Weak conscience

1 Cor. 8:7-8, “⁷ However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸ But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.”

The above verse says, “their conscience being weak, is defiled.” I believe the reason the conscience is defiled of the one who eats the food offered to an idol is because they are still under self-imposed law in their hearts. They are empowering and giving higher priority to the idol offered food because they do not have ‘knowledge’ yet. So, when they eat the idol-offered food to be like brother so-in-so they put themselves under the law again. The motivation in their hearts is probably Uzza or self-strength. How can I say that? Self-strength is not walking in the Spirit. Self-strength will put you back under the law. Self-strength is not revelatory, but presumptuous. Presumption is not understanding received by faith, Heb. 11:3. It is a guess. God is not the God of guessing, but omniscient.

The next verse says, “⁸ But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.” I believe brother Paul is not just talking about food. Phil. 3:8 supports this. The only thing that truly commends us before the Father is the complete work of His only Son. The faith of His Son commends us by grace. So, keeping my ducks in a row does not even justify me. I live by His faith in me, Gal. 2:20.