| 1 Corinthians 8 Previous Chapter | Next Chapter 1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: we know that we all have knowledge. Yet knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if any man loves God, the same is known by Him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating of those things that are sacrificed to idols: we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For although there are those that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there are many gods, and many lords,) 6 Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things exist,1 and for whom we exist; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom all things are made, by and through whom we exist. 7 However, everyone does not have this knowledge. For some are so accustomed to idols, that to this hour, they see it as eating something sacrificed to an idol; and if they do eat it, their weak conscience is defiled. 8 But food does not make us worthy to God. For neither by eating, are we better; nor by not eating, are we worse. 9 But take heed for fear that somehow this liberty of your's becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if any man sees you, who has knowledge [of this liberty], sit at a meal in an idol's temple, wouldn't the conscience of a weak brother be encouraged to eat those things that are sacrificed to idols;2 11 Through your knowledge shall the weak brother, for whom Christ died, perish? 12 But when you sin so against the brothers, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food offends my brother, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, lest I offend my brother. Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | |||||||||
1 Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things exist. Quantum physics has recently discovered that the entire world is an illusion; that there is no material world like science previously thought. Instead atoms, previously thought to be the basic material building block, are known to made up of tornado-like vortexes of energy; and energy is considered to be spirit. This is in agreement with the scripture: "Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things exist, and for whom we exist; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom all things are made, by and through whom we exist." 1 Cor 8:6. God is light. God is a consuming fire. God is a spirit. Below are more scriptures that show the truth of everything being created and existing within God: (for everything is energy, not the illusion of matter or substance).
He has made from one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the allotted times and the boundaries of their habitation; So that they should seek the Lord, and perhaps might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from every one of us. For in him we live and move, and have our being; Acts 17:26-28
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph 4:6Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things exist. 1 Cor 8:6
Now since the entire universe is made up of subatomic vortexes of God or energy, then God is in control of anything He so desires. We know as it is written, all things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to his purpose, Rom 8:28; and because we keep his commands, he knows we love him, John 14:23. So we know that everything that happens to us has been willed by God, to help us grow, and we have a peace that is based on the love of God to us. We can cast all of our worries and fears upon him, 1 Peter 5:7, and depend on him to work everything out to our benefit. We have confidence that he is working for us, even when we can't see how it is happening; we know he controls the whole universe, and to work our life to his union, is effortless for him.
All things includes what is alive and what is not alive; all things includes people. He can control the little details of men's lives without violating their free will and self-confidence. Those chosen by God are protected by Him while they complete their seeking course; as is written, "all things work together for good for those who love God (or as argued, God loves) and are called according to his purpose." But he only provides protection to those who are seeking him in love and whom he has called; from the Word of the Lord within: "All other people, destined for reconciliation after this life live without protection;" (destined due to their own choices). We have free will, but with the little details, he can move us around like chess board pieces and not violate our free will, because the insignificant details that he controls don't violate our heart's principles or our self-confidence; choices that follow our heart's principles and affect our self-confidence are made by us independently, and He does not override those decisions in anyone.
From the Word of the Lord within:
"If people want to make a bad-choice decision, that's their prerogative."
So, do not believe that God has caused someone around you to do something evil that affects you. He protects your life so that you can be completed, but He does not stop those around you from doing wrong.
This is not making something good out of a bad situation of which he had no control; he is in control of everything around those whom he has called according to his purpose, and who love him! For what? From the Word of the Lord within, "the earth exists for the saints." The earth is everyone's opportunity to become one with God as a son, but for those not so motivated, they are only obstacles, tests, and polishing stones in the illusions of this life, which appears that everyone chooses everything independently, but as the Word of the Lord within said: "every man is put in place by God." The illusion is there is no God. The illusion is that God does not control anything. The illusion is that we are all independent, under no control. It is a necessary illusion;* the nurturing soil to allow love to grow without coercion. From the Word of the Lord within: "A necessary illusion." Why is it necessary? To produce sons of love.
2 The weak brother would consider it a sin to eat food sacrificed to idols; and might be encouraged to eat it himself, thus incurring condemnation on himself. For if a man does what he considers sin, he is condemned. A worse scenario, would be for a weak believer to reject your message because he rejects you as a counterfeit Christian. This same thing applies to pastime activities, (sports, cards, games, etc.), which may not be an important part of your life, but to someone still in the world, trying to become free of their lusts and pleasures, to see you participating in such activities, could damage the weak person; leading to either erroneous justification of his sinful addiction to some pastime, or rejection of your message of hope.
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