Sinning Against Christ

 Job 35, 36; 1 Corinthians 7-8 

“So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”

1 Corinthians 8:11, 12

Paul’s Damascus Road conversion brought him face to face with the resurrected Lord Jesus, who said to Saul, “Why do you persecute me?” Saul’s persecution of Christians was also a persecution of Christ. Now Saul (Paul) applied that same principle to describe the impact of our insensitivity toward those Christ-followers who have a weak conscience. When our freedom regarding alcohol, the Sabbath, pork, or any other disputed issue causes others to stumble in their walk with Christ, we are wounding Christ. A mark of maturity in discipleship is the capacity to strengthen the weak, not further wound them. When we recognize the presence of Christ in our spouses, and other Christ-followers, we will honor them and lay our lives (and freedoms) down for them as Christ did for us.

“Lord Jesus, prompt me to know when I am wounding others and you through my actions, for your glory.”