The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1957-10-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
October %, 1857

OH ave. W., OreenWOOu, MISS.
THE PROBLEM OF CHRIS
TIAN FREEDOM (Temper-
ance) /. Corinthians 8-9: 1927;
10 Print / Corinthians 8.
MEMORY SELECTION -
There hath no temptation
taken you but such as is COM
mon to man: but God is faith
full, who will not suffer you to
be tempted above that We are
able; but will with the tempta-
ton also make a way to escape,
that We may be able to bear it.
Il Corinthians 1919. Temp
tations come to all saints. Each
temptation seems new and
strange, of peculiar to the in
dividual, even as though he
was the only person ever temp
ted in this manner. The trials
of Gods people are very much
alike, and with each new trial,
new faith must be exercised
and new lessons learned. Sa-
tan is limited in trying the
saints. This we learn from the
experiences of Job. God will
not allow any person to be
tempted beyond that persons
ability in bearing temptation.
God will give grace to bear
the temptation and when the
tempted person will trust in
God He will make a way for
him to escape.
CHRISTIAN EDIFICATION
THROUGH LOVE:
Nov as touching things Of
fered unto idols, we know that
we all have knowledge. Know
ledge puffeth up, but charity
edifieth." - An emphasis on
knowledge alone will result in
pride, but charity Qove) will
edify Guild uD). "And if any
man think taat he knoweth
any thing, he knoweth moth
ing yet as he ought to know"
True knowledge, Paul is say
ing, begins with the recogni-
ton of our limitations. This
recalls the statement of David,
"The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom" psalm
HOLD. "But if any man love
God, the same is known of
him." The principle that
man does not really know Cod
unless he loves him, is stated
elsewhere in the New Tesla
ment (see John 4:8, 49,.
THE VANITY OF IDOLS:
Gas concerning therefore
the a ting of those things
that are offer d in sac
rifice unto idols, we know that
an idol is nothing in the world,
and that there is none other
God but one" - For the sake
of others Paul denied himself
the enjoyment of flesh food
when it became an occasion of
stumbling to weaker brother.
To him meat was the gift of
God and an idol was nothing.
To a weak brother an idol did
exist and when he ate meat
that had been offered to an
idol, he violated his consci-
ence which led to spiritual
ruin. For this reason Paul was
willing to deny himself the
pleasure of such meat. Divine
love decided the question
whether he should eat or not
eat. He denied self for the
sake of others and in this man.
ner was blessed.
"For though there be that
are called gods, whether in
heaven or in earth, Gas there
be gods many, and lords
many" - Although there may
be many called gods, Paul re-
jects the reality of their exis-
tence in the preceding verse.
The lords" may refer to the
earthly rulers. But to us there
is but one God, the Father, of
whom are all things, and we
in him; and one Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom are all things
and we by him." - Paul dis
tinguishes here between the
God-head by stating that God
the Father is the ultimate
source of creation and it is
Christ the Lord through whom
this activity took place. Refer
to Colossians 1: Is, IL.
PERSNAL LIBERTY RE-
STRICTED:
"Howbeit there is not in ev-
cry man that knowledge for
some with conscience of the
idol unto this hour eat it as a
thing offered unto an idol; and