6.10.50. 11.7.2021 Overcomimg Self, Temptation, and Sin 1 Corinthians 10

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Entice: This Sermon series is entitled Embracing Hope by Eliminating Avoidable Errors. Far too often we undermine our own efforts at righteous living. We hobble our own contributions to the life and work of the Church. We cripple our own growth. Corinth had issues. We have discussed how the local Church reflected many of those issues. All cultures have issues. All human communities have issues. Because the Church is a kind of human community we will have issues. The central issue, even for those who are forgiven, redeemed, cleansed, and undergoing sanctification is Sin! Still sin. Temptation to Sin. The allure of Sin. The magnetic appeal to sin.

Engage: What most derails your spiritual life? What leaves you feeling unsatisfied with your participation in the Body of Christ? What leaves us weary and worn? What is the key issue I need to deal with? Sin. Not because God's grace is weak but because human nature is so marred and temptation hardly ever stops. Even with the guidance of the Scripture, the supervision of the Church, and the indwelling presence of the Spirit we each face temptations that have individual, congregational, and public consequences.

Expand: Sin is ubiquitous but not inevitable. Temptations are everywhere but you can overcome them. Everything new is actually old and the latest temptations are actually the old tactics of the snake-charmer. By ourselves we are vulnerable. Without Scripture we are vulnerable. When we are not careful and watchful we are vulnerable.

Excite: God's Word is for us, God's people surround us, and help equip us for good works and to strengthen us to avoid the bad works. We are embedded in community, the body of Christ in which we find community and in in which we can share the determination to resist.

Explore: Church,

It is better to overcome temptation than it is to try and survive sin.

1 Corinthians 10:1–13 ESV

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 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.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 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. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 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.

Explain: In this straight-forward text Paul provides the resources we need to overcome temptation.

Body of Sermon:

The first resource is

1 Encouragement. vv. 1-5

…Not like cheer-leading but like a good coach who encourages by embedding our story in the biblical story.Paul encourages us to be...

1.1 Prepared

Paul encourages us to be...

1.2 Informed

Paul encourages us to be...

1.3 Redeemed

Paul encourages us to be...

1.4 Vigilant.

The next resource that Paul provides….

2 Examples. vv. 6-10

Lists are good ways to summarize information. We have come to practically live by the bullet list. I like this list. Some of the stuff on this list will not tempt you. Some won't tempt me. But at some time, all of us are tempted by some of it. It is both broad and specific at the same time. In addition to providing some clear examples for us Paul also helps us to correctly interpret the Old Testament and to see how the whole counsel of God is applicable in our contemporary setting.

2.1 Craved evil things.

2.2 Idolatrous.

2.3 Immorality

2.4 "Put Christ to the Test"

2.5 Grumbled

Finally Paul takes the Biblical encouragement he combined with Biblical examples to describe Biblical. . .

3 Endurance. vv. 11-13

3.1 Perspective.

3.2 Humility

3.3 Resistance.

Shut Down:

By ourselves we listen to the voice of our own overwhelming desire. Allure becomes temptation. Temptation leads to sin. Sin brings the risk of destruction. It is better to suffer through temptation it is better to struggle with testing and trials. It is better to learn the right lessons from the past than it is to try and survive sin.

Can you survive sin? Of course.

Grace is bigger than any sin.

Grace saves to the uttermost.

When we come to Christ, His forgiveness is proactive, reactive, and active. Past, present, and future sins are covered by His blood. But why would you risk it? There are some who fall so fully in love with their sin and the satisfaction of self that they abandon the faith and like the Israelites who were really, truly, no doubt saved, lose that salvation. Others do not face destruction but limit their effectiveness as Kingdom workers, stain their reputation, spin their wheels truncate their growth as a disciple, and their understanding of Christian living…for the sake of feeling good, popping off, grumbling or giving in. It's not worth the risk. Yes, you may survive, but what of the wounds, what of the pain, what of the loss.

No temptation is new. No temptation is exclusive. No temptation is magic. It is better to overcome temptation than try and survive sin. That is God's Good word for us today.