1 Corinthians 8:9-13

Webster says that “influence” is the power of persons to affect others. It is to have an effect on the nature or behavior of others, either for good or bad.

The word “example” is closely related to this. It means to behave so as to be a pattern or model for others to imitate. Our life is a principle of influence and example. The poet has said, “My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done. Leave countless marks of good or ill. E’er sets the evening sun. this is the hope I always hope. The prayer I always pray. Lord, make my life help other lives. It touches by the way.”

In this chapter the Spirit of God deals in a remarkable way with the great theme of Christian liberty and brotherly care.

The Spirit also says through Paul in the chapter that love is superior to all knowledge. He expounds on this thought in chapter 13.

Note the difference between Christian liberty and unbridled license. Liberty is the limits within which a certain amount of freedom may be exercised.

License is excessive, undisciplined freedom, constituting an abuse of liberty.

Within the framework of the chapter it is the question of how for a believer was at liberty to eat meats which at this killing had been dedicated to idols.

Many of these Corinthian brethren were just saved from all the practices of heathenism, and were afraid that if they ate meat of this character that they would bring dishonor upon the name of the Lord Jesus. Therefore they would not eat. The believers at Corinth were having a problem. This problem was causing some new believers to stumble.

On the one hand there was complete indiscretion by some knowing brethren. These liberal brethren were indiscriminately eating this meat using their Christian liberty as a license to satisfy their fleshly appetites. They did not consider the feelings of other brethren in this matter.

On the other hand there were some believers who were jealous of the good name of the Lord Jesus who were being stumbled by their undisciplined conduct.

verse 11—Suggests that because of the influence and example of these fleshly brethren that some younger believers for whom Christ had died, had been stumbled and gone back to their heathen practices.

verse 12—This conduct is sin against the brethren concerned, and it is sin against Christ. From verse 9 to the end of the chapter the apostle dwells on the importance of concern for the consciences of others.

We may not have the same food problems as the Corinthians but we do need to be reminded that our life affects the spiritual status of others.

Many a weaker brother, a young believer, has gone back into the world because of the bad example and unchristian conduct of carnal brethren. This is a grievous sin against the brother and Christ.

Young people are particularly vulnerable in this aspect. Places are frequented, activities are engaged in, tongues are loosened…with devastating results on the spiritual life of some, and the shipwreck of others.

Then the evil is compounded when those who engaged in nefarious activities take their place at the Lord’s table. Several conditions are the result of this. There is barrenness, coldness, no real worship, going through the motions. For this there will be judgment. We influence people consciously or unconsciously in every phase of life—at business, at school, at play, in the church, in the world, in the home.

We influence others by our general behavior, manners, speech. Ephesians 5:4.

The spectrum of our life is either an influence for good or evil.

The example we show is either Christ exalting or Christ dishonoring. Our influence is either entirely negative and helps no one, or it brings our fellow believers close to the Lord.

Let us look now at some lives whose example and influence changed the lives of others.

Influence of evil. Ahab was one of the most wicked kings of Israel. “There was none like Ahab.” He was the product of his wife’s influence. Ahasiah, Ahab’s son, walked in the ways of his father and mother. Israel as a nation suffered the judgment of God for several generations by following a bad example. 1 Kings 22:51.

Influence of good. Azariah, the son of Amaziah, reigned for fifty-two years. He did what was right in the sight of God, as his father Amaziah had done.

It was to the example and influence of grandmother Lois and mother Eunice that Paul credits Timothy’s unfeigned faith.

Christ as an example—Mark 10:45, John 13, 1 Peter 2:21.

The victorious Christian life. If we lived victoriously in Christ, we would not need the world. What the believer has to do with the world is crucify it.

The abundant life leads to victorious Christian living.

The yielded life, the life of service, separation, a Spirit-filled life, these all lead to a mature, fulfilled life in Christ. A life that is filled with unspeakable joy and full of glory.

The Principle of Ownership

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Webster defines ownership as the state or fact of being the owner; the legal right of possession.

Establish at this point where we are and whom we serve.

We have been bought with a price, therefore we are not our own. We have been purchased by God at tremendous cost. Slave market. Our body does not belong to ourselves, it belongs to God.

