1 Corinthians MacArthur New Testament Commentary by John MacArthur

Author:John MacArthur [MacArthur, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-57567-943-3
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 1984-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

THE PRINCIPLES FOR USING CHRISTIAN FREEDOM

In verses 23-30 four basic principles are given to guide us in using our Christian liberty for God’s glory.

EDIFICATION OVER GRATIFICATION

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. (10:23)

Here Paul summarizes what he has been saying about Christian freedom. Because the apostle refers to it several times, he had probably used the phrase all things are lawful when he preached in Corinth, and some of the believers there apparently had taken it as a slogan to justify anything they wanted to do. The apostle explains earlier in this letter, however, that his use of that phrase in relation to Christian liberty means all things not specifically identified in Scripture as sinful. Before he first mentions that “all things are lawful” (6:12), he specifically says that “the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God,” and proceeds to give an extensive list of sins that characterize the unrighteous (6:9-10). His use of all things are lawful always refers to questionable practices, the gray areas of Christian living that are not specifically forbidden in the Bible.

The basic meaning of edify (oikodomeō) is “to build a house,” and, by extension, the term refers to the literal or figurative building of anything. It is often used in the New Testament to describe the spiritual growth, or upbuilding, of believers. Whatever contributes to spiritual growth constitutes what is profitable, or beneficial, helpful, advantageous, or useful. Only things that are profitable are able to edify. Those two present active indicative verbs basically convey the same truth.

There are many ways in which we are built up, in which we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18), but there are four basic tools to help us grow in Him. First is His Word. In his counsel to the Ephesian elders who had come to Miletus to see him for the last time, Paul said, “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). God’s Word is His supreme means of building us up (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Second is preaching and teaching. Later in this letter to the Corinthians Paul tells them that, rather than being so concerned about speaking in tongues, they should focus on prophesying, or preaching, which “speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.” The “one who prophesies edifies the church” (1 Cor. 14:3-4). Third is love. Knowledge tends to make us proud and arrogant, whereas “love edifies” (1 Cor. 8:1). Fourth is obedient service. The purpose of the Christian ministry is to equip “the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12).

Desiring the spiritual benefit and edification of ourselves and of others is a hallmark of Christian maturity. Paul told the Ephesian elders that he had not withheld from them “anything that was profitable” (Acts 20:20).

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.