SHOWING SOME GRACE
I Corinthians 10:23 Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
The apostle Paul had to walk a narrow line regarding the Jewish laws and traditions. While God had called him to preach to the Gentiles (anyone who was not a Jew), his love was still with the Jews his own people. Since most of the very early Christians were Jews, they had the mindset that followers of Jesus needed to follow the same laws and traditions they followed. But Paul believed that Jesus’ salvation came by faith in the grace offered by Jesus’ atonement on Calvary’s cross. He even confronted the apostle Peter about this very thing. The church in Jerusalem believed that a Christian man needed to be circumcised, they couldn’t eat meat sacrificed to idols, meat from strangled animals, from blood, and sexual immorality. Yet, even as Peter found out with Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven was not by anything that we could do for God, but what God did for us by sending Jesus to be our Savior. This meant salvation was obtained as a gift from God and not to be earned. It was extended to all of humanity by the grace of God, so that no one could boast. Because of this and the aspect that where sin abounded God’s grace through Jesus abounded even more, some people went so far as to say, “The more we sin the more Jesus is glorified.” To this Paul replied, “God forbid!” God’s grace was never meant to be abused. It was not a license to continue to sin, but to be set free to live a reconciled life with God even in our weakness to sin. So Paul had to deal with the narrow line of not offending the Jewish Christians and non-Jewish Christians with his ministry of grace since he ministered to both. At times while standing so firm in salvation by grace alone, he circumcised Timothy whose mother was a Jew but his father was a Greek. Then we see where he refused to circumcise Titus that was Greek. We see the same thing regarding eating meat sacrificed to idols. As we see I Cor 10:18-21 he makes a strong stand against this, and then in the same chapter 23-27 he says you can if it doesn’t offend yourself or someone else. How can he or we justify this position?
I believe that it all boils down to our consideration of others. In Romans 14 Paul speaks on this very subject. He was that some Christians have weak faith. In other words they are still immature in their understanding of the doctrine of grace. While trusting in Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, they still believe they need to obey the Jewish laws and traditions. If they are condemned or expelled from the church they might turn from Jesus. Paul tells of how it is important to help people grow in their understanding of Jesus’ salvation, rather than discourage them. Paul even says, “Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters. In other words be careful in how you make your stand. Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater!
No two Christians will be on the same level of maturity at any given time. Even my wife and I are this way. Sometimes it is easy to see levels of Christian maturity that I need to grow in and she as well. This is where we like Paul need to be sensitive of others. Paul reminds us in Romans 14:4 that Jesus is able to make us all acceptable to his Heavenly Father and Holy Spirit. Our relationship with him is not based on maturity, but on faith, trust and love in and for him. This is why Paul says that if someone has a problem with something he tries not to offend them. When we purposely offend someone where is our love for them and the opportunity to help them grow closer to Jesus? This is why he says that for him everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Paul would sooner give up his freedom than to possibly turn others from Jesus. This is not a matter of being a hypocrite, but rather compassionate and loving.
As Christians we have the same obligation in our family, church, community and world. Yes, we do not need to compromise true Christian doctrine, but we do need to remember that we too are still a work in progress as well! If we try to do as Paul tells us in verse 31 by doing all for the glory of God we will not go wrong. Love covers a multitude of sins, and while we make mistakes and see others do as well, remember that when we gather around Jesus’ wedding banquet table everyone will be as perfect as Jesus. Us included!
Prayer: Holy Spirit, please help us to be as patient with others as Jesus, the Heavenly Father and you are with us. Thank you Lord, and we ask this in Jesus’ holy name.
