrod betrothed
right but some translations also say it
could be about a father who's
considering marriage for his daughter
regardless let me stop sharing
regardless is the point of the passage
is
ah sorry let me go back
yeah so the point so there are two
scenarios a young man who's engaged to
his to his fiance father who's
considering marriage for his daughter
the point of the passage is uh if if he
is behaving improper improperly meaning
if the engage engagement or if this this
uh the the fiance who is being engaged
if it is being prolonged too long
that this behaving improperly doesn't
mean sexual okay it just simply means uh
her age is increasing and it is it is
prolonged
let them get married is the main point
okay don't keep her under that bondage
so let's read it if any man who thinks
he is behaving improperly towards his
virgin if she is passed the flower of
youth and does it must be let him do
what he desires he does not sin let them
marry so basically what Paul is saying
is don't
don't misuse or don't allow
this being engage this being engaged or
how do I explain it in simple terms
don't allow how if this season if the
season is right for this woman to get
married, let them marry. Don't prolong
it. Don't keep her under like a time
clock or a bondage. Don't control when
she gets married. If it is right for her
to get married, let her get married. Let
her marry. Okay? So, this applies to
both the husband, the 2P husband and the
father. both scenarios because some
translations say this is for the father.
Are we understanding? Yeah. So the point
is don't put a bondage.
If she is growing, if she's growing in
her age and if it's the right time for
her and it's her desire to get married,
let them get married. Don't put a
bondage on her. Are we understanding?
That's what that word behaving
improperly means.
You're not because of your decision,
you're not letting her get married.
Okay? Don't do that. Okay? Verse 37.
Nether. Nevertheless, he who stands
steadfast in his heart, having no
necessity, but has power over his own
will and has so determined in his heart
that he will keep his virgin does well.
meaning and verse 38. So then he who
gives her in marriage does well but he
who does not give her in marriage does
better. Meaning what he means is whether
you decide to get married is a good
thing. Whether you decide not to get
married is better. Why is he saying it's
better? Because in the previous section
he says
being single you can devote all your
energy, your resource, your time towards
God. So that's why he uses the word
better. Okay. So uh whether you get
married it's a good thing whether you
stay single it's better why because
previous section this does not mean it
is we are comparing it or putting it
down it just simply means if you are
unmarried you can give your whole
devotion to God right verse 39
a wife is bound by law as long as her
husband live lives but if if her husband
dies, she is at liberty to be married to
whom she wishes only in the Lord. Okay,
what does this mean? A wife is bound or
a wife or a husband is bound to her
spouse when they are married. Do not
separate. But if one of them passes
away, Paul is saying they are free to
remarry. So is it okay to remarry? Yes.
But he says very important only in the
Lord to another believer. Okay? So we
shouldn't put down people
if their spouse has passed away and they
desire to get married again.
Paul says that's okay. If Paul says
that's okay, we should be okay. Don't
have any opinions or weird. Don't pass
judgment upon them. But the instruction
is very important. Only in the Lord. let
them remarry to another believer only in
the Lord. But if she is happier, if she
remains as she is according to my
judgment and I think I also have the
spirit of God, if she wants to remain
single, let her remain single. See,
widows have a very special place in
God's kingdom. Widows 1 Timothy chapter
I think it's chapter 5 verse 5 and verse
14. Um you know widows have a place.
So it you shouldn't we shouldn't force
widows to get remarried. If they want to
remain a widow it's okay. She's happier
let her remain a widow. Are we
understanding? Right. So it is okay for
a widow for a husband if she's if he's
lost his wife or a wife who has lost the
husband to remarry but only in the Lord
meaning they should be a believer but if
she wants to remain a widow or if he
wants to remain a widow that's also okay
don't put any rule are we understanding
yeah little crazy note sometimes all
these passages little little tough but I
think we made it through um So this
concludes chapter number seven. Chapter
number seven is all about questions that
the church had about marriage, about the
role of sex, singleness, widow,
everything we have covered in this one
chapter, right? Are we okay? Seat seat
belt is still on. Okay. Shall we go to
chapter number eight? Chapter number
eight. Let's go to chapter number eight.
So just that verse 36 okay just keep in
mind we are not very clear sometimes the
instruction can be to the father for his
daughter or also can be to the person
who is engaged.
