[Due to pastor's illness, this sermon was read by our pastoral intern Joel Irvin.]
“All things are lawful for me.”
The Corinthians appear to be trying to defend their sexual and economic practices by appealing to the Pauline principle that we are “free” from the law of Moses.
If we are free from the law of Moses, then all things are lawful! Right?
It might be better to say “all things are permitted” or “allowed.” The idea is “I can do whatever I want”!
However, the last statement in verse 12 uses a closely related word. “All things are lawful for me” but I will not be dominated by anything. Paul is using a word play between these two words “lawful” and “dominated.” The best I can do in English is to say, “I have power to do anything, but I will not be overpowered by anything.” Or to capture another nuance of the Greek, “Liberty to do anything – but I will not let anything take liberties with me.”
After all, while we are sons of God in Jesus Christ – we are free from the guilt and the power of sin! – and so, yes, in one sense, “I can do whatever I want”!
But not everything is helpful. Not everything moves you in the direction that you want to go....
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