853 1 Cor.10.1-22 Beware the Trappings of Idolatry
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- The church is a distinct people – we have been called out of the world to be God’s people
Beware the Trappings of Idolatry
Beware the Trappings of Idolatry
Date: 02-01-20 853 Echuca
- The church is a distinct people – we have been called out of the world to be God’s people
- God’s people were always to be a distinctively different people & not to blend in with the world
- It started with Israel – one of their distinctives was circumcision
- The surrounding nations thought it was a terrible practise
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- Moses’ Midianite wife, Zipporah, knew that this was God’s requirement & she seems to have told Moses that it was not going to be done to their son
- Something must have happened to their son – in that he was going to die – she knew it was God’s judgement & she circumcised the boy & he lived
- In submission, she touched Moses feet with the foreskin & said in disgust to Moses, “you are a bridegroom of blood to me”
- Israel had many other ways in which they were to be a distinct nation under God
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Q. But why be distinct? What is wrong with blending in?
- The world goes in the opposite direction to God’s ways & His thoughts
- The world’s values & judgements, often bear no resemblance to God’s
- The world gives no acknowledgement of it’s creator, no praise & no glory
- But when it does, it does so in such a way to turn the tables of sovereignty so that the world becomes sovereign over God
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
—21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
- As someone has said, “God made Man in His own image, but Man returned the favour & began making God in his own image
- As someone has said, “God made Man in His own image, but Man returned the favour & began making God in his own image
- This is the essence of idolatry – it’s Man making God into a being of his liking
- God is unacceptable as He is - let’s fashion Him into a being that suits us better
- Commentators are correct to say that it is man’s way of domesticating God
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Q. The “world” wants to take Margaret Court’s name off the tennis stadium – why?
- Because she dared to take a stand & say that God ordained marriage is to be between one man & one woman
- She affirmed what Christian morality had affirmed in the west for thousands of years
- It is the God-rejectors that now want to impose their anti-god views on everyone else
- The sexes are now just a personal choice & construct
- What is sad is that some Christians have bought into this
1. If Israel Didn’t Escape Judgement, Neither Will the Church
1. If Israel Didn’t Escape Judgement, Neither Will the Church
- Last week, we finished with Paul saying that we need to pursue the Gospel life with the intensity of an athlete who is out, for one reason, & that is to win the game/competition
- The Corinthians, in the name of “blending in” & having a social standing have entangled themselves in the idolatrous practises of the world
- Paul has told them in a previous letter not to be involved in idolatrous practises which also involve immorality
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- They chose to disagree with him & claim their rights & freedoms to be involved - they have knowledge that an idol is nothing!
- In doing so, they undermine his authority from Jesus by questioning his position as Christ’s apostle
- They are grumbling against him just as Israel grumbled against Moses
- They are putting Christ to the test, just as Israel put Christ to the test
- The Corinthians stand on the cusp of the judgement of the Lord
- They are in real danger of being disqualified from the prize of everlasting life
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- The church has 2 ordinances: baptism and communion
- They are significant for the church
- Baptism marks the start of the Christian life & entry into Christ’s church
- Baptism marks the believers transition from the kingdom of the world to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son
- In baptism the believer is incorporated into the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus; clothed with Christ & seated with Jesus in the heavenly places
- The believer now possesses the Spirit of God & has inherited & entered into the age to come ()
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- Communion is the ongoing participation in the church
- In communion, the believer participates/communes with Christ as He is here with the body of Christ corporately in this special way
- Where His people worship Him as they give attention to the reason for their existence & give thanks to Him for what He specifically did in His suffering & death & what He has accomplished through that
- I believe it is unfortunate that over the years, the church has taken the idea of one loaf & one cup away & made it into individual servings as such
- We miss the oneness that comes from taking from the one loaf & cup
- But that is another matter
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- These 2 ordinances - baptism & communion - are for the church, for the people of God
- They are privileges for which only the church – only God’s people – can have
- With these ordinances comes promises & provisions for the present as well as the future
- The Christian can have great security in these great promises & provisions
Q. However, can these promises & privileges be ever withdrawn on account of behaviour?
- That is the question at hand & that is what is answered in this passage today
Q. Can involving yourself in idolatry, grumbling & testing Jesus, forfeit those privileges?
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- Paul says that these 2 ordinances of the church were also prefigured in the OT
- The Israelites in the wilderness were “baptised” in the Red sea & in the cloud
- They partook of communion as they received manna from heaven & the provision of water from the rock
- Paul says that these provisions in the OT were from Jesus Himself – the same Jesus who gives us the promises & provisions through baptism & communion
Q. Was Israel so secure in their promises & provisions that they believed no bad behaviour could ever see those withdrawn from them?
