Warnings from Israel’s Past

1BUT I would not that you should be ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2and were all baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3and did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual rock which followed them; but that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless with the most of them God was not well pleased, for they were destroyed in the wilderness.

6Now these things were examples for us, that we might not be coveters of evil things, as they also coveted. 7Neither be ye idolaters as some of them; as it is written, ?The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to sport themselves.? 8Neither let us commit whoredom, as some of them also committed, and in one day fell twenty-three thousand. 9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents. 10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and perished by the destroyer. 11Now all these things happened unto them as examples, but they are written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages are come. 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. 13No temptation hath overtaken you, but what is common to men. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted beyond what ye are able to bear; but will with the temptation make also a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear up under it.

Flee from Idolatry

14Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak as unto wise men: judge ye what I say. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we, though many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf. 18Behold Israel after the flesh. Are not they who eat of the sacrifices partakers with the altar? 19What do I say then? that an idol is any thing, or that which is sacrificed to an idol is any thing? 20But that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to d‘mons, and not to God: and I would not have you in communion with d‘mons. 21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of d‘mons: ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and the table of d‘mons. 22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

All to God’s Glory
(1 Peter 4:1–11)

23All things are lawful for me, but all things are not profitable; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24Let no man seek his own gratification, but every one another?s good. 25Every thing which is sold in the shambles eat, asking no question for conscience sake; 26?for the earth is the Lord?s, and the fulness thereof.? 27And if any one of those, who do not believe, invite you, and ye incline to go, eat every thing set before you, asking no question for conscience sake. 28But if any person say unto you, This is an idol?s sacrifice, eat not of it, for his sake who pointed it out, and for conscience sake. For the earth is the Lord?s, and the fulness thereof. 29Conscience indeed I say, not merely thine own, but that of the other person. 30For why is my liberty abridged by another?s conscience? If I truly with thanksgiving am a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

31Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all things to the glory of God. 32Give no occasion of stumbling either to the Jews or the Gentiles, or the church of God: 33even as I please all men, not seeking my own advantage, but that of the many, that they may be saved.