Offending What does it mean to offend? - PowerPoint Presentation

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Offending

What does it mean to offend?

What does it mean to be offended?Slide2

Modern definition: “cause to feel upset, annoyed, or resentful

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Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.What about if you offend me by what you say or do?Should my liberties be judged by what makes another Christian upset or resentful?

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Def

. 1: Transgress. To do wrong to. To anger or invoke wrath. To wrong another, to

hurt

or transgress against the brother. (e.g. punch him in the mouth.)==========================================================Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. The law. Sex offenders.Gen 20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.Not what Rom 14:21 is talking about.

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Matthew 16:21-23 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan:

thou art an offence unto me

: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.Was Jesus saying he was annoyed or upset, that his feelings were hurt? NO, Peter was standing between Jesus’ service of God. Peter made himself a stumblingblock.

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Def

. 2: Hinder. To cause to fall or stumble. Hinder in obedience to God; to cause to sin or cause one to invoke God’s wrath; to make them fall/backslide, or neglect duty and stop serving or believing God.

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Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence

to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

1Pe 2:7-8 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.Jesus is an offence? The word of God is an offence?

Yes, because he causes many to stumble and fall. Causes many to transgress against the commandment of God.

Not because it upsets people, but because it causes many to stumble.May not be angered, but still cannot believe the word. (e.g. the Muslim)6Slide7

Mat 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me

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What does this use of offence mean?Mat 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.Offended: Scattered from following the shepherd.Mat 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.Mat 26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow,

thou shalt deny me thrice

.Peter was not angry at Jesus, but he was scattered/fallen/stumbled. So offended from serving God he denied he even knew Jesus (God).Get this: every time Jesus uses the word “offend” it is in this manner!7Slide8

Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Joh 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you,

that ye should not be offended.He warns them about future persecution so they aren’t offended when it comes!!! They might wonder if they were really doing right. They might be hindered from serving God.

Joh

16:2-4 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.Remember, and don’t be offended.And when that persecution comes… woe unto the offender.. what is he doing?8Slide9

Matthew 18:6-9 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me

, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come;

but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.This

punishment is for those that turn others from Christ. Scatter his sheep.

If your hand or eye disrespects you? Angers you?Rather, if it makes you fall away from God. Causes you to fall away from his salvation.If cutting off your foot will save your soul, cut that thing off. And if cutting off your own members, you should be ready to cut off anyone that offends you! (father/mother/brother)9Slide10

Mat 17:24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What

thinkest

thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.Jesus never wanted to offend anyone.He made sure that none were offended, but by his word alone.

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Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Joh 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

Joh 6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?Jesus is not worried about their feelings of resentment.Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.It’s about their disbelief!

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Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause

divisions and offences

contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.Teaching that you have to do good works to get or keep salvation. That is offensive. The fact is that it steers people away from Jesus. It is a yoke of bondage, and it offends.

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on’t assume when you read “offend” in the Bible that it is meant the way that it is used today, as in to “anger or upset”. 12Slide13

Liberty vs Offences

Romans 14

1 Corinthians 81 Corinthians 10Slide14

Romans 14Slide15

Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a

stumblingblock

or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.What thing in this world is unclean or sinful?Conscience: It’s unclean for him who thinks its unclean. Not to me or anyone else, but to him!

Statues. Television.

Alcohol/Gambling.15Slide16

Rom 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest

thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

If the brother/sister thinks it’s wrong, then by doing it in front of them, or by encouraging them to do the same, I’m putting a stumblingblock in their way. Conscience: Causes them to feel guilty and feel like they have transgressed against God.Its still not sinful in and of itself. But I’ve caused them to stumble. I’ve hurt their relationship with God. Not charitable.Rom 14:20 For meat

destroy not

the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.For my liberties.. (movies, alcohol, gambling) do not destroy God’s work, the brother.With offence can be two-fold.I am uncertain whether or not I am transgressing when I eat.OR even if I am certain, I may still be putting a stumblingblock in front of another brother.16Slide17

Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby

thy brother

stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.Not that I hurt his feelings, but that I was an offence/hindrance to his service and relationship with God. If he does that thing against his conscience, he’s going to feel guilty before God. I weakened him spiritually, i.e. his relationship with God.Why is it unclean to one and not the other?Romans 14:23 And

he that

doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.Whatsoever is not done with knowledge/confidence, is done with doubt.Nothing in and of itself is sin, but it is actually sin to transgress against your conscience, when it tells you something is evil.17Slide18

1 Corinthians 8Slide19

1Co 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that

we all have knowledge

. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.Knowledge strengthens the conscience.Be careful with that knowledge, it could make you feel superior and be less charitable.1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

We know that meat offered to an idol is not unclean, because an idol is just wood/stone.

