1 Corinthians 10: "When God Kills his Own People, and Why."

This week, in chapter 10, Paul continues to make his argument against going to idol temples and eating idol meat. He begins like this, in verse 1: "(1) For." Now, whenever we start reading somewhere, and the first word we read is "for," we should have one single thought run through our minds. "Oops." "For" statements strengthen some point just made. And we won't understand them correctly, unless we go back before and try to figure out what point is being strengthened, and how. So let's do this. Let's go back to 1 Corinthians 9, starting at verse 18, and then push to the end of the chapter. And we will see if we can't figure out this "for": (18) Therefore, what is my reward? That, preaching the gospel, free of charge I may offer the gospel, for the purpose that I would not make full use of my right in the gospel. (19) For, being free from all people, myself I have enslaved, in order that the more I may/shall gain, and I have become to the Jews as a Jew, in order that the Jews I may/shall gain. To the ones under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, in order that the ones under the law I may/shall gain. To the lawless, as lawless, not being lawless of/from God, but conforming to the law of/from Christ, in order that I may/shall gain the lawless. (22) I became to the weak, weak, in order that the weak I may/shall gain. To all people, I have become all things, in order that, surely, some I may/shall save. (23) Now, all of this I do for the sake of the gospel, in order that a partner of it I may/shall become. (24) Do you not know that the ones running in the stadium, on the one hand, all run, on the other hand, one receives the prize? In this way, run in order that you shall win/seize/possess. Paul has set up his entire life, in order that he might save as many people as possible. There is no sacrifice to great-- no cost too high-- if the end result is that more people become Jesus' disciples. And his goal, in all of this, is that he would become a partner in the gospel. Verse 23: (23) Now, all of this I do for the sake of the gospel, in order that a partner of it I may/shall become. What does Paul mean, when he talks about being a partner in the gospel? The gospel is good news. It is God's offer of salvation-- of forgiveness from sins, of freedom from Sin, of entrance into God's family, of peace with God, and access to God. And when Paul sacrifices himself as a slave, he does so not just so that others can accept the good news as good news, but also so that he himself will share in the blessings. Paul then encourages the church, in verse 24, to run in such a way as you win the prize. At the end of a faithful Christian walk, there is a prize available to you. And that prize is eternal life (Rom. 6:22). This is not a prize that's given to people because they "believe in Jesus." This is a prize for people who have walked in step with the Spirit, who have sowed to please the Spirit, and who have lived holy/dedicated lives toward God (Rom. 2:7, 10; 6:22; Gal. 6:7-9). I say this, and I understand that this is a stretch for you. When I was first exposed to this, I felt like it destroyed me. But Galatians 6:7-9, in particular, is very clear: 7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. Let's pick Paul back up in verse 25: (25) Now, everyone competing, in all things exercises self-control-- on the one hand, those ones, in order that a perishable crown they shall receive, on the other hand, we, an imperishable one. (26) Therefore, I in this way run, not in an uncertain/unclear manner. In this way, I box, not as the air beating, but I strike my body, and I enslave it, lest somehow, preaching to others, I should myself become disqualified/worthless/discarded. What does Paul mean, when he worries about making sure that he doesn't become disqualified, or worthless, or discarded? Why is he so ruthless toward his own body, to make sure this doesn't happen to him? For most of us, there is no room in our theology for Paul's words here. We resist this. Paul is determined to live in a way, that he isn't disqualified for the prize-- after saving many others. So he is ruthless toward himself-- he (metaphorically) beats his body. He strikes it. He enslaves it. He practices self-control in all things. Our bodies are like brute animals. They have desires, and they don't particularly care how those desires are met. Bodies want food. Water. Pleasure. And Paul is ruthless toward his body. He makes sure that he is the boss; he doesn't live as a slave to his body. "Lest somehow, preaching to others, I should myself become disqualified." I read this, personally, and I think it's obvious that Paul is talking about eternal life. I don't think Paul is concerned about missing out on some type of extra reward or perk. If you're disqualified for a race, you don't get anything. There's no silver or bronze medal. There's no participation award. You get nothing. If you're worthless or discarded, you end up at the dump. Paul works very hard to make sure that at the end of the day, he is a partner in the blessings that the gospel offers. But some of you are maybe not convinced. You don't think you