1 Corinthians Chapter 10

Paul writes in this chapter concerning idolatry - or rather that the spiritual Israel of God as the bride of Christ is holy - there should be no pollution or mixing in with idolatry. The essence here is a following on of charity of the believer. Paul reminds that the corinthians should make every effort to preserve the consciences of their fellows.

Paul begins by showing examples from the old testament - that the God of the gospel is the same God that brought Israel out of Egypt. (v1) All were blessed as a people by God (v2) and the people of Israel were ministered to in allegory to the ministering of the Lord through His Holy Spirit to all believers of the faith; (v3) whether they be righteous or not. (v4) Those that polluted the covenant to Israel with disobedience are given as an example (v5) analogous to those that likewise abuse the grace of God extended over their sins (v6) - such are without (outside) the spiritual Israel of God and are excised from His people.

So Paul extends the requirement to them that they be not partakers of idolatry - worshipping idols as well as the true God of the gospel is to pollute the sanctity of the body of Christ. (v7) - therefore Paul insists they do not commit sins as did those who were cast out of the assembly of Israel. (v8-v11) While believers live, it is their responsibility to repent within that grace extended them in eternal life; there can be no licentiousness under God's sovereign law of faith - it displays a lack of the Holy Spirit to eternal life. (v12) Thus encouragement not to fall into temptation but to strive to be obedient is as to keep the body of Christ Holy. (v13)

Therefore as part of their responsibility to repent, Paul states they should avoid any idolatry. As to those that understand, Paul reminds them that all believers are one body under one Lord (v16,v17), and that the body of Christ is Holy, as is Christ. Those that receive ministration from the Holy spirit are then to keep themselves obedient. An allegory is given to the sacrifices and altar in the wilderness here. We all eat of the sacrifice of Christ in His gift of eternal life - we are gifted His righteousness and blamelessness by grace also - we have the priestly task of keeping the altar Holy.(v18)

Paul advises that idols are nothing - but that those that worship them and sincerely so, offer to devils and not the God of the gospel. (v19-v21) Mixing them together is spiritually a fault as if adulterating or leavening the bread as alluded to in chapter 5 verse 6. To do so is to turn Christ's bride into a aberration (v22) - we must not resist His will (and therefore His commandments) to be Holy and to keep the doctrines of devils out of (or away from) the Lord's people.

Although we have liberty (v23) it is under the sovereignty of God - His own liberty to remain as He sees fit and not to make Himself as into any imperfect idea of Him. Christ by perfecting faith in the Father has shown us that the law is established, but more so that His liberty is over ours, even to state that His laws (and as our creator's laws) can not be ignored without changing the true living God for a false god which would allow (permit) us to be disobedient.

Likewise not all things are beneficial for the believer - but that which is beneficial here is to be charitable to other believers - not to interrupt their obedience to God. In doing so we pursue each others wealth, that their eternal life be all the more assured under the ministration of both God and man. (v24) Instead of eating food offered to idols, Paul advises them to buy at markets being unconcerned with the source (v25) - unconcerned because everything is to the Lord, but to seek elsewhere is obedient enough. (v26)

If a man then eats at the invite of an unbeliever there is no sin in eating, (v27) but if the food is offered to an idol - do not eat. (v28) We have grace extended over our faults, as gentiles we may not understand perfectly that which is the will of God for us. Therefore if we break the law unknowingly we have that forgiveness of grace - but it is more perfect that once one is made aware of the commandment or as from the knowledge of God to turn to repentance, one does so swiftly as if to flee from idolatry into God's will. (Because we are His creations as is the whole earth. )

So, when a believer finds fault with food as sacrificed to an idol being eaten, do not eat - to preserve the conscience of the one finding fault. Since in the commandments of the law of faith to keep the temple Holy the conscience is the measure, not the work. The swift turning to repentance is therefore the work of the Spirit upon the believer - therefore in the conscience of another believer, your liberty is also restricted if the Holy Spirit has made a fellow repent of it (v30) - by the same God's ministration through your brother, you should not eat of idols either!

We have here (through an example of the liberty of God's Holy Spirit to exercise His laws) a condition satisfying that there be a principle ultrafilter that sorts between saved believers and those that are not obedient. Much like the statement H_G(G) => L(G) coupled with A_y(H_x(G)) => A_G(y). However, it is to the commandment as the will of God rather than faith alone. The conscience of another is a worthy guide if it be for God's glory, if indeed it be a charity of the Holy Spirit rather than that of idolators. In fact, to keep the conscience of the strictest soul pure is to keep pure the conscience of all.

So to glory God, obey the Holy Spirit by your brethren because God's liberty glorifies His sovereignty. (v31) Under such a principal ultrafilter the same authority is extended to correct all - the obedient and disobedient to the purpose such a model be correct - both to believer and unbeliever. (v32) In this way the ministering and conviction of the Holy Spirits ministry is extended over everyone - not just the believer, and this in turn extends the gospel and universally to glorify God all the more. (v33)

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