Ninth Sunday after Trinity (2023)

1 Corinthians 10:6-13

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, in our Epistle lesson this morning st. Paul speaks to the Church in Corinth and they are a church that is living in a situation much like ourselves. The Christians are living in the midst of a culture that is contrary to their confession. The ways of the world are ever present before their eyes, and their neighbors do not understand why they don’t engage and indulge in the fleeting pleasures of the world. He encourages them that they are not alone, but rather have the Scriptures to show us why we flee from sin..

The Old Testament

We tend to avoid the Old Testament.

We make sure that we know the basics, about the garden of eden, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jonah and of course Psalm 23, and there might be a few more stories that we enjoy, but for most it stops there. So why do we avoid it?

People think it is all Law, and no Gospel.

This is a common mistake that folks make throughout the years, they speak of God’s Wrath in the OT, and they forget about the great love and compassion that God has for His people. If there was no Gospel in the OT, then there would have been no prophecies pointing to the coming of Christ. That there would have been no call of repentance or signs of hope for God’s people. Yet, God showed them mercy and love again and again. Yes there is Law and Wrath in the OT, just as there is in the NT, but there is also much grace and love.

The Old Testament is important to Christians.

For the Old Testament prophets spoke by the same Holy Spirit that inspired the writers of the New Testament. So the Spirit of God is the one that is behind the words of both Old and New Testament.

The Word of the Prophets pointed us to Jesus.

They let us know why we should be watching for a babe born in Bethlehem to a virgin, for He would save us from our sins, and bring us into God’s Kingdom. That is the most important thing for you to glean from the Old Testament, and why should you dear Christian ought to be reading it. There is a second reason that it has been given to us.

Examples for Us

Do you want to learn everything firsthand?

There are some things that we enjoy and it helps make the lesson stick when we go through the learning process. But we do not necessarily want that to happen with everything. There are some things

We would rather learn from others.

Especially if it is a situation that we will not go through soon, or the effects would be dangerous for us. When dealing with God’s wrath, and his judgment, would you rather learn firsthand what that is like or from someone else? This is where the Old Testament is important for us.

When we are warned, we ignore it at our own peril.

Because these weren’t just God’s standards in the OT, and we didn’t get a brand new God in the NT. So if God cares about these things in the OT, then He cares about them still, for what is Good and Right never changes.

Common Temptations

Look at the sins of Israel.

The people committed evil by trying to worship other gods, they valued recreation over worship, sexual immorality that they didn’t honor marriage, the were discontent with what God had done for them.

Are these problems today?

Do people still look to the stars for wisdom and learning like the pagan religions did, or do we have religions like Hinduism sneaking in through yoga, or Buddhism through mindfulness. The ease with which people can access sexual immoral content has led to an addiction that destroys lives, marriages, and families. Do people complain that they don’t have enough in this life? As we covet the life we think we deserve to have?

What happened to them?

The wrath of God was poured out on them and they perished in their sins because they rejected the Word of God.

Why did they think it would be fine?

They thought that because they were God’s people, that God would turn a blind eye to their behavior, and permit them to live in sin. They thought they were strong enough, they thought God wouldn’t know, but they were wrong.

We are Like Them

They were slaves of Pharoah, and we of sin.

We could not free ourselves and we lived in a land of darkness. But God found us and sent a savior to rescue us from the kingdom of Satan, the kingdom of sin, and the kingdom of death.

They passed through water, and so did we.

As we were washed in the name of the Triune God and brought from death to life, and brought into wilderness. It was in that water that God washed away our iniquities and made us His people. A people set apart for Him.

They all shared the same food.

We too partake of the body and blood of Christ, the food that comes from heaven to earth, as we receive the flesh and blood of Christ in with and under the bread and wine for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.

They were being led to the promised land.

Our Good Shepherd goes ahead of us to bring us through this desert land to paradise. To enter into God’s eternal kingdom, we do not all arrive there at once, but we know dear friends and family that have gone ahead of us.

Written for our Instruction

God didn’t save them to destroy them.

That was the tragedy that after they had been brought through the water, received the manna that came from heaven and were guided day and night by a pillar of cloud and fire that all but two of those over the age of 20 died in the wilderness.

They wandered from the faith.

Was God to blame for their failure after everything he had done for them? No. He freed, He gave them His Word, but it wasn’t good enough and they chased after sin, instead of remaining with God.

What we risk losing by sin is paradise.

God doesn’t want you to be lost, He doesn’t want you wandering off into the sins of this world, and so these things were written down for your instruction. Not because God hates, or despises you, but because He has saved you, and does not want you to perish.

Taking Heed Lest We fall

No matter your temptations, you are not alone.

As we read the Scriptures we find that every temptation that God’s people have faced, we face too. Don’t go against them alone. When you go alone that is where Satan is waiting to devour you. Here you are part of God’s family, and have a place with his children.

When you are tempted, God provides a way to escape.

It’s a way back to escape that danger and come back to Him. You have brothers and sisters here who are to care for you. Do you know one of the reasons that we all went up to the altar? It was so we stood there together, and laid down our sins at the foot of the cross, but when we stood back up, we also took up part of our neighbors burdens as well.

It doesn’t say God won’t give you more than you can handle.

That is a horrible misquote of this text. God has made you a member of a church and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. That doesn’t mean you can conquer it on your own, but that God will give you strength through the means of grace.

If you have a crutch, something that gets you through the day and it isn’t the Word of God, or His gifts. You have an addiction, and God provides a way of escape. It is why Jesus gave to His apostles the authority to forgive and bind sins, which we know as confession and absolution. So that take that monkey, that disease, that habit, whatever it is that you cannot shake, and bring it to confession, that it might be put to death in this life, and that you might remain on the path to paradise.

So my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, read the Old Testament for it was written for your instruction. First to point you to Christ, and then to serve as a warning that no one should think they are so strong that they can make this journey without the gifts that God gives. For that is when people fall, and do not it, but continue blindly on ignoring the Word of God that they find themselves alone, surrounded by sin, death, and the power of the devil which can overtake them suddenly. So learn from those that have gone before which is the path that leads to death, and the path that leads to life. In Jesus name. Amen.