1 Corinthians 10:1-13 | "Examples For Us"
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· 2,030 viewsSunday, August 22, 2021. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 | "Examples For Us." Are we guaranteed as a local church to succeed in what God calls us to do? Do we think we are immune from failure? The apostle would have us all "think again" if we are so arrogant. With the care of a concerned pastor and teacher, the apostle prepares a history lesson about a people whose favorable future was overthrown, by faulty feelings which overlooked, a faithful God who oversees. Who were these people? They were "our fathers," and what happened to them may happen to us if we are unwilling to learn from their example. This message preaches from 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. It is part of a preaching series through 1 Corinthians "To The Church." This sermon is called "Examples For Us."
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I. Reading of Scripture
I. Reading of Scripture
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
and all ate the same spiritual food,
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
This is God’s Word, Amen.
The title of this message, is the phrase lifted from verse 6:
[Title Slide]
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 “Examples For Us”
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 “Examples For Us”
“These things took place as examples for us.”
II. Introduction
II. Introduction
A. Introduction to Theme
A. Introduction to Theme
If we want to learn how to do something well, we look for a good example. We look for some one or some event to observe and model after.
Likewise, If we want to learn what things to avoid - lessons that were learned the hard way - failures that we don’t want to repeat, we look for an example.
It is common to say of another person: “I’m going to make an example out of you.” This is a way of saying, “I’m going to make sure this lesson makes an impression in the minds of all who follow.”
God’s Word tells us that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc 1:9).
The reality is this - someone, somewhere has done whatever it is before us, for good or for bad. Somewhere, someone is an example for us.
Can you think of a person, or an experience, that has left a mark on your life? An example that you have modeled a part of your life after?
We can all think of at least one example.
But what about the Church?
Does the Church have any examples to look to, and learn from?
Did you know, that God’s Word preserves the stories of people and events to serve as examples?
Not examples for the world, not examples for those outside of the faith, but examples preserved for US, the Church of God in Christ Jesus (1:2), living in these last days.
B. Introduction to Text
B. Introduction to Text
The apostle now turns the eyes of the Church to look upon these examples. And he has a good reason for doing this!
At the beginning of Chapter 8, the apostle began to answer a question that had been written to him by the church in Corinth about whether or not Christians should eat of food used in the worship of idols.
He wrote back:
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
How do knowledge and love relate to one another?
How to Christians who are strong in conscience relate to brothers and sisters with a weak conscience?
(How has God in Christ Jesus related to us?)
The apostle has been expounding what it means for love to build up. “Love builds up.”
Love is knowledge in action for the strengthening of the weak.
But now, in Chapter 10, the apostle expounds what it means for knowledge to puff up. “Knowledge puffs up.” And he warns against allowing this to happen!
If knowledge is left unattended, unmoving and stagnant, it will inflate the ego of a person to a point, where the love they ought to have for God and neighbor, a sacrificial love, a godly love, becomes something altogether different.
It becomes lust. A self-centered love. An ungodly love. A love that serves ones own passions. This kind of love, this lust, leads to idolatry - the worship of other gods, false gods, and ultimately, the worship of oneself as if “I am God.”
The Church must avoid idolatry.
How do we, the Church, avoid idolatry?
We look at the examples that have gone before us.
The apostle sets this up at the end of Chapter 9 (back up one verse and look at it with me):
27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
First, there is a recognition of no guarantees!
That is an astonishing admission. Did you notice what he said in that last phrase?
“lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
This should make every one of us sit up, and perk up, and pay attention.
The apostle, called by the will of God, a messenger of God’s message in Jesus Christ, can fail.
And he recognizes this! He says that he disciplines himself, so that he might not be disqualified.
He knows that he can fail!
Do you think, Church, that you have certain guarantees because you are called?
Do you think, Church, that you are providentially prohibited from failure?
Do you think that because you were baptized, you will inherit the kingdom of God?
Do you think that because you celebrate the Lord’s Supper you are right with God?
Do you think that you are pleasing to God? Do you?
The apostle is jamming a pin through the skin of the inflated balloon that was the overconfident, puffed up egos of the strong in Corinth, and by extension, he is doing the same for us!
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
It is possible to FAIL, it is possible to FALL, and if you are one who thinks you stand - indeed, failure is all but PROBABLE!
This text breaks down into three movements, as we look at the examples of our fathers in the faith, and these three movements may be summarized with this sentence:
A Favorable Future was Overthrown...
By Faulty Feelings which Overlooked...
A Faithful God Who Oversees!
A Favorable Future was Overthrown...
By Faulty Feelings which Overlooked...
A Faithful God Who Oversees!
This is a warning against over-confidence in the Church. A warning for the strong in the Church. A warning for those who think they stand in the Church.
