Scripture: I Corinthians 10:6-12

C.I.: How to Make “Moral Choices”

We are involved in a series on Christian Morality. – So far; “Virtues,” “Attitudes,” “Tongue” & “Eyes”
Today we will conclude with what should have been easiest (what we do) – but it is the most difficult.

I. A Lifestyle of Morality is Shown by the Choices We Make

A. Seeking to Understand What Moral Choices “Are” & “Aren’t”!

1. Very often people view morality on the basis of what “we don’t do”:
a. Someone may well say, “Well, I don’t drink or smoke or … so I’m a moral person.”
1) But the opposite of “Immorality” is NOT “morality.
2) Lesson #1, we saw morality is all about adding things to our lives not merely subtracting them
3) (II Pt. 1:5-6), “…and to your faith add moral excellence … knowledge … self-control …”

b. Not only must our choices be moral – but the motivations for these choices must be as well!
1) (Lk. 18:9-14), “Jesus told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-collector. – The Pharisee stood thus praying to himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. – For I fast twice a week, and pay tithes of all that I receive.’ …”
2) True morality is demonstrated by what we do & don’t do & by the motivations behind each.

B. The Moral Choices Enjoyed by New Christians

1. First, we have the freedom to choose not to sin
a. The power sin had over us before Jesus set us free – was the greatest tyranny we could face!
1) I believe most of us can remember – feeling trapped by the sin (quote II Pt. 2:19b)!
2) (Rom. 6:22), “Now having been freed from sin and joined to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification (i.e., your becoming holy), and the outcome, eternal life.”

b. Second, we get to choose to stop trying to earn our way into heaven
1) Remember: fluctuating between self-right. (better than others) & Guilt (still not good enough).
2) (Rom. 7:14-15), “For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. – For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.”
3) God sets us free from TRYING to SAVED ourselves - thru the power of Jesus & His gospel!
4) (Rom. 8:2-4), “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. – For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, - in order that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
5) What a wonderful feeling – to put our trust in what Jesus did for us – turning loose of guilt!

C. The Moral Choices Practiced by Maturing Christians…

1. The maturing believer knows – that our moral freedoms - must be used to benefit others!
a. For while we may have the “freedom” to do something for ourselves – morality demands that our love for others restricts what we do – so that they may be benefited!!!
1) (Gal. 5:13-14), “You were called to freedom, brethren; - only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, - but through love serve one another. – For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
2) In other words – while me may have the right to do something – doesn’t mean it is right to do!

2. The Apostle Paul understood this principle – for he taught it – and he lived by it – (I Cor. 10:23-33).
a. (vs. 23-24), “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. – All things are lawful, but not all things edify. – Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.”
1) Remember the principle: “What we have the right to do – may not be the right thing to do!”
2) So if are going to “love our neighbor as ourselves” = We will edify & seek good for them!!
3) So, the moral choices maturing Xns make – is with the thought, “What’s best for others?”

b. (vs. 25-27), “Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience sake; for the earth is the Lord’s and all it contains. – If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you wish to go, eat anything that is set before you, without asking questions for conscience sake.
1) Pagans sold meat in the markets that had been offered as a sacrifice to their gods.
2) (I Cor. 8:8), “Food will not commend us to God; we are not worse if we do not eat, or better..
3) Thus, the issue is NOT the activity – but about how others might view it!
(i) Ex.: For non-Xns – (Mk. 2:16-17), “When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with tax-collectors & sinners, they were saying, ‘Why is your Master…?’ Hearing this Jesus said, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician but the sick, …’” These non-believers conscience were troubled – so Jesus had to explain Himself to them.
(ii) Ex.: For Believers = Not attending Bible classes, evening worship, LIFE Groups, etc. (While we have the right not to attend – is that the RIGHT thing to do for our young Xns)
4) Non-sinful actions may be lawful – but not be spiritually profitable/edifying – (Heb. 10:24f).

c. (vs. 28-31), “But if anyone should say to you, ‘This meat was offered to idols,’ do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience sake; I don’t mean your own conscience, but the other man’s.”
1) This phrase, “for conscience sake,” vs. 25, 27-28 – is NOT talking about the Xns conscience,
2) Paul’s concern is for the conscience of others - (Remember: v. 24, “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.”)
3) “Earlier Paul explained his reasoning for how he interacted with non-believers – (I Cor. 9:19-22), “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more … I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
4) The moral choices Paul made – was always with the salvation of other in mind!!!

d. (vs. 32-33), “Give no offense either to Jews or to Gentiles or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may…
1) So while the road before the new believer is wide & spacious – as we mature the road becomes narrower and narrower – for we no longer live for ourselves and for our own benefit – but morality demands that we now live for the benefit of others – no matter the sacrifice!!
2) (Quote Phil. 2:3-8), “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind … being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself to the point of death, even...”
3) (Quote Acts 2:38, 41, 47).