really need to be as ruthless toward your body as Paul was. You aren't consumed by this desire to make sure you qualify for the prize. Your real problem with what I've said, maybe, is that you don't think Paul is talking about eternal life here. It's on this very point, that 1 Corinthians 10 develops. Why is Paul so concerned about becoming disqualified? Why does he work so hard to live in such a way that he doesn't become worthless and thrown away? Let's start by reading verse 1-5: (10:1) For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brothers, that all of our fathers under the cloud they were, and all through the sea passed, and all into Moses were baptized in the cloud and in the sea, (3) and all the same Spiritual food they ate, (4) and all the same Spiritual drink they drank. For they drank from the Spiritual rock following [them]. Now, the rock was the Christ, (5) but not with most of them God was pleased. For they were struck down in the wilderness. When we read the OT stories, we are reading the stories of "our" fathers. We are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. We are the descendants of Israelites-- we are the true Jews (Rom. 2:29). And "our" fathers all had the same experiences. They all lived with God's presence among them ("under the cloud"). They were all saved by God's grace ("through the sea"). They all had the same baptism ("into Moses"). They all ate the same Spiritual food and drank the same Spiritual drink (Eucharist/communion). And they all had Jesus Christ. So when we read the stories of our fathers, we understand that there is no gap between them and us. They were us, in every way. But how did their story end? Verse 5: (5) but not with most of them God was pleased. For they were struck down in the wilderness. I say, without trying to be funny, that the easiest way to tell if God isn't pleased with someone, is if He strikes them dead in the wilderness. God was furious with most of our fathers. He wasn't pleased. And he killed most of them. They didn't die peacefully in their beds. They didn't die the way they should've. They were struck down. Verses 6-10: (6) Now, these things [as] examples to us they happened, so that we would not desire evil things, just as those ones desired. (7) Nor idolaters become, just as some of them, as it is written, "The people sat to eat and drink, and they rose to play. (8) Nor shall we commit sexual immorality, just as some of them committed sexual immorality, and 23,000 fell in one day. (9) Nor shall we put the Christ to the test, just as some of them tested, and by the snakes were destroyed. (10) Nor grumble, as some of them grumbled, and they were destroyed by the destroyer. Why wasn't God pleased with our fathers? Why did he strike them down in the wilderness? There are sins that God finds extremely offensive. Sins that He doesn't tolerate from people who have entered into a covenant with him. You can't desire evil things, as they did. You can't be idolaters, as they were. You can't commit sexual immorality, as they did. You can't put Jesus to the test, as they did. And you can't grumble, as they did. On this last point, let me just say this. If you have a problem with God, and you think He's been treating you unfairly, what are you supposed to do? God doesn't expect you just to keep your mouth shut and endure it. You are supposed to protest to God. You are supposed to let God know that you don't think He's holding up his end of the covenant. That's what protest ("complaint") psalms are for. What you're not supposed to do, is grumble to each other about God. You go to Him, if you have a problem with Him. God is a big God. He can handle your protest. So these are the sins our fathers committed, that made God angry. These are the sins that led to our fathers being struck down in the wilderness. Let me just reread verse 8: (8) Nor shall we commit sexual immorality, just as some of them committed sexual immorality, and 23,000 fell in one day. Remember this verb-- fell. Underline that in your Bibles. Paul continues, in verse 11: (11) Now, these things as an example happened to those ones. Now, they were written for our instruction, for whom the end of the ages has come. (12) Therefore, the one thinking he stands, must watch out lest he fall. What does verse 12 mean? Some of you are maybe committing the same sins as your fathers. And you think you are standing strong. You maybe think God is pleased with you. You maybe think nothing bad will happen to you. Maybe, you notice lots of other Christians committing the same sins, and you think there's safety in numbers. Like when you are following a speeding car down a freeway, and you think, the cop can't give you all tickets. Or you're part of a herd of antelope, and you think the cheetah can't kill you all. If this is you, watch out lest you "fall." If you are committing the same sins as your fathers, God is not pleased with you. And God may strike you down, as he did your fathers. Don't think there's safety in numbers. God is very good at killing people, in large numbers-- 23,000 at a shot. And God is capable of killing people in lots of different ways. The bottom line is that if God comes after you as an enemy, because