TEXT:  1 Cor. 6:12;  10:23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      STRANGE BECAUSE NOT ALL THINGS ARE ACTUALLY LAWFUL.

          1.       Robertson and NIV - a proverb of the time.

          2.       "Of those things which are lawful" is the outcome.

          3.       Liberties, where God has not spoken.

B.      LIMITATIONS SET ON LIBERTIES.

          1.       Not all things are expedient.  "Useful for effecting a desired result."

          2.       I will not be brought under the power of any.  "Not enslaved to the liberty."

                   a.       Habit.

                   b.       Silly commitment.

          3.       Not all things edify.  "Does it build up or tear down?"

C.      THE CHAPTERS BETWEEN DEAL WITH RULES FOR THE EXERCISE OF LIBERTIES.

I.      IS IT REALLY A LIBERTY?( 6:13-20 ).

A.      FORNICATION vs. MEATS.  ONE CONDEMNED, ONE NOT.

B.      VIOLATION OF EXAMPLE AND PRINCIPLES.

          1.       Jurisdiction of elders( Acts 20:28;  1 Pet. 5:2 ).

          2.       The work of the church( Eph. 4:11-12 ).

          3.       Modesty( Matt. 5:27-28;  18:6-7 ).

          4.       Silence of the Scriptures is binding( 2 John 9;  1 Pet. 4:11).

C.      DON'T PLAY GAMES( Gal. 6:7 ).

II.     THE EFFECT IT HAS ON MY SOUL( 7:1-40 ).

A.      THE CONCERN OF PAUL( vs. 1-2, 7,17, 26-28, 32-35 ).

B.      WE SHOULD SEEK TO SERVE WITHOUT DISTRACTION( 2 Tim. 2:4 ).

C.      WE MUST WITHSTAND TEMPTATION( James 1:13-14 ).

          1.       Two parts, Internal, "drawn away by his own lusts."

          2.       External, "and enticed."

          3.       Work on the lust.

          4.       Flee tempting situations( 1 Cor.6:18; 1 Cor.10:14; 2 Tim.2:22; James 4:7 ).

D.      WHAT COMES FIRST? ( Matt. 6:33;  16:25 ).

E.      HOW STRONG AM I?( 2 Cor. 12:10 ).  HOW CLOSE CAN WE GET?

III.    THE EFFECT IT HAS ON OTHERS( 8:1-13 ).

A.      OUR ACTIONS DO HAVE AN EFFECT( Rom. 14:7 ).

B.      ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR EXAMPLE( Rom. 14:10-12 ).

C.      THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE UNIMPORTANT( Rom. 14:16-17 ).

D.      WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO:

          1.       Cause another to stumble( Rom. 14:21;  1 Cor. 8:9-13 ).

          2.       Offend others through insisting on liberties( 1 Cor. 9:19-23 ).

          3.       Assert myself over my brethren( Phil. 2:1-4 ).

D.      MAY SEEM TO ENSLAVE US TO OTHERS IGNORANCE( Matt. 20:26-28 ).

IV.   THE EFFECT IT HAS ON THE CHURCH( 9:1-27 ).

A.      PAUL ASSERTS HIS RIGHTS( vs. 1-6 ).

B.      PAUL FORSAKES HIS LIBERTY IN THIS MATTER( vs. 12, 13,18, 19 ).

C.      WHY?( vs. 13, 19-23 ).

D.      HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CHURCH THE KEY.

          1.       The value of the church( Acts 20:28;  2 Cor. 11:1-3;  Eph. 5:25 ).

          2.       His previous warning( 1 Cor. 3:16-17 ).  And rebuke( 1 Cor. 11:20-22 ).

E.      THE OBJECT AGAIN( 1 Cor. 10:31-33 ).

V.    DOES IT BRING ME TO AN IDOLS TABLE?( 10:14-22 ).

A.      WE PERTAIN TO CHRIST( vs. 14-17 ).

B.      ISRAEL'S SACRIFICES( vs. 18 ).

C.      THE IDOL IS NOTHING( vs. 19 ).

          1.       Partaking with them in their feast and ritual( vs. 20-22 ).

          2.       The impression we make( vs. 23-31 ).

                   a.       Nothing to us( vs. 25-26 ).

                   b.       The casual witness( vs. 27-31 ).

D.      THE QUESTION OF FELLOWSHIP.

          1.       We dare not partake( Eph. 5:7-11 ).  Rather reprove. 

Silence is consent.

          2.       We dare not bid Godspeed( 2 John 9-11 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE LIBERTIES IS NOT ABSOLUTE.

B.      WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING?( Matt. 16:25 ).

C.      FOR WHAT MUST WE STRIVE?( 1 Cor. 10:31-33 ).