Where Sound Doctrine Begins : Strengthening the Weak Conscience - Redeeming the Times
Sound Doctrine
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
4:11 These things command and teach.
Things sacrificed to idols
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
8:6 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.
8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
What is Weak Conscience
Some believe that this part and portion of scripture is complete in itself. This however IS NOT TRUE. Thanks to the continuous reading of many, there has come to light that this portion written about conscience is not conclusive but revealing to us that there is such a thing as weak conscience and makes us aware that we ought not to WOUND or FURTHER WEAKEN one's conscience but STRENGTHEN IT.
Weak conscience as described in this portion of scripture tells us that "those who have knowledge" that certain things of matterial matter are sacraficed to idols by non believers.
Example(s) of a principle idol
The idea of "diet" that people know in the world as "food and nutrition" contains idols of abstinance,which are infact "indulgent abstinant" doctrines revolving all kinds of herbs, meats or drink. The doctrines of such teaching concern people with teaching that says things or part of their content isBOTH Good and Bad which is NOT TRUE with God at all. They are often distortedly dictated by "reasonable indulgence" as to WHY something is being indulged in, perscribed physical ammounts of it and issues with the times at which they are indulged in them, and often missplacing people's conscience towards Gods creation with HOW they are indulged in or eaten.
It is sobering and sound how paul wrote for wine to be used for frequent infirmities of the "stomach"(inner flesh), which also bears much revelation to why God upon sending the Horse rider in the book of Revelations who was given a scale with certain measurements also told not to harm the oil and the wine. (Revelation 6:66)
Revelation 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Things Sacrificed to idols "continued"
Continuing reading from chapter 9 to 10 we find paul in a seeming multi-cultural and traditional revealing of what all sorts of people are going through pertaining to things which God has created to be received with thanksgiving and sanctified by prayer and JESUS whom is the word of God. He speaks leading us to ask if he or anyone else is worthy to take on a wife, engage in food and drink of any sort, even disecting people beliefs about the word of God and their profiting or gain from following Gods word and sharing the gospel while making bold statements that we learn through their reflection upon our own conscience that we may even discern those very intents within our hearts and arising thoughts of the mind.
The most important statements being those which lead us to seek the wellbeing OF ANOTHER before our own, the same standing for how we seek Gods kingdom.
Truly the worlds idea of "respect" does not fit in this category of thinking, because that would cause one to assume the doctrines of abstinance toward things which are to be received with thanksgiving in the event that one's weak conscience is having learnt of something that is sacraficed to idols.
Strengthening one's conscience is not to allow this weak conscience to stand but to STRENGTHEN it with GODS TRUTH toward that learned doctrine of abstinance of anything that God has created to be received with thanksgiving.
To further enforce that ones weak conscience in such a case is true to Gods conscience is wounding them and causing them to stumble in Faith toward God.
Paul continues to tell us to infact BUY THOSE VERY THINGS SOLD IN THE SHAMBLES(Market) and eat them, NOT with the conscience of those who sacrafice them to idols but wit that of God of whos fulness the earth andvall that is in it is. Even in th case of being invited to any feast by someone unbelieving, there is testimony in our eating of those things with GODS CONCIENCE to both the unbelieving AND the brother or sister with a weak conscience because of abstinant teaching.
1 Corinthians 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
10:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
The idol of drunkeness
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
People often quote "Be not drunk with wine in which there is excess, but be filled with the spirit", not knowing that it continues with the words that reveal HOW to be filled with the Spirit and ponting out where the true excess is.
We are taught to GIVE THANKS to God in Jesus Christ FOR ALL THINGS just as 1 Timothy 4 points out with its revealing of how false doctrine regarding meats (food or drink) revolves around commanding one or many to ABSTAINIG from the eating or drinking (ingesting) anything physicl that has been created by God. It also says that NOTHING is to be refused if it received with THANKSGIVING BECAUSE it is sanctified by THE WORD OF GOD(Jesus Christ) and PRAYER.
All this points out that there is a spirit of drunkeness that seems to take on "many forms" because of worship given to the demonic principles of abstinance which alters our thnksgiving. This is a conscience of which REDEMPTION is necesary for an individual to remain SOBER and concious of GOD by that very Thanksgiving for ALL things including what they themselves are indulging in.
Today's experience of many who believe and know the truth
A real life example is when one asks "if you dont want to get drunk, why are you then drinking wine?" This reveals that there is infact worldly doctrine that such substance is reserved for DRUNKENESS, which is NOT true with God. 1 timothy 4 says that things are to be received with thanksgiving, and that points to exactly what they are for, THANKSGIVING TO GOD. This again indicates wherein the excess in wine is.
Linguistic point of principal contanct
When the word WINE is used, the conscious and contextual association with drunkeness is infact what spoils giving it that name. This is why Jesus came eating and drinking as oposed to John the baptists abstinant "diet" of honey and wild locusts.
GIVING THANKS is not the same as SEEKING TO BECOME DRUNK. SEEKING TO QUENCH ONES THIRST is also not the same as SEEKING TO BECOME DRUNK.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT FOOD AND DRINK BUT PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
(there are seemingly many variations of this even amongst the herbs themselves as well as the meats and drink)
14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
(Revealing even the truth of sabath in the midst of revealing meats)
14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord:whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
*****14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.*****
14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace(sound doctrine makes for peace), and things wherewith one may edify(strengthen) another.
14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace(sound doctrine makes for peace), and things wherewith one may edify(strengthen) another.
14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
***14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing
whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
(be very cautiou here for Gods sake 1 Timothy 4 - this is not embracing doctrines of abstinance)
14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Luke 7:33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
Luke 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
Luke 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
It is clear here that one will have to decide wether to abstain for the sakes of men, or to continue in FULL PARTAKING towards God even in the presence of weak conscience.
Paul himself has an experience written in the new testament of such which also reveals the same that i am writting here.
Galatians 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
2:3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
2:8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
2:3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
2:8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
For paul to even have to write that he was commited the gospel of uncircumsicion says much when it truly is that circumsicion nor uncircumsicion avail anything and that such is the danger of believing that circumcision does anything at all.
1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Jesus Christ taught "circumsicion FROM circumsicion" which is TRUTH IN THE SPIRIT
Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: