The Big Idea:

Background:

The Jews: grew up with law of Moses, went to “church,” studied the Bible (The Old Testament), observed the sabbath, and only ate kosher food.

The Gentiles: did not know the law of Moses, did not go to “church,” did not study the Bible; and they did go to pagan temples, where meat was sacrificed to idols then sold in the marketplace.

The Question of freedom: since coming to believe in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles had different opinions on the Sabbath, on eating non-kosher food, on eating meat from the marketplace.

Take Aways

(1) So most issues are black and white, clearly taught in scripture.

(2) Some issues are gray, things that believers think differently about.

(3) We’re not free to make black and white issues gray.

(4) When two Christians disagree on a gray issue, because of their conscience, both are right.

Is a child free in its relationship to its father? Yes and no.

Is a husband or wife free in their relationship to their spouse? Yes and no.

Love always constrains. Freedom, then, is difficult to define, as we're free, but not free.

We relate to God, not just as child to Father, or even as a bride to the groom, but as “doulos”—slave to Master. Ironically, this "slavery" is what sets us free from ourselves. God's Spirit, directing us in the new way of love, leads us into freedom.

The Libertine thinks “I can do whatever I want.” Their FOCUS is on themselves, their “freedom.”

The Legalist thinks, “I must abide by the law. Their FOCUS is themselves, their ability to live up to some standard.

The Love of Christ focuses us not on our freedom, not on our living up to a standard; instead it puts our eyes on Jesus and what He is about, the way of love.

Personal conviction #1—I will not get drunk.

Personal conviction #2—“Drunk” is kinda hard to define, so I’m going to never appear anywhere close.

Personal conviction #3—I try to never offend a Christian.

Personal conviction #4-I try to never misrepresent the gospel