The meat is clean, as long as you know you are not backsliding, fighting against God.19Slide20

1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge

: for some

with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.What makes some Christians weak?We might know that “there is nothing unclean of itself”. So why would it be unclean to those who believe it is unclean? They are violating their conscience. Their conscience tells them they have transgressed.They are not eating a clean piece of steak, they are seeing contaminated steak.

Apply to

alcohol, gambling. Why is sin to do those things while doubting?Conscience. Lust War.The more knowledge I have, the less my conscience convicts me of, the less I have to stumble over.1Co 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.Alcohol does not make you better, or worse. It’s just a thing.20Slide21

1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty

of yours

become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.When I through my knowledge cause my weaker brother to be offended (stumble), or to offend (transgress), I’ve been an offense to him.Who gets tripped up and falls from rocks and stumblingblocks? The weak, and also…Leviticus 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.

John 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he

stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.How could Jesus be an offence, a stumblingblock? Because they are blind to him!Just like the unsaved are blind to the gospel, the weak brethren are blind to much Christian knowledge. The brother with knowledge (who can see) will not be offended. To the wise it is freedom, but to the blind it is a stone of stumbling. 21Slide22

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them

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The perfect/strong Christian, which is “rooted and grounded” in knowledge, does not stumble.1Co 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;Apply this to alcohol or cigarettes or going to the movies.

1Co

8:11-13 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.“For meat destroy not the work of God” – Rom 14Exercising my liberty is not worth a brother perishing. (e.g. Jesus and the taxes)22Slide23

Take-A

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2Co 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing

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that the ministry be not blamed:Christianity should only be blamed for offence of Christ.If what you do makes another person hate Christians or God for any other reason than he is offended by stumbles on faith in Jesus Christ, you’ve done wrong.If what I say turns another person off from Christ for any reason other than the truth of scripture, I don’t think God is pleased with that. We are putting more obstacles in the way of a blind person, when only Jesus can turn the lights on.Some will be “offended” no matter what.

Some

are in the business of being “offended”.Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.The truth is offensive enough. There is no reason to be offensive with our words, or “in any thing”, as well.But we also aren’t to live in fear of appearing to do evil according to someone else’s conscience.It comes down to this…24Slide25

Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence

toward God, and toward men.

How can you have a good relationship with God if your conscience tells you have transgressed against him?Your conscience should be clean toward men.Your conscience should be clean toward God.25Slide26

SummarySlide27

We are not abstaining from other’s opinions of evil.

Your opinion does not

affect my liberty. Your “perception” is not reality.Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.Judge righteous judgment, not according to appearances or to your own conscience.Better yet, just stop judging other people…

If

my liberty causes a brother to backslide, I shouldn’t do it IN FRONT OF that person.Pro 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.The most important thing to take away is this: do not turn people away from God by angering them with your opinions or words. The only thing that should offend them (scatter) coming from us, is the gospel of Christ.We are in the business of winning souls, not fixing America’s social and moral issues. Jesus never purposely offended (angered) people. They were only offended (angered) by the truth.27Slide28

Questions?

Pray.

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Back-up StuffSlide30

1 Corinthians 10Slide31

1Co 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat,

asking no question for conscience sake

.No reason to seek out whether or not you are offending when you exercise your liberties.We don’t need to live in fear of that.1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

But if it is made known to you that some are offended (an occasion to fall - made weak in their relationship with God), don’t exercise your liberties in front of them!

Not for my sake. My conscience is clean. But for his conscience!31Slide32

1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own

, but of the other: for

why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?Even if your knowledge allows your conscience to be clean, you should not PARTAKE due to the consciences of weaker brethren, or of the unsaved.Your liberty should not be taken away, you are perfectly free.We are not to purposely offend (make a stumblingblock for) the conscience of others.1Co 10:30-31 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God

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Judging others based on your own conscience.Did I do it with pure conscience toward God? Not to flaunt them.32Slide33

1Co 10:32-33 Give none offence

, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things,

not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.Don’t seek your own pleasure. Seek the salvation of the lost, and the strengthening of the brother or sister in Christ.33