This is a warning against idolatry - the turning away from God.
III. Exposition
III. Exposition
First, the text tells us that —
A. 10.1-5 | A Favorable Future was Overthrown…
A. 10.1-5 | A Favorable Future was Overthrown…
Notice as I read verse 1, the word that begins this verse.
It is the word “FOR.” The word “for” is a connecting word.
The apostle is telling us WHY he disciplines his body so that he won’t be disqualified. He is telling the Church WHY failure is possible.
10.1-4
10.1-4
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
and all ate the same spiritual food,
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
One word appears five times in these verses. Did you hear it? It is the word “ALL.”
This is not a story of individuals. This is a story of a people (Conz.).
This example is not for the benefit of “you and I.” This example is for the benefit of US.
We’ve learned this before, we’ll learn it again. WE the CHURCH are a united body. What we do, we do TOGETHER. And my faith alone will not carry this church. Your individual faith alone will not carry this church. Our faith together represents our faith as a people in God! That is what is in view here to this letter written “To the Church.”
The apostle begins retelling the story of “our fathers.” The story of Israel. A story that affects all of us - whether we are Jew, Greek - all who are in Christ. These are our spiritual fathers (Vang).
Their story is our story because it is God’s story of salvation, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Our fathers - all of them, had the same experiences together, as God delivered them out of Egypt, leading them on to the Promised Land.
But before God brought them in to the Promised Land, he tested them.
God tested them.
God went before them ALL with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
“Will they follow me?”
They ALL passed through the waters of the Red Sea. “Baptized into Moses.” Following the instruction of Moses as Moses was following and delivering the instruction of God.
“Will they hear me?”
They ALL ate of the manna in the wilderness and drank from the water that flowed from the rock.
“Will they trust me? And obey me?”
If there was ever a people who could claim “guarantees” it would be God’s called, spoken to, baptized, supplied for people - our spiritual fathers.
And you may think - well that is them, not us! We, the Church haven’t experienced these acts of God!
— Have we not?
Notice what verse 4 says —
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
Who followed them? Who was with them?
Christ.
“the Rock was Christ.”
Jesus Christ! His presence and His provision followed them!
Christ connects what they had and what we have. They had Christ with them. We, Church, have Christ with us.
And so it is, we all, as the CHURCH of Jesus Christ, experience these benefits of Christ (NIGTC).
But does this mean we have any guarantees?
Look at the next verse, verse 5. Look how it begins. Not with with a connecting word “for” but with a contrasting word “nevertheless.”
10.5
10.5
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Most of them - Most of ALL of them - were overthrown in the wilderness.
“But I was baptized!” - Overthrown.
“But I ate the manna!” - Overthrown.
“But I drank from the rock!” - Overthrown.
It was only two of them - Joshua and Caleb who entered into the Promised Land.
We Church, must look honestly at the Scriptures and examine our own souls, and ask the question - what are we standing upon?
What are we counting on to guarantee us salvation? To guarantee our Deliverance? Our inheritance into God’s Kingdom?
Is it our knowledge? Is it our baptism? Is it that we are one among “All”?
Too many churches make “membership” too easy. Too many churches make it simple for someone to slip in and be counted in the number unawares. It is too easy to serve on a committee. Too easy to become a pastor or a deacon.
But when God’s Word is rightly preached and applied, and now membership means something - and now membership has expectations, and accountability, we find that this inclusive “ALL” is a lot less in number than what we thought it was.
MOST OF ALL of THEM failed. God was not pleased with THEM. They were not faithful.
I ask again, What makes you CHURCH, think that you won’t fall?
The apostle writes to the church about A Favorable Future was Overthrown...
God’s people failed. Why did they fail?
A Favorable Future was Overthrown...
B. 10.6-10 | By Faulty Feelings which Overlooked...
B. 10.6-10 | By Faulty Feelings which Overlooked...
10.6
10.6
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
THEY - our spiritual fathers, desired evil.
They had “faulty feelings.” Bad cravings. Lust.
And this is what God would have His Church learn from Israel’s example.
DO NOT BE A DESIRER OF EVIL!
Being strong in knowledge does not equate to being full of faith.
Do not allow yourself to get overconfident, puffed up in your knowledge, lacking in your love. Do not allow your love to become lust.
10.7
10.7
Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
This is a quotation from Exodus 32:6.
A time when Moses was up on the mountain receiving instruction from God.
And what happened down below? The people became impatient.
Love is patient - Lust is impatient.
And what did they do? They fashioned for themselves a golden calf. An image of god. An idol.
“The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
The word “to play” represents the ever present partner of idolatry - that is sexual immorality. Idolatry and sexual immorality are united in marriage.