you've displeased him, you are going to fall just like your fathers. You aren't safe, at all. Paul continues, in verse 13: (13) A testing hasn't come upon you, except only what is common to humans. Now, faithful God is, who will not permit you to be tested beyond what you are able, but will make together with the testing, also the way out so that you are able to endure it. (14) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. All of the sins your fathers committed, they gave in to because they were attractive. Evil things can sound desirable. They offer you short-term happiness. Idolatry sounds like a good idea-- it's better to have two gods helping you than one, right? Sexual immorality sounds like a good idea-- it sounds fun. But when you read the stories of your fathers, understand that these testings are not new to you. The pull you feel to commit these sins is not a new struggle for humanity. It's a struggle as old as human history. So when you find yourself being pulled toward these sins, what is the correct response? You could give in. You could tell yourself that they are no big deal. That you can stand firm, and not worry about God being displeased with you, and coming after you. Or, you can resist. Any time you feel yourself pulled toward these sins, know that you are perfectly capable of resisting them. God does not permit you to be tested beyond what you are able. And God will give you an escape, so that you can successfully endure the testing. What is this escape? Paul starts, in verse 14, by saying this: (14) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. The way out from testing involves turning and running from it. The Corinthians have been flirting with idols and idol temples. These places were fun. They were like a neighborhood bar and grill. They were where you'd get married, or have business meetings, or birthday parties. The pull toward these places was real. But remember your fathers. Remember that with most of them, God wasn't pleased. Most of them were scattered in the wilderness, killed before their time. How then should we live? Let's go back to 1 Cor. 9:23: (23) Now, all of this I do for the sake of the gospel, in order that a partner of it I may/shall become. (24) Do you not know that the ones running in the stadium, on the one hand, all run, on the other hand, one receives the prize? In this way, run in order that you shall win/seize/possess. (25) Now, everyone competing, in all things exercises self-control-- on the one hand, those ones, in order that a perishable crown they shall receive, on the other hand, we, an imperishable one. (26) Therefore, I in this way run, not in an uncertain/unclear manner. In this way, I box, not as the air beating, but I strike my body, and I enslave it, lest somehow, preaching to others, I should myself become disqualified/worthless/discarded. If you read the stories of your fathers with understanding, and truly see how God acted toward them when they sinned, (1) you will exercise self-control in all things. (2) You will run the race single-minded, focused on the end goal. (3) You will make sure you end up in the promised land, partnering in the blessings of the good news. (4) You will strike your body, and beat it, and enslave it, so that you don't end up discarded in the wilderness, outside of God's promises. And if you haven't been living this way, you will take this opportunity to repent. You will understand that you are still standing because God has been patient, and giving you time to turn back to him. Today is a good day to begin fleeing from these sins. Today is a good day to run to God. Translation: (10:1) For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brothers, that all of our fathers under the cloud they were, and all through the sea passed, and all into Moses were baptized in the cloud and in the sea, (3) and all the same Spiritual food they ate, (4) and all the same Spiritual drink they drank. For they drank from the Spiritual rock following [them]. Now, the rock was the Christ, (5) but not with most of them God was pleased. For they were struck down in the wilderness. (6) Now, these things [as] examples to us they happened, so that we would not desire evil things, just as those ones desired. (7) Nor idolaters become, just as some of them, as it is written, "The people sat to eat and drink, and they rose to play. (8) Nor shall we commit sexual immorality, just as some of them committed sexual immorality, and 23,000 fell in one day. (9) Nor shall we put the Christ to the test, just as some of them tested, and by the snakes were destroyed. (10) Nor grumble, as some of them grumbled, and they were destroyed by the destroyer. (11) Now, these things as an example happened to those ones. Now, they were written for our instruction, for whom the end of the ages has come. (12) Therefore, the one thinking he stands, must watch out lest he fall. (13) A testing hasn't come upon you, except only what is common to humans. Now, faithful God is, who will not permit you to be tested beyond what you are able, but will make together with the testing also the way out so that you are able to endure it. (14) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 11