Warnings from Israel’s Past

1Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2and were all baptized into Moses by the cloud and by the sea; 3and did all eat the same spiritual food; 4and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was an emblem of Christ. 5But with the greater part of them God was displeased: for they were destroyed in the wilderness.

6Now these things were examples for us, that we might not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7And be ye not idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play." 8Neither let us commit whoredom, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted Him, and were destroyed by serpents: nor murmur, 10as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11Now all these things happened to them as examples: and are written for our admonition, on whom the last ages are come. 12Wherefore let him, that thinks he standeth, take heed least he fall. 13No temptation has yet taken you but what is common to man: and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able to sustain; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Flee from Idolatry

14Wherefore, my beloved brethren, flee from idolatry. 15I speak to you as to men of understanding: and judge ye what I say, 16#NAME? 17For the bread is one, and we though many are one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 18Consider Israel according to the flesh, Are not they, that eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar? 19What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that what is sacrificed to an idol is in itself any thing to stumble at? 20No: but this I say, that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. 21And I would not have you partakers with demons. Ye cannot drink of the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?

All to God’s Glory
(1 Peter 4:1–11)

23If all things be lawful for me, yet all things are not expedient: all things may be lawful for me, but all things do not edify. 24Let no one seek his own only, but every one another's benefit. 25Eat then whatever is sold in the shambles, asking no questions for conscience sake: 26for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 27and if any of the unbelievers invite you to an entertainment, and ye have a mind to go, whatever is set before you, eat, asking no questions for conscience-sake. 28But if any one say to you, This hath been sacrificed to an idol,---eat it not; for his sake who informed thee, and for conscience-sake: for, as I said, the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, so that thou mayst have food enough without it. 29Conscience I say, not thy own, but the other's; for why is my liberty to be judged by another man's conscience? 30And if I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for that, for which I give thanks?

31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32Behave inoffensively both to the Jews, and to the Greeks, and to the church of God. 33Even as I also endeavour to please all men in all things, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.