Flee From Idolatry

1Corinthians 10:14-17 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge you what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 

‘Flee from idolatry’ – God is more glorious than any part of creation and must be recognized as such. When men worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator it is idolatry and this calls for the curse of God (Rom. 1:18-32). Creation was made by God for His own glory and pleasure, not for creation itself to worship (Rev. 4:11). Fornication in the Bible means: adultery of married or single people (Mat. 5:32; 19:9; 1Cor. 7:2; 10:8; 1Thess. 4:3; Rev. 9:21); incest (1Cor. 5:1; 10:8); idolatry and adultery in honour of idol gods (2Chron. 21:11; Isa. 23:17; Ezek. 16:15, 26, 29; Acts 15:20, 15:29; 21:25; Rev. 2:14-21; 14:8; 17:2-4; 18:3-9; 19:2); natural harlotry (John 8:41; 1Cor. 6:13-18); spiritual harlotry (Ezek. 16:15, 26, 29; Rev. 17:2-4; 18:3-9; 19:2); sodomy and male prostitution (1Cor. 6:9-11; Heb. 12:16; Jude 1:6-7; Rom. 1:24-29; 2Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5). Do all these scriptures apply to single people only? If not, then fornication does not apply only to single people as some teach.

Two results of idolatry: Judgment from the judge and a denial of God Himself (Job 31:28).

‘Wise men; judge you what I say’ – Since you are wise, you can see the necessity of refraining from idolatry.

‘The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?’ This refers to the Lord’s Supper (11:23-29).

‘For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.’ All believers who partake of Christ and the holy communion are one religious body in Christ and form the body of Christ (12:13; Col. 1:18, 1:24; Eph. 1:20-23; 2:19-22; 4:1-8).