Before we were saved God made no claims upon us. He allowed the devil to control our body and to satisfy its fleshly appetites. Now that I belong to Christ, I am called upon to resent my body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.

Explain at this time the truth of consecration.

The goal of the worldling is to gratify their fleshly lusts and appetites.

As blood bought believers we should give our body to God in an unbridled, unblemished, and unbiased sacrifice in order to glorify God. In and with my body I should manifest the holiness of Christ. My body in its entirety should be used in absolute devotion to Him.

Explain the truth of baptism here.

verse 11—This verse describes the absoluteness of our purchase by God.

1. We are washed, this is the washing of regeneration.

2. We are sanctified, set apart to God in Christ.

3. We are justified, we stand perfect before God in Christ.

This has been accomplished because of what the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of God has done for us.

Brethren and sisters, we belong to God. He owns us.

We were bought with an inestimable and incalculable price. The awesome price was the priceless blood of the Lord Jesus. Because of the greatness of the cost of our redemption, God demands unquestioning and absolute obedience.

No matter the cost or sacrifice.

Verses 13-18—These verses show us the closeness of the bond that binds us to Christ.

1. We are members of Christ’s body.

2. We are joined to the Lord and we are one spirit.

3. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

4. God has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell in our bodies.

In the totality of our being we are the Lord’s. “We are a new creation.” Like Paul we should be the bondslaves of our Master, Jesus Christ.

This unique relationship is eternal, for we have been sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13.

Despite these inalienable truths some have been bewitched by the world and its ways. Like the senseless Galatians the world has cast a spell over them. They are being dazzled by the glitter of the world, to their spiritual detriment and the Savior’s sorrow.

verse 19—The thought in this verse is that the body of the believer is the temple of the Spirit. Just as the Lord Jesus was the sanctuary of Deity while on earth, our body is the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit and should be used for the service, worship, and glory of God.

How careful we ought to be not to grieve Him, nor to bring dishonor upon our Lord and Master.

We should be careful what we listen to and what we watch. We should be careful where we go. We should examine our conduct. We should be careful with our music. We should watch our morals.

The world, the flesh, and the devil are making strong advances to steal the hearts of God’s dear people.

The final exhortation in verse 20 is “Therefore, glorify God in your body.”

The believer is to use his body to bring glory to God.

To assist us in doing this the Holy Spirit occupies the body which has been purchased by God.

When a believer is Spirit-filled he enjoys the “abundant life” which the Lord speaks of in John 10:10. “I have come that you might have life,” etc. Most believers live beneath their privilege, they know nothing of the superabundant life.

How do we get this life? By abiding in Christ, His dynamic life will flow through us.

The low fleshly life that many life is disappointing, unsatisfying, and leads to defeat and disaster. Cisterns that hold no water.

The abundant life leads to victory in Christ. Victory over the world, flesh, devil, over self, passion, pride. Sin dos not have dominion. The abundant life is a yielded life, a life of service, a separated life, a Spirit-filled life, it is a mature life in Christ.

Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, etc.

The servant’s choice—Exodus 21:1-6.

At the end of seven years of service the slave was free to go.

“Instead, he says, I love my Master, I love my wife, I love my children, I will not go out free.”

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

The Abundant Life is a Separated Life

Romans 1:1

Separation is both positive and negative.

We are to be “set apart for the Gospel of God.” We are to come out from anything that is contrary to the perfect will of God. 2 Corinthians 6:17.

To be separated means to be sanctified, set apart, for salvation and service.

1. The Word of God has the power to separate the believer from sin.

2. God the Father has the power to separate the believer to the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3. God the Son has the power to separate the believer to righteousness, “having no spot or wrinkle.”

4. God the Holy Spirit has the power to separate the believer unto salvation and service.

Without being separated, you can have relationship with God, but you cannot have fellowship with Him.

You may be united to Him by Calvary, but separated from Him by sin.

Without separation, you can have influence without power. Movement without achievement. You may try but not trust. Serve but not succeed. War but not win.

Without separation to God from sin, our whole Christian life will be wood, hay, and straw.

The abundant life is made possible by the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And being made a reality in our own life, by being separated to Him.