Point is don't if it is the right age to
be married and if it's their desire to
be married don't put a bondage get them
married. Okay just that verse 36 keep
that in mind. Okay, let's go to chapter
number 8. It's a short chapter, so I'm
hoping to cover it in this lecture.
Shall we read the first three verses,
please? 1 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 1
to three. Yeah, go ahead.
>> Now, concerning things offered to idols,
we know that we all have knowledge.
Knowledge pops up, but love edifies. And
if I if anyone thinks that he knows
anything, he knows nothing yet as he as
he ought to know. But if anyone loves
God, this this one is known by him.
>> Yeah. Okay. So in chapter number eight,
they had questions about idol worship.
So question so chapter number seven,
they had questions about marriage, the
role of sex, singleness, widow, all of
that.
Chapter 8, it starts with a completely
new question about idol worship and food
offered to idols. Now, in order to
understand this chapter, there are two
types of things about idols we need to
discuss. There is physical idols.
Physical meaning you make an image and
you call it a god or an idol. Exodus
chapter 32, what happens? Moses is in
Mount Si. Aaron and all the Israelites
said, "We will Moses is taking too long.
We will make our own idol, a golden
calf. That's a physical object. That is
one kind of idolatry." Second kind of
idolatry in the Bible is the idol in
your heart. You don't need a physical
object to have an idol. Idol in your
heart. Example, Judas
walked with Jesus for thousand days but
had the idol of money. 30 pieces of
silver was enough. That was his idol.
Ananas and Safh possession. What did
they do? They withheld
part of their resources before giving it
to the apostles and and God knew that
their heart was not right. Idolatry in
your heart. So there are two kinds. So
in this chapter Paul is talking about
the first kind physical objects physical
idols. Are we understanding? Yeah. There
are two kinds of idols. One physical
objects second idolatry in your heart.
So in this chapter we are uh we can also
talk about idolatry in the heart.
Pharisees the Pharisees
in Matthew chapter 25 Jesus says woe to
you. You are hypocrites because you care
more about your outward appearance
rather than having a relationship with
God. Okay. Two kinds of idolatry. In
this chapter, chapter 8, Paul is
addressing physical idols and food
offered to physical idols. And how do we
how do we deal with this? They had this
question because in Corinth there were a
lot of idols. There are a lot of gods.
There were a lot of temples and in the
temples near the temples they would sell
meat. They would sell meat. So believers
had questions. Can we eat that meat?
Because they are coming from that. They
used to believe that idol. And when they
ate food near the temple, it was an act
of worship. So they asked they were
asking Paul now that I'm a believer now
that I come to church can I eat that
meat or can I eat food that is sold near
the temple are you understanding
sometimes they would also offer this
food uh to the idol and then they would
give it they would sell it in the market
they would put in in uh ancient Quran
they would put a symbol that this meat
is for this idol and they would sell it
Right? So the Corinthian church had a
lot of questions about how do we deal
with this issue and so this chapter is
all about that. Okay. So verse 1 to3 now
concerning things offered to idols. We
know that we all have knowledge. What is
the knowledge? So Paul is saying all of
you already know. You already know that
an idol is nothing
before God. An idol is worthless. It is
only a physical object. So before
answering the question about eating he
first says you all have knowledge you
not all some of you know. Okay. Then he
says this knowledge knowledge puffs up
meaning they use this knowledge to put
down other believers and other people.
They had understanding that this idol is
nothing. So okay we will you know we
will eat. And for all the people who did
not have that understanding, they were
putting them down. Right? Knowledge
puffs up. Meaning knowledge got to their
head. They had pride.
See, knowledge is good, but knowledge
should come with love.
Are we understanding? That's what he
says. Knowledge puffs up, but love
edifies. Verse two. And if anyone thinks
he knows anything, he knows nothing. as
he ought to know. But if anyone loves
God, this is one, this one is known by
him. Meaning knowledge should flow from
a place of love.
Knowledge should not if you have
knowledge about God and especially all
of you as Bible college students, you're
you're getting knowledge. But the
knowledge should not take you to a place
of pride.
You need to serve people with love in
your heart. Even though you have
knowledge, just because we know
something better or we have an
understanding of God better than other
people, we don't use that to put them
down.