—5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
- God sometimes judged them on the spot & they died, or He left them die out in the wilderness & excluded them from the promised land
- God sometimes judged them on the spot & they died, or He left them die out in the wilderness & excluded them from the promised land
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- Paul says v.6
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
—6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
- Commentator Gordon Fee rightly says...
- Commentator Gordon Fee rightly says...
“just as God did not tolerate Israel’s idolatry, so he will not tolerate the Corinthians’. We deceive ourselves if we think he will tolerate ours”.
-- Gordon Fee
2. Learn From Israel’s Judgements
2. Learn From Israel’s Judgements
—11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- To be part of the kingdom of God; to inherit the kingdom of God is a privilege that is beyond comprehension
- To be part of the kingdom of God; to inherit the kingdom of God is a privilege that is beyond comprehension
- It’s worrying, that many in the church don’t understand that while they have greater privileges & greater blessings than Israel, they also have a greater imperative to protect those blessings
- We have this written all over the NT
- In referring to corrupted false teachers
20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
—20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
- Paul to the Corinthians…
- Paul to the Corinthians…
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
—9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
- Don’t be deceived he says
- Don’t be deceived he says
- Again, this time to the Galatians…
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
—19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
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- In this passage today, the danger of being disqualified is laid at the feet of the Corinthians as Paul outlines the reason for God’s judgement against Israel
- Their very attitude to their apostle appointed by Jesus to make His Gospel known is placing some of these in Corinth in serious danger of being disqualified for the prize
- Here the apostle mentions 4 judgements that came upon some of the Israelites
1. They made a golden calf & worshipped the gods of Egypt & 3,000 died
—35 Then the LORD smote the people, because of what they did with the calf which Aaron had made.
35 Then the Lord smote the people, because of what they did with the calf which Aaron had made.
2. Part of such worship involved immorality, similar to v.7 as it says they stood up to play - “to play immorally”
2. Part of such worship involved immorality, similar to v.7 as it says they stood up to play - “to play immorally”
1 While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry against Israel.
—1 While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel.
- As a result, Paul says 23,000 were judged & died that day
- As a result, Paul says 23,000 were judged & died that day
- Again, he points out that these are examples or analogies of how it will be for the church if we pursue this same kind of practise
- A number of the Corinthians were doing just this
3. In testing the Lord, they were testing His patience & grace
Q. How many of us do this?
- It is so tempting to think we can act in certain ways & feel justified in doing that & often we are relying on the grace of God to cover us
- In the back of our mind, we are thinking, “well God is a gracious God, He will forgive me, tomorrow we will get back to where we were before”
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- Indeed, God is a gracious God, but we should never think that we are allowed to presume on His grace
- What is interesting here is that Paul says that Israel tried Christ & were destroyed by the serpents
—5 The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” 6 The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people.
5 The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” 6 The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you; intercede with the Lord, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people.
- They pushed the patience of Christ & spoke against Him but also His servant & representative in Moses
- They pushed the patience of Christ & spoke against Him but also His servant & representative in Moses
4. Nor grumble as some of them did & were destroyed by the destroyer
- The apostle points out that they grumbled against God, but it was Jesus who was there in the OT & it was He they grumbled against
- In like manner, by grumbling against Paul, the Corinthians are grumbling against Christ
- He was appointed by Christ as Moses was appointed by Christ
- If Christ, gave judgement against them for grumbling against His appointed leader in Moses, then they better not think they will escape if they continue to grumble against their appointed apostle in Paul
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- Now we need something light after all this heavy stuff & I have the very remedy to lighten the mood
Q. Did any of you see one of our own in the paper this week?
- Ted & another gentleman on their gophers
- If I hadn't known the background, these two guys look like there ready to have a drag race
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- Now, you can’t make this stuff up
- Probably one of the biggest hoons in Gopher world – have a look at what he said in the paper...