Dabble in idolatry, and the end of that road is sexual immorality.
Both go together.
10.8
10.8
We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
The story went like this:
1 While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab.
2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
And the result was devastating. Multiple thousands died in one day.
Dabble in idolatry, and it will lead to sexual immorality. Dabble in sexual immorality, and you will put God to the test.
10.9
10.9
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
How did our spiritual fathers put Christ to the test?
The apostle shows how:
5 And the people spoke against God and against 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 worthless food.”
6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
They did not trust God’s leading, or His provision, and spoke against God.
And this leads to a subtle but OH SO DANGEROUS sin!
10.10
10.10
nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Grumbling. Murmuring. Complaining.
The apostle goes back to history to a time when the people didn’t grumble against God directly - the grumbled against their leader, which by extension was grumbling against God.
1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.
2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!
3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
This is the most familiar manifestation of idolatry to us in the church today.
We make an idol of our traditions. Of our ways. Of our preferences. And want to always go back to them. “That’s not how we used to do it.”
That’s the spirit of this rebellious people.
I submit to you Church, that grumbling, murmuring, complaining in all forms - these are indicators that there are other issues going on in that person’s life. All of us are easily entangled by sin. That’s why the apostle is writing.
These are serious heart issues. That’s what God was testing in His people - their HEART!
2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
What is in our hearts? Perhaps it is idolatry? Perhaps it is sexual immorality? Perhaps it is putting God to the test? Perhaps it is grumbling?
At its core, these faulty feelings overlook God’s instruction, God’s leading, God’s will, God’s Ways, God’s supply, God’s provision, God’s story, God’s salvation, God’s Church, God’s Christ and God’s Spirit!
The apostle points this out to US because our fathers were DESTROYED as a result of these things! These are not hypotheticals! These are things that THEY DID.
A Favorable Future was Overthrown...
By Faulty Feelings which Overlooked...
C. 10.11-13 | A Faithful God Who Oversees.
C. 10.11-13 | A Faithful God Who Oversees.
Do you think God is not watching or listening? Do you think that God is not aware of what is happening, even in your heart? Do you think God is not testing you?
God is aware. God knows. By their example, God is instructing us.
Here is the conclusion the apostle comes to. This is the summary:
10.11
10.11
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
10.12
10.12
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
Preban Vang offers this translation - As a result of all of this, the one who continues to think the he or she is able to stand must remain watchful lest he/she may fall.” (TTC)
What was meant to test the faithfulness of our fathers, exists to tempt us to fail.
Will you fail? Will we fail?
This word of encouragement and gospel hope is offered in verse 13:
10.13
10.13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
God does not remove our ability to fail. Do you hear this, church in Corinth? Do you hear this, Church today?
God does not remove our ability to fail! But he does something far more gracious and glorious than that.
God does not remove our ability to fail. Instead, God removes the need for our ability at all!
Our future is not determined by our ability, but by God’s faithfulness.
GOD IS FAITHFUL!
Have you failed? hear this - God is faithful!
God put our failures to death in His Son on the cross.
Our failure is sin.
And God sent his Son to become a man, to be tempted in every way as we are, as is common to man.
Jesus was tempted but did not sin.
Jesus was tested and did not fail!
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Jesus, the ONE with Whom the Father was pleased, took our sin to Calvary, nailed it to a cross, and died.
It pleased God to crush Him! To pour out his wrath on His own because of our failures and sin.
It looked like Jesus failed, because he died.
It looked like Jesus failed, because he was buried.
Success does not look like success in God’s economy.
Success may look like failure.
But God is Overseeing all! And God does not fail. God is faithful!
Jesus did not fail. Jesus endured.
And in the right time, Jesus was raised!
Look at what the text says:
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
It does NOT say:
“with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you may be able to ESCAPE it.”
It says:
“with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you may be able to” — WHAT? ENDURE IT!
Perhaps God does not provide again and again a way out of every temptation we face (Conz) because God has ONCE and for ALL provided THE WAY of escape!
IV. Conclusion
IV. Conclusion
A. Gospel Proclamation
A. Gospel Proclamation
Jesus is our way of escape, Church!
In Jesus, God has once and for all provided a means of perfect, sustaining salvation in from sin in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is our endurance, Church!
He gives to us, His Church - His Holy Spirit by which we do not get lazy and complacent. But by WHOM WE ENDURE! Faithful to the end!
Yes, God gives us our spiritual fathers as an example to us. But most supremely, God gives us Jesus as our EXAMPLE, CHURCH!
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
A Favorable Future was Overthrown...
By Faulty Feelings which Overlooked...
A Faithful God Who Oversees!
CHURCH - Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith! (Heb. 12:1-3).
And all God’s people said, AMEN!