Right? So before answering the question
about in the first three verses before
answering the question about how do we
deal with food offered to idols, he
first says he first has to deal with
their head. They all had a very bad
understanding. Some of them knew that
idols mean nothing. But this knowledge
they are misusing it. Are we
understanding? So the Corinthian
believers, they had been taught the
truth. But this knowledge made them
proud looking down on others who did not
understand it yet. Right? So Paul is
addressing the first issue. Knowledge
should come from a place of love.
Knowledge puffs up. But we must walk in
love.
And um a person who loves God will love
people will not put people down. If you
say you love God, you will not pull you
will not put people down because God
loves people. And so the love of God
should be expressed even to people.
Okay. So the first three verses he's not
giving an answer. He's first talking
about what is in their head.
This knowledge that you have, don't use
it to put people down or people who do
not have the understanding yet. And
he'll explain later why. Okay? Are we
understanding verse 4-6? Shall we read
verse 4 to 6, please?
Therefore, concerning the eating of the
things offered to idols, we know that an
idol is nothing in the world, and that
there is no other god but one. For even
if there are there are so-called gods
whether in heaven on earth as there are
many gods and many lords yet for us
there is one God the father of whom all
things and we we for him and one lord
Jesus Christ uh through whom are all
things and through whom we live.
>> Yeah. So now he's answering the question
he's getting to the meat of the matter.
He says, "Now, therefore, concerning the
eating of things offered to idols, we
know, what do we know? That idols are
lifeless objects.
Only we give them a status or a symbol.
Only human beings put that. It's not
from God. Idols are nothing. Idols are
good as nothing. But even though they
are called as gods, even though there
are many idols and many there are many
gods in heaven and in earth, they say,
"Oh, this idol is in this place. This
idol is in this place." We know we
worship one true God. In the midst of
all the idols and all the gods, we know
that there is one true God. He is the
father g the son Jesus the holy spirit
one god. Amen. So we know that there is
one true god. This is the truth. And so
what he's trying to say is all these
idols around you they are nothing. They
are livesless lifeless. In in verse one
he says you some of you already know
this but now he's making it clear. He
wants the whole church to know that
idols are nothing. They are lifeless
objects. Even though people put God
status on them, we know there is one
true God. Even though these idols are
called gods, we know there is one true
God. Now he will say uh verse verse 7
to8.
Let me just read 7 to8. Now he will say
why not everyone understands it. Okay.
Verse 7 to8. However, there is not in
everyone that knowledge. See, everyone
does not know this understanding. Okay?
See, it's very it's very beautiful. No,
when you read the whole context, right?
So, now he says, "However, there is not
in everyone that knowledge. For some
with consciousness of the idol until now
eat it as a thing offered to an idol,
and their conscience being weak is
defiled." Meaning there are some
believers who are weak. They have just
started their journey of faith. They are
coming from that background
of offering this food as an idol. And
they for some it is still their god.
Even though they have put their faith in
Jesus, they are just starting their
journey. But because they're coming from
idol worship, they still call it their
god. And when they eat this food, they
think it's an offering to that idol. It
is defiling their consciousness. What's
the truth? There is only one true God.
Is there any power in the idol? No. But
some people, what Paul is saying, some
people because they coming from that
background,
to them that idol is still a god, to
them they need to get their
understanding.
They need to get to the truth that there
is only one true God. But because they
are so deep in idol worship, they're
coming to church. They are still
journeying with God. But that
understanding is still not there. So
they are thinking that even when they
eat,
this is a sacrifice to that idol. Are we
understanding? Yeah. They they do it as
an act of worship to that idol. Right?
So
we know that eating anything that is
offered to anything ultimately it's just
food. Are you understanding? Ultimately
it's just food. What is food? Food just
keeps us healthy, gives us energy. It's
like breathing air. Food is that right?
But for some people because this food is
offered to idols their their
consciousness is defiled because they're
coming from that background. Now he says
how now he brings the whole knowledge.
How do we use our knowledge? Knowing
that in the church there are some people
coming from that background. How do we
use this knowledge? Knowing that there
are people coming from this background.
Let's read verse 9 to13.
Can someone read that 9-13? This is the
last passage.
Verse 9 to13. But beware le someone this
liberty of yours uh become a stumbling
block to those who are weak. For if
someone sees you who have um knowledge
eating in an idol's temple will not uh
will not be conscious of him who is weak
be
embolded to eat those things offered to
idols and because of your knowledge
shall shall the weak brother perish from
whom Christ died. But when you uh when
you thus uh sin against the brethren,
would their weak consciousness you sin
against Christ? Therefore, if the food
makes the brothers stumble,
>> I will never uh never never again eat me
eat meat. At least I make my brother
stumble.
