May, 1935
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ment of the peace that makes the kingdom (cf. v. 17). To “ destroy” is to engage in that action which is the opposite of building. Let Christ Himself •be the ex ample, and let us ask ourselves the ques tion: “ How much are we like Him?” We are to be careful to “ destroy” neither the one for whom Christ died, nor the work o f God in that one (vs. 15-20). The de struction referred to means to render use less for the intended purpose. It is good to do nothing whereby a brother is weak ened in faith or hindered in service, wheth er or not the action itself be perfectly lawful for the possessor of the liberty in Christ. II. T he ExjotciSE of L iberty (1 Cor. 8:9-12). In the exercise o f Christian liberty, one’s own rights will be relinquished day by day (v. 9 ). Thus again will Christ be revealed in the Christian’s walk and conduct. The liberty bestowed upon the Christian is that which sets him free to do what pleases the Lord. W e are to “take heed lest” we misuse the liberty in Christ. In the exercise of Christian liberty, the weak brother’s need will be placed before one’s own rights (vs. 10, 11). The be havior is to be governed by love, not law. There is a great deal o f thinking concern^ ing Christian liberty which is entirely legal, putting the law of liberty above the law of love, thus shutting out the true exercise o f love. The world’s question is: “What can I get?” The Christian’s question should be: “What can I give ?” Christians are the “epistle o f Christ” (2 Cor. 3:3 ), and each believer should ask himself, “What is Christ saying through me?” It is true that the Christian has liberty to “eat,” but he also has liberty to love, and because of that love, he has liberty to abstain from “eating.” In the exercise of Christian liberty, the remembrance of the fact that Christ dwells in the weak brother should constantly gov ern one’s actions (v. 12). To sin against the weak one is to sin against Christ who is one with every believing soul, however weak in conscience, or uninstructed in mind, or feeble in faith that one may be. Christians should therefore be careful lest they hear the Lord say, “Why persecutest thou me?” III. T he P rinciple of L iberty (I Cor. 8:13). This verse sums up what has been said about liberty and gives us the underlying principle. In the light o f eternity, as well as in the light o f the life in Christ, all “ eating” and “ drinking” becomes trivial and petty; hence it is good to do nothing whereby a brother is caused to stumble. The Christian who possesses genuine Chris tian liberty will walk more and more in forgetfulness o f himself and in remem brance o f the brother for whom Christ died and in whom Christ lives. He will BLACKBOARD LESSON
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refuse to be governed by the brother’s frailties, but will follow that path along which One walked who said, “The Son o f man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” ■ Points and Problems The “weak” of Romans, 14 are not Christians who are morally weak. If any thing, they were overscrupulous about sin, insisting upon the observance of Things which have nothing to do with morality. They were “ weak in the faith’’ not having fully abandoned themselves to the propo sition that in Christ the believer is free as regards legalistic and ceremonial rules. They were probably Jewish believers. The Gentile believer knew that his former re ligion was wholly false and therefore to be abandoned. But the Jewish,.believer, knowing that his former religion had been ordained of God, found it difficult to sur render entirely. The “ strong” of this chap ter are those who know the truth of grace, and are done with legalism forever. There is no question which are right, the “weak” or the “strong.” In principle, the latter are right in. their contention. But a right principle may be wrongly used. Therefore,1 the apostle corrects the “weak” as to his wrong position, and then rebukes the* “strong” for his wrong use of a correct position. First, Paul cites several concrete e x amples o f the problem (vs. 1-5). There were controversies about eating and the observance o f days. The weak condemned those who ate. The strong set at nought those who refused to eat. Second, as a solution to all such prob lems^ the apostle lays down certain divine principles o f guidance (vs. 6-12). All Christians, both weak and strong, have one
aim, namely, to live “unto the Lord” (v. 6). Furthermore, they all have one Lord (v. 8). Finally, all shall stand before one judgment seat ■(v. 10). Third, the apostle closes with a series of practical exhortations (vs. 13-23). There are three which, stand out. 1. W e are not to judge one another in such matters, but rather avoid putting a stumblingblock in our brother’s path (v. 13). 2. We are not to grieve one another by any action (v. 15). 3. W e are not to destroy the work of God over matters of eating (v. 20).' Nothing should be done, no matter how trivial, that might injure a fellow believer. Golden Text Illustration On the department bulletin boards, re cently, o f what is said to be the greatest hardware company in the world, the fol lowing notice was posted by direction o f the board of directors, and headed, “House Notice” : IF YOU MUST DRINK T o the married man who cannot get along without his drinks, the following is suggested. First: Start a saloon in your own house. Second: Be the only customer, and you’ll have no license to pay. Give your wife $2.00 to buy a gallon o f whiskey, and re member there are sixty-nine drinks in one gallon. Third: Buy your drinks from no one but your w ife; and by the time the first gal lon is gone, she will have $8.00 to put in the bank and $2.00 to start business again. Fourth: Should you live ten years and continue to buy booze from her, and then die with snakes in your boots, she will [Continued on page 199]
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