Excerpt from The Yahushaic Covenant Volume 1 by Rav Sha'ul Meat Sacrificed to Idols and Liberty by Rav Sha'ul   The Apostle Paul taught the transposition of The Law from written in stone (defined by physical act) to written on our hearts (defined by Spiritual Intent) just like Yahusha did. Yahusha taught Spiritual Intent giving the examples of adultery, murder, etc. Paul in this case is teaching Spiritual Intent as it applies to meat sacrificed to idols using a very extreme example to prove a very important point. Spiritual Intent while strengthening The Law also provides "liberty" liberating us from sin defined by physical act because the physical act alone is not sin. It is the "intent" behind the act. Paul uses one of the most extreme examples to teach this concept of "liberty" in light of "intent". Paul is saying that eating meat, the act alone, is not sin. What makes eating that meat a sin is the "spiritual intent of your heart"... if you believe that those idols are gods and eat that meat in an act of worship to them THEN the act of eating meat is a sin of idolatry.  If in your heart you know those gods are not real, it is just meat and the act of eating meat is not a sin. Paul was tasked to take the Gospel to The Lost Sheep of the House of Israel who were living as pagans. He would have to exercise his "liberty" in order to enter their home, dine with them, and reach them with the Gospel. In that endeavor he no doubt encountered situations where the meal was "sacrificed to an idol" as the home was a pagan home (Temple). Paul, however, knowing The Law was transposed by Yahusha to "intent" could eat that meat because it was JUST MEAT giving him liberty to reach those lost sheep. Paul had to become all things to all men. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews (The House of Judah) I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under The Law (The House of Judah, or Jews) I became like one under The Law (though I myself am not under the curse of the law, I am under The Yahushaic Covenant and the decrees against me have been covered), so as to win those (Jews) under the law. 21 To those (lost sheep of The House of Israel) not having The Law (as Yahuah had divorced them for breaking The Law) I became like one not having The Law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under The Yahushaic Covenant), so as to win those (of the lost sheep of The House of Israel living as pagan gentiles) not having The Law (exercising his Liberty). 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some (a remnant from both houses). 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. The spiritual intent of Paul or the attitude of Paul's heart was righteous as he in his heart knew that idol was not god but a piece of stone. So the act of eating that meat was therefore not a sin because his attitude was righteous in trying to reach that family thereby cleansing the meat. 1 Corinthians 8 Take Care with Your Liberty 4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know (in our heart) that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one (Paul declared The Shema). 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven (demons parading around as gods) or on earth (men parading around as god incarnate), as indeed there are many gods and many human rulers, 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father (again Paul declares The Shema), from whom are all things (created) and we exist for Yahuah; and one King, Yahusha the Messiah, for whom are all things ( are given by inheritance), and we exist through him (in The Yahushaic Covenant as co-heirs). (Paul just established his attitude of heart when approaching a meal, we are not held to account for another's sin so if someone else sacrificed a piece of meat to an idol the only thing Paul would be held to account for was his own spiritual Intent not that of the person who sacrificed it) 7 However not all men have this knowledge (and in their heart believe the idol is a god); but some, being accustomed to (worshipping) the idol until now, eat food as if it were (their intent) sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience (spiritual intent) being weak is defiled. (it isn't the food that defiles them, it is the intent of their heart, the belief in the idol) 8 But food will not commend us to Yahuah (it isn't the food that is in question it is the spiritual intent behind it); we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. (it is just food) 9 But take care that this liberty (of spiritual intent that Yahusha taught as The Law was transposed to Spirit) of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (who need milk not solid food as they have not learned physical to spiritual transposition of The Law and still identify sin through physical act not attitude of heart). 10 For if someone (who is weak in faith) sees you (your act), who have knowledge (of spiritual intent and the liberty), dining in an idol’s temple (eating at the home of a pagan as you try and reach them with the Gospel), will not his (the person who sees you) conscience, if he is weak, (does not understand the concept of attitude of heart defines sin not the act) be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge (of attitude of heart giving you liberty to eat because in your heart you know the god is not real and it is just meat) he who is weak (in the Spiritual Truth of the Law) is ruined, the brother for whose sake Yahusha died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, (doesn't have the knowledge of intent over act) you sin against The Yahushaic Covenant. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble (because he is not strong in The Yahushaic Covenant and does not understands spiritual intent over physical act), I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. Paul is simply teaching the transposition of The Law and the liberty that provides those whose attitude is righteous when it comes to this physical world and physical acts. Very much like Yahusha and his disciples gathering food on The Sabbath... Modern day example... Christmas Christmas is a great example of how to apply what Paul was teaching. As even in his day December 25th was celebrated as the rebirth of the sun and a day of worship to Baal.  The meal they ate on Christmas in worshipping the god-men Christos saviors (all of whom were born on December 25th) would be considered "sacrificed to an idol". December 25th is a day when my extended family gathers to worship Jesus Christ (the latest incarnation of the sun god-men).  Can I gather with them without being "guilty" of worshipping Baal or the false messiah Jesus? I know in my heart that Baal and Jesus are not god and that December 25th is just another day to me. So I have "liberty" to spend time with my family as that is my "intent" it is not to worship Jesus or Baal. Further more being among family members I rarely see puts me in front of my family members that I may become all things to all men and possibly win them over (which is always my intent).  Below I replace "meat sacrificed to an idol" with the specific example of meat sacrificed to an idol on Christmas Day. 1 Corinthians 8 4 Therefore concerning the gathering together on Christmas Day, we know (in our heart) that there is no such thing as "Jesus was born on Christmas", and that there is no God but one Yahuah not Jesus. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven (the sun is a god i.e. Baal) or on earth (Jesus parading around in our hearts as god incarnate), as indeed there are many gods and many human demi-gods called Christos, 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father Yahuah, from whom are all things (created) and we exist for Yahuah; and one King, Yahusha the Messiah, for whom are all things (were given as an inheritance), and we exist through The Yahushaic Covenant as co-heirs. (my attitude is that Yahuah alone is God ... Jesus doesn't exist either does Baal, it is just another day to me) 7 However not all men have this knowledge (and view December 25th as a day of worship, a holy day to them); but some, being accustomed celebrating the birth of Jesus until now, celebrate Christmas as if it were (their intent) a day of worshipping Jesus; and their conscience being weak is defiled (on Christmas Day because to them it is a holy day). 8 But gathering with family on a specific day of the year will not commend us to Yahuah; we are neither the worse if we choose not to gather with family on that day, nor the better if we gather with our family on that day. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours (to gather with family on December 25th with the intent to spend time with family not celebrate the birth of Jesus) does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone (weak in faith) sees you, who have knowledge (that it is just another day), having dinner with family on Christmas Day, will not his (the person who sees you) conscience, if he is weak, (thinks you are celebrating Christmas) be strengthened to actually keep Christmas Day as a holy day? 11 For through your knowledge (that it is just another day and your Liberty to gather with family on that day) he who is weak (in the Spiritual Truth of the Law) is ruined (because by your example he thinks it is OK to celebrate the meaning of Christmas), the brother for whose sake Yahusha died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, (doesn't have the knowledge of Intent over act) you sin against The Yahushaic Covenant. 13 Therefore, if getting together on a Christmas Day causes my brother to stumble (because he is not Strong in The Yahushaic Covenant and understands Spiritual Intent over act), I will never gather on that day again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. Next: Liberty, Spiritual Intent, and The Law

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