In this message, I walk through 1 Corinthians 8 to help us understand how Christian freedom, knowledge, and love fit together. Scripture gives us clear commands to love God and love our neighbor, but it doesn’t spell out rules for every modern situation. When we face those gray areas, we’re often tempted toward one of two extremes: antinomianism, where grace becomes an excuse to live however we want, or legalism, where we add rules God never gave and impose them on others.
Paul addresses both errors by showing that knowledge alone isn’t the goal. Knowledge can puff us up with pride, but love builds others up. True knowledge isn’t just factual or intellectual—it’s relational. Knowing God rightly leads us to love Him more deeply and to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Using the issue of food offered to idols, Paul teaches that while idols are nothing and Christians have real freedom, not everyone shares the same maturity or conscience. Exercising freedom without love can harm weaker believers and even become sin against Christ. The goal, then, is not to demand our rights, but to gladly lay them down for the sake of others.
My prayer is that we would seek deeper relationship with God—through Scripture and prayer—so our knowledge leads to humility, love, and a willingness to build one another up for God’s glory.