>> Stumble. Yeah. Okay. So, what is
happening in the church? Some have
knowledge that idols mean nothing. But
some who are weak, who are still
growing, they still think and I it's a
big deal. Idol is still a god. So eating
this. So what he's saying is we must use
our freedom in Christ very carefully.
For us it may seem right because we know
eating this meat nothing will happen.
But for the weaker brother who sees me
eating this meat for him he might think
oh it's allowed. Oh idol worship is
allowed. Oh, I can I can eat this this
food.
Oh, that means I can be a believer and
also do idol worship.
And then what happens? Because he for
him that is a sin.
I have caused my brother to sin. And
because I have crossed my brother's sin,
I have sinned against God. So we must
use use our knowledge. We must use our
understanding of God very carefully in
church
because in the body of Christ some will
have a lot of knowledge, some will have
a lot of understanding but there are
some people who are still growing who
are still coming from that background.
And Paul is saying I we should never be
a stumbling block to other people.
And then he actually says, "I will never
eat meat again if I lead my brother to
sin."
Very, very, very strong words. I will
never eat meat. For the sake of my
brother,
I will not use my freedom to let him
fall. Are you understanding? Okay. Now,
I have some questions for you.
Um what are some modern examples you can
give? So this is idol worship. Okay.
What are some modern examples you can
give knowing your knowledge, knowing
your understanding of God both online
and in person? Let's have a discussion.
What are some modern examples of
limiting our freedom of being aware of
our brother or sister who is weak who
doesn't have the understanding? Can you
give me some examples? So in this
example, what is it talking about? Idol
worship, eating food offered to an idol.
What about in today's world? What about
in in our city, in our country or or
what? Whatever. What do you guys think?
What are some examples?
Okay, I'll give an example, then you
start thinking. Okay, I'll give an
example. If a mature believer
skips church,
huh? skips church Sunday like they'll
come only twice a month instead of all
the Sundays. A weaker brother can see
that and think oh it's okay to skip
church why should I come for fellowship
but what is what is God's desire that we
come for fellowship right so we might
think oh like because we are strong in
God I'll maybe go to another fellowship
or I'll watch online or I'll read my
Bible but the weaker brothers looking at
our behavior and concluding oh it's okay
to skip church
are you understanding that's modern
example right what other examples can we
give I'll just open it online let's have
a discussion
what are some other modern examples
>> uh mic mic
every day we give uh uh time to god our
personal devotion so for one day we can
skip
>> for
>> for one day we can skip nothing is going
to happen
>> yeah okay so no But what is it doing to
the weaker brother or sister? So my
question is what do we do today in
today's world that can cause a weaker
brother or sister to lead them to sin?
That's my question. What do we do today?
What do we do today because we have
better understanding without knowing it
can lead our brother or sister to sin.
What do you guys think? Yeah, good.
>> So, can I
>> Yes, see it. See that? Good. Good.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Northern uh uh states
basically there's a uh uh tradition
called langa where people uh serve food
on the streets or on a Pacific days like
the u uh uh dura and uh lot of other
things. Okay. Uh so as a uh as a
disciple sometimes we come across and uh
unfortunate the hungry stages makes us
to take it and it makes a weaker
disciple to feel that uh
>> you are participating in that
>> yes
>> good very good good example sirj very
nice so is saying in his town sorry
where are you from sirj
>> so I'm basically south south Indian but
I'm living in Iel currently
>> ah okay so in I imagel they have a
festival and I think it's prasad or
whatnot. Uh and sometimes if he's hungry
he'll he'll just take it. But if a
younger disciple take sees it he might
think he's participating in that. Oh
you're a believer coming to church but
you're also participating in this. He
might think for for Sri Raj it's
nothing. It's just food. He just got
hungry. He'll use it. He'll eat it.
Right? And and this whole thing on uh
offering foods Chapter 10 will give more
details
but good good example. Siraj any any
other examples? Yeah, you want to do?
>> Yeah.
>> So, pastor uh
uh
you know secular song uh listening the
secular song it's not a bad thing. Yes.
>> So some of the song uh good song we can
listen but uh if like a weaker believer
is there and he uh maybe he he will see
us observe us and he can also he can
think like okay it's
>> kind to listen
>> but maybe he can listen to other other
which is not good song and it will
>> very good. What's your name? I forgot.
Huh? Raju. Yeah, Raju, great example.
Secular music. Not completely wrong. I
mean, if the lyrics are okay, it's fine.
Now, a weaker believer can see this and
be like, "Oh, he listens to secular
music." Now, he might listen to it and
nothing will happen. But it can lead him
to listen to more and more secular songs
that can get that can be inspired
by you know something that does not
glorify God. Right? So your simple
action of listening to secular songs see
this is the importance of testimony.
What is your testimony
in church? Right? Is it glorifying God
or is it leading people or are you being
a stumbling block? Right? What's the
point I'm trying to make? The point is
we must be very very careful about our
testimony, our words, our actions, our
motives.
We need to be very careful. Right? So in
fact we should be sometimes we we should
be like Paul to take a drastic step. He
says, "No, I will never again eat meat
if I make my brother stumble." Meaning
there are some things you have to do in
church where it was so normal. So normal
for you but you have to sacrifice so
that your brother your weaker sister
does not fall to sin.
Sometimes you have to take decisions
like that. Are you understanding? Yeah.
Maybe one or two more examples. Okay. So
one is SR talked about uh you know
prasad or food. Um
Raju Raju spoke about uh secular music.
Maybe one or two more you want to go.
Yeah the mic
just unmir. Yeah.
>> So p in this modern world we say about
having girlfriend
>> and if I believe has a girlfriend.
>> Very good. Very good. And if unbelie if
a anger believer says
>> yes very good very good
>> you will say that it's okay to have
girlfriend
>> okay very good example yeah so this
whole thing of dating now in the urban
city dating is very normal and you are
doing it right also you're dating to
marry so it's fine but say someone who's
coming from a completely different
background never heard of dating
suddenly sees this oh in the church we
can just date So then he might now he
might not he might actually start dating
for the wrong reason not to marry. I'll
just try it.
You see how how your testimony can lead
people to things completely is different
but it's coming from your testimony.
It's coming from what you are showing.
Very good example. I'll give another
example. Money.
Money. Can all have lot of money. We can
show it off. We can buy expensive
things. But if that is leading other
people
to abuse money for just personal
possessions,
then we might be a stumbling block.
There's a right way to use money, right?
There's it's not wrong to have expensive
thing. It's not wrong. But if you're
flaunting it, if you're just showing it
to everyone and you know having this
lifestyle, maybe yeah, you can afford
that. Well, but if a younger or a weaker
believer does not have that
understanding, they might say, "Oh, even
I want that." It's coming from a place
of pride. You might be doing with the
right heart, but they will be doing it
from a place of pride. Right? And think
about this. This passage says because
you have led them to sin, you have
sinned before God.
Meaning the responsibility is also on
you your testimony.
Right? Amen.
>> Any other example or we will we will
close in prayer.
>> Excuse me.
>> Yes.
>> I have a question regarding the earlier
chapter.
>> Earlier chapter. Yes. Tell me.
>> Yes. on um on what Jesus says uh on the
scripture we're looking at here in
Matthew chapter 19 3-11.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh on verse 9 and I say to you whoever
divorces his wife except for sexual
immorality and marries another commits
adultery and whoever marries her is who
is divorced commits adultery.
So the thing about after divorce h
people should not remarry but in this
case is this scripture saying that if it
is sexual immorality you you're
permitted or you allowed to to remarry.
>> Sorry I I didn't get the last part. So I
understood you you said about Matthew
chapter 19:9
uh where Jesus says I say to you whoever
divorces his wife wife except for sexual
immoral immorality and marries another
commits adultery and whoever marries her
who is divorced commits adultery. What's
your question on that?
>> My question is except where this phrase
except for sexual immorality. So does it
mean if you divorce for sexual
immorality because there was sexual
immorality involved or unfaithfulness
can you remarry? Does that is it telling
us that you can remarry?
>> Ah okay okay okay. I got your question.
So your your question is if you have
committed sexual immorality
um the person who has committed um the
act can they remarry? Is that your
question?
>> Yeah. The person who has committed.
