Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-02-12

The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
February Is.
Subject: Christian Self.COntrol, Cor. vlii., !'IS
Golden Text, Rom. XIV, D-MemoEy
Verses, 8, 8,9-Commentary on
tbe Days Lesson.

Verses, 8, documentary on
tbe Days Lesson.
I. Perplexing questions Tvs. 4.6). 4.
"Unto IDOLS" Those portions, OF the AM.
laid on the altar, and which belonged part.
ly to those who had offered them. These
remnants were sometimes eaten at feasts
held in the temples ". 10y, or i'll private
houses (chap. 10: 27); sometimes sold in
the markets by the priests, or by the poor.
"The question was whether it was right
for Christians to partake of food connected
with idolatry. Such meats were forbidden
by the council at Jerusalem, seven years
before, because the act was offensive, to
Jewish brethren (Acts Is: 20, 2D, but
here in Corinth, a Gentle city, the ques.
ton needed to be settled on a new. basis.
"Is nothing" Nothing but carved block
of wood or stone, having no power over the
meat or the eater. None in the Corinthlan
church, whether Jews or !GentidIes, be;
| lieved that an idol was anything. They all
had knowledge alike that far. The ques
ton was put, upon another point, and for
settlement they appealed to Paul. None
other God but one" The Creator and sus
ta;ner of all things. There is no represcn.
tation of the true God in any of the idol.
gods.
5. Called gods--in heaven" As the
sun, moon, planet, stars. "In earth" Del
The heathcn had many imaginary gods.
The people of Bengal acknowledged $780,,
100000.
g. "To u.s." Christians. Zone God"
All that is needed, for in Him dwellss all
power and love. Father" The Chris
tian's dearest word for God. He is the
originating cause of all things. 1--WE in
| t., II thn,rhf H, Wn
created for Him. and our highest happiness
is in living in His glory. Zone Lord Jesus
Christ" The Fathers Son, one with the
Father, our Lord aud Saviour, Through
whose mediation are all things, including
the natural and spiritual creation (John
]: l-G; lEph. 3: 81. 1--WE by Him" Re.
deemed by Him, and again by Him to be
| glorihed.
IT, knowledge alone not sufficient Tvs.
81.
Z. 'Howhcit," etc. The Corinthians ar.
gued that they all knew that an idol was
nothing, but Paul replied that this was not
universally the case, that some were not
vet entirely free from their heathcn ideas,
Many were very ignorant, having Just cs-
capped from heather idolatry, with but lii.
tie knowledge Of the truths of the gospel.
Old customs cIung to their memorr and
affected them in many ways. knowledge
alone could not settle this question: our
own liberty of action is not t." standard.
Conscience of the idol" See X. V. Gus
tom had wrought in them reverence for
the idol which Christianity. had not yet
entirely cleared away. A reformed drunk
ard walks past a saloon with different feel
ings from one who has never known the
taste for strong drink. Conscience being
weak" From want of knowledge Not
strong enough TO grasp firmly the great
truth that an idol is nothing; only able to
see that the worship of idols is sin. A
weak conscience is one which either re-
CARDS as wrong wnat in fact Is not so, or
one which is not clear and decided in its
judgments, or one which has not power
enough to restrain person from doing the
n thing be right or wrong he who in doing
it goes against his conscience wrongs HIM
sa,f. This hardcns the conscience, distorts
il, "eakenG it, blinds it.
g. But" etc This verse is to he re.
garded as the view taken by the Corin.
thans in their letter to the apostle. Paul
grants their position, but shows that there
are other points to be considered. Com.
mendeth us not" God does not think any
more of us for eating, or for refraining
from eating. 1t is our characters, our
moral condition, our love, not some formal
act of eating or fasting, for which He cares.
The food itself was just the same whether
it had ever been offered to idols or not.
Its having been in an idol temple did not
in the least affect it in any way. 1t is
, well to remember that education alone
never make, a person better A knowledge
of right and wrong, and the study of ethics
will not eradicate vicious propenslties.
That which commends us to God is a thor
ough regeneration of heart, whereby we
are enabled to love God and our neighhor.
III. The duty of guarding the weak
Tvs. 9l2).
Q. But take heed" This verse is Paul.
reply to the argument of the Corinthians
in verso s. Though you may be no better
or worse for eating or not eating. yet II
your conduct Injuries others and leads
them into sin you should abstain entirely
1t is far more important that your brother
should not be led into sin than that you
should partake of meat which you ac'
knowledge is in itself of no Importance,
This, is a general principle whlch, should
regulate Christian conduct at all times,
"rhis liberty" Though you are delivered
from superstitious notions. it is contrary
to the spiri. of love to hinder another who
is not vet SO far enlght tened. "a STUN
bling block" A means of confusion, which
might lead to the overthrow Of faith
10. "If any man." If the Christian who
is ignorant, or the heather seeking light
"Sec thee--in the IDOLS temple" Some
went SO far as not only to cat, but to eat
in the precincts of the heather temple
The apostle. being concerned now only
with the point of eating, does not rebukt
this practice here, but he does SO fully ir
chap. 10: 1922. "Be emboldened." BE
built up, be confirmed in the belief thai
an idol is something, and so be led to vio
late his conscience and become established
in error.
IL. For whom Christ died" A pa
thetic and forcble argument drawn from
the depths of Christian truth and feeling
viii YOU not suffer a privation in behal
of the soul for whom Christ died?
70. aye sin against Christ by injur
ing His children. whose wrong He feels a.
His own: by iniuring His cause and de-
stroying the work He has come to DO, ant
by misropresenting His spirit, >
". The question settled by love ". l3)
49, "Whcreforc" This is the ceonclusici
Of the whole matter. "To Offend" Caus.
him to stumble and fall into sin. "Wi,
cat no flesh" In order TO insure my avoid
inc flesh offered to idols | would abstain
from all kinds of flesh in order not to b
the manifestation of true love. See V.
Love builds up the soul in God. Yet Their
is danger even here. We may by obeyin
another mans false conscience confirm hi
self-concct, or establish a. false morality
AGAINST this danger Paul specialiy pro
vides. While he COMPLIES with the veal
brothers error he openly proclt inns thai. i
is an error, and that h. complies not 70
truth, but from tenderness. He yields t
the unsound conscience but nothing woul'
induce him to admit that the consclenc
was sound.
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