“I know there are crazy drivers around who are in cognisant and make it hard for those people who are doing the right thing he said. Ted said, he considered himself a responsible rider and had never hit or injured anyone with his scooter I’m very safe, very cognisant, he said. I’ve only rolled it once and that was when I took a right angle a little too quickly”
- What a gem – I’m sorry, I just couldn’t let this moment go by
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- To be a Christian, requires keeping a tender heart towards Christ
- It is easy to get carried away in life & allow the years to harden us towards the beautiful truth & Person of Christ – the One we had come to know when we originally surrendered to Him
- In that hardening, we tend to rest in the security of our position in Christ & forget that that position is not guaranteed if we think we can behave & live in contrast to Christ’s values
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- We can rest in the promises, just as Israel could rest in her promises when she & we obey the Lord
- But both Israel & we can indeed separate ourselves from Christ when we start living in ways that are contrary to His
- When we start behaving in ways that push the Lord’s grace to breaking point
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- This is the context here of vs.12-13
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
—12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
- Abraham was tested but Abraham was confident right from the start that God would provide the lamb - where is the lamb for the sacrifice said Isaac - God will provide the lamb
- Abraham was tested but Abraham was confident right from the start that God would provide the lamb
- He went ahead in obedience to sacrifice Isaac, then God said stop & a way of escape was provided – a lamb was caught in the thickets
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- The Corinthians are under pressure to participate in idolatry
- It was the norm & if you resisted you were labelled
- The Corinthians wanted social standing, but it was a dangerous thing to be politically incorrect & not attend - Christians were labelled in the first few centuries as “haters of the human race” because they refused to participate in pagan revelries, feasts & the like
- After her Christian conversion and renunciation of idols and idol food, Aseneth laments being hated by her family and her people
Withdrawing from all idolatrous functions would scuttle any ambitions for social advancement, impair patron/client relations, fuel ostracism, and damage economic partnerships.
-- David E. Garland
3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;
—3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;
- It’s not easy to cut across the grain of politically correct
- It’s not easy to cut across the grain of politically correctness
Q. What if you worked in government & were asked to participate in smoking ceremonies? See what I mean!
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- Satan comes to you, not as a huge ugly monster, but as an angel of light
- A person’s fall doesn’t come by something exceedingly obvious, but from something which is “common to man”
- No one will be able to rest for safety either on their baptism or their experience of communion if they continue to test Christ with behaviours that bring judgement
- Christ is jealous for His church & will not share her with any one else
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Q. But what is the “way of escape” for these types of testings?
- C. K. Barrett says…
“The way out is for those who seek it, not for those who (like the Corinthians) are … looking for a way in”
-- C. K. Barrett
- Paul is saying that even though you may receive the blunt end of society, God is faithful & will provide all you need, just as He provided for Abraham in his testing
3. Flee From Idolatry
3. Flee From Idolatry
- This final point brings us to a natural reality we experience every week
- Jesus was the host of the first communion – the Lord’s Supper
- The early church understood Jesus to be present by the Spirit in their gatherings
- Sharing in communion is a sharing with Christ – but here the apostle seems to be saying that the sharing in the body & blood of Christ has to do with 1. the body as the church & 2. the blood as Christ
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- There is a fellowship with Christ in the communion time
- That comes as Christians fellowship/participate together since we are Christ’s body (one loaf) - Christ is in us
- As we share communion fellowship together, we are sharing with Christ Himself
—16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
- Here, the body of Christ refers to the church
- Here, the body of Christ refers to the church
—17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.
17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.
- The intimacy & interconnectedness between Christ’s literal body & the church go easily together with the apostle
- The intimacy & interconnectedness between Christ’s literal body & the body of Christ as the church go easily together with the apostle
- This is why relationships in the body of Christ are special because fellowship with one another is akin to fellowship with Christ
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- To participate in idolatrous feasts (communion at the local shrine) is to commune with the gods that are represented by the idol
- Of course, as Paul says here, an idol is nothing & there are no other gods – he agrees entirely with the Corinthians
- Only, the problem for them is that a real communion is happening
- It’s not with gods, but with demons
- The demonic world is real & just because we cannot see that world, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist
- I can’t see radio waves, but they are real – our radios, TV & phones would not work if radio waves didn’t exist
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- The Lord Jesus is jealous for His church & will not share her with anyone else
- The pressure of society to be involved in Idolatry was as real for them as the pressure to be politically correct is as real for us
- Just look at the pressure being exerted to take the Christian, Margaret Court’s name off the tennis stadium
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- Grumbling is a trait which tests the Lord’s grace & patience & the examples in the OT of such grumbling shows that it ended badly for those people
- God is a God of grace, but that grace can be pushed to breaking point & should never be tested
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- With all testing, we can be assured that God is faithful
– He will provide a way of escape during the testing times, but that way will not come unless we hang in their with the truth
- The take home for me from this passage is quite plain – never take God’s grace for granted