Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

1Cor.10:23 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up. 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good. 10:25 Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience.

Often a Christian's has no idea what the apostle Paul is talking about here they come up with some legal measurement of do's and don't and move on to conscience which is applied on a organizational level in some religion or community the person belongs too. First, let it be noted societal norms are consider by Paul here. Few Christian's know that it was not uncommon during the apostles times for a person to have more than one wife, and it was not thought evil of the person.

1Tim.3:2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching.

Having said that societal conscience change, which Paul speaks too here. Moreover, society declares it self-righteous by what laws it obeys and does not obey. However, the conscience of society does not make one of God's anointed lawful or unlawful by what they practice or don't practice, we are not superstitious. God's anointed are lawful by Christ Jesus righteousness, not the righteousness of societal laws.

Romans 3:27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Romans 3:28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

1Cor.1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

We understand there are actually only two minds for human the mind of Christ and the mind of our flesh under the laws of death. The mind of our flesh is under darkness of Satan the Devils world, and the mind of Christ has been set free into the freedom of Spirit and truth with no laws of the flesh judging it. Christ mind has no laws of our sinful flesh against it, it does not sin, nor does it have the desire too sin. Hence, there is no laws against the mind of Christ or his life.

Gal.5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Gal.5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness} 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God.

So all things are lawful for Christ, nothing in this world judgment of sin has anything to do with the life of Christ. But we as human even-though born of God still live in our fleshly vessels upon earth until God calls us home. The highest moral level we can possess as God's children is love, that is, what is best for another person conscience. This is Paul's meaning here, but there is more. What is the more? These brothers and sisters must understand their position in Christ as his body members, and the temple of God. A simple legal answer as the mind of flesh understand would not satisfy the holiness of the truth and Spirit indwelling them as in Christ life upon earth. We must understand where faith is found and how we obtain it, not by works of laws on this earth, but works of Spirit found in the life of Christ Jesus.

1Cor.10:28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," don't eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness."
10:29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other's conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

Rom.12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

We are not under the laws of the flesh, but the law of Spirit, and if we are walking in Spirit there are no laws of our flesh against us, but with this freedom comes the responsibility of love in all we do, so we don't appear to be lawless to the world. However, an act of faith may cause us to appear lawless to please God. Each of us may will be tested in this manner as Abraham whom broke man's laws and God's law to offer up his son upon the altar of God.

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"} 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

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