>> Yes. The person who has committed and
the one
>> who has committed the act.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So good question. So I'll
answer two ways. So one um so Jesus here
is saying
you know he's he's very clear that you
have committed adultery. You have
committed this sin and so it is
recommended that you don't marry. But
but if
this if there is a complete turnaround
in your life, there is no hold of this
sin over your life and that's between
you and God. Only God can completely
take it away. Um you know there is no
mistake too grave. Uh I've seen examples
where you know people have
um who have messed up in this area but
God has restored them right. Uh but yes
the usual route is we recommend them not
to get married. That is the usual route.
But if they really feel they are free
from this
um if they are free from this sin
completely and see that's that's the
thing we can't put judgment on that it's
it's completely their relationship with
God and if they feel they are led to
marry again
uh God can still use that. So the
recommended thing is what Jesus says
don't you know don't get into another
relationship but um now for the other
spouse who has not committed the act
there's no problem because the problem
was on the other spouse right I'm
talking about the spouse that has
committed the act so it is recommended
that they do not marry but you know if
they are completely free from that uh
there is no hold on them then they could
consider but that will come after a lot
of counseling prayer you know like it's
a long journey uh because we don't want
to shut the door on them right so
so yeah that would be my answer it's
it's a tough question uh because we have
to go case by case uh we need to see
exactly what happened uh was it an issue
of addiction was it an issue of what was
it a one-time thing was it uh you know
it it really has to go case by case and
so that's how I would approach that
question but to answer your question on
a very high level we would recommend
them not to get married like
>> you know you need to get healed you need
to get healed first you need to deal
with this issue this this addiction this
bondage that has led you to this place
right so yeah
>> okay I was actually asking I think
you've answered I was actually asking
concern ing the one who has not um done
the sexuality.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Are they can they remarry because
you know today there's a lot of that
happening and in most cases we are not
very sure that there was um sexual
immorality uh in the whole thing. So
just because you find people are
divorcing and remarrying probably not
even out of sexual immorality and so the
and I think the Bible is explicit that
then it should only be in the case of
the sexual immorality where the sexual
immorality.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you Juliana.
Yeah. So for the person who has not
committed the act but they have suffered
from the consequence of their spouse
uh you know they they can consider but
they also need to heal because there's
so much hurt. You can't carry that hurt
into another relationship, right? And
this is also applicable for dating when
if you have dated and and you're
considering some other person but you
have been hurt by the previous
relationship, you need to heal. Both
sides need to heal and only then you
would even you would even consider uh
marriage. So yeah, great great question.
So chapter seven and
>> eight. Yeah. Was that interesting? Yeah.
So now now we know marriage, singleness,
how to answer like how to answer when
you know especially one of the spouse is
believing the other spouse is an
unbeliever. We know how God sees them.
We know that gift. It's a gift to be
single. It's a gift to be married.
Right? And then we talked about idol
worship and and how uh we know that
idols mean nothing. But we need to be
careful our testimony. Right? So chapter
7 and 8. Okay. So now that we have
completed chapter 7 and 8, assignment
one will be next week where uh it'll be
a simple multiple choice question. Four
options. Choose the correct answer.
Chapter 1 to 8. Okay. So 1 Corinthians
chapter 1 to 8. Assignment one. 25
questions. There will be four options.
Just correct. Select the correct one.
Don't worry. It'll be easy. Okay. Maybe
one or two, one or two will be tough but
rest will be very easy. Okay. So, I will
maybe post it on Thursday next week and
you'll have time till Sunday. I hope
that's okay for everyone next Thursday
and you'll have time till Sunday. So, 4
days, right? All right. Shall we pray
and close? Yeah, we'll just pray.
Father, we just thank you for this time.
We thank you, Lord, for
your wisdom, your grace that is upon our
life. Um, thank you Lord for teaching us
so many things on singleness, marriage,
the role of sex and affection Lord and
we know that this is a gift from you.
This is a grace from you Lord. I pray
Lord that we will be faithful where we
are. And uh I pray Lord as we have read
in chapter 8 Lord that we will be
careful Lord of our testimony and let
many people be glorified. Let many
people be drawn closer to you because of
our testimony and not let our lives not
be a stumbling block Lord. So give us
wisdom, give us grace and um we just
submit and commit our lives once again
to you. We thank you once again for
these two lectures and uh we just give
you all the praise and all the glory in
Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. Right.
Thank you so much. We'll see you.
>> Amen. Thank you sir.
>> Yeah. We'll see you next week. God bless
you.
>> Have a nice weekend sir.
>> Thank you. Thank you sir. God bless you.
You too sir.