Warnings from Israel’s Past

1I would not have you ignorant, my brethren, that all our fathers were under the Cloud, all passed thro' the sea: 2and were all baptized into the Mosaical institution by the cloud, and by the sea; 3they all eat the same spiritual meat, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink: (for they drank of what flowed from the spiritual rock: and that rock was Christ.) 5but with the greater part God was not well pleased: for their carcasses were strown in the wilderness.

6now these things were examples to deter us from longing after things that are pernicious, as they did. 7be not idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 8neither let us commit fornication, as some of them did, of whom three and twenty thousand fell in one day. 9neither let us provoke Christ as some of them provoked him, and were destroyed by serpents. 10neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and were slain by the destroying angel. 11All these things happened to them for examples: and are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. 12wherefore let him that thinks he stands firm, take heed lest he fall. 13you have met with no trials yet, but such as are common to men: and God who is faithful, will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, by enabling you to bear it.

Flee from Idolatry

14wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak as to knowing men: be you your selves the judges of what I say. 16the cup of benediction 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 the bread being one, as many as we are, we are one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18consider the custom of the Jews by descent, are not they which eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar? what say I then? 19that the idol, or that what is offered in sacrifice to the idol, is a matter of consequence? 20no, but that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not have you partake of the sacrifices of demons. 21you should not drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: you should not be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of demons. 22Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

All to God’s Glory
(1 Peter 4:1–11)

23are all things lawful for me? yet all things are not expedient: are all things lawful for me? yet all things do not edify. 24Let no man consult barely his own interest: but every man that of others. 25whatever is sold in the shambles, that eat, without making any scrupulous enquiry. 26for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27if any of the unbelievers invite you to an entertainment, and you are disposed to go; whatever is set before you, eat, without asking any question out of a scruple of conscience. 28but if any man say to you, this is offered in sacrifice to an idol, don't eat, for his sake that mentioned it, and for conscience sake. 29when I say conscience, I don't mean your own, but that of the other: for why should I expose my liberty to the censure of another man's conscience? 30if I am thankful for what I have, why should I chuse to be evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

31whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32give no offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God. 33thus I endeavour to be acceptable to all men in all things, not seeking my own advantage, but that of others, so as they may be saved.