1 Corinthians 10:1-13 - Things Happened
- Chad Werkhoven
- 44 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Think you're standing firm? BE CAREFUL!
1 Corinthians 10:1–13 (NET)
10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, 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 were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. 6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did. 7 So 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 And let us not be immoral (porneuō), as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day.
9 And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. 10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall. 13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.
Canons of Dordt
Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints
Article 10 & 11 - Assurance Despite Doubts
Accordingly, our assurance
does not derive from some private revelation beyond or outside the Word,
but
from faith in the promises of God which he has very plentifully revealed in his Word for our comfort,
from the testimony of the Holy Spirit testifying with our spirit that we are God’s children and heirs (Rom. 8:16-17),
and finally from a serious and holy pursuit of a clear conscience and of good works.
And if God’s chosen ones in this world
did not have this well-founded comfort
that the victory will be theirs
and this reliable guarantee of eternal glory,
they would be of all people most miserable.
Meanwhile, Scripture testifies that
believers
have to contend in this life with various doubts of the flesh
and that under severe temptation they do not always experience this full assurance of faith and certainty of perseverance.
But God, the Father of all comfort,
does not let them be tempted beyond what they can bear,
but with the temptation he also provides a way out (1 Cor. 10:13), and by the Holy Spirit revives in them the assurance of their perseverance.
Summary
We tend to romanticize history. Most of us long for the days of our youth, when life just seemed simpler, more wholesome, and all around better than things seem now. But we then either downplay or forget altogether the trials and troubles that were endemic to the era; they vanish in a fog of whitewash.
It's so easy to read the history of God's people through that same rose colored lens. We put the 'heroes' of the faith on pedestals and long for the kind of authentic worship celebrated when God's presence was physically manifested among His people in the tabernacle and temple. But we either downplay or forget altogether the ugliness of the era that Paul catalogs in today's passage.
These things happened to them, Paul explains, referring to the punishment and consequences they experienced, as examples and were written for our instruction. Certainly it's good to take inspiration from great men like Abraham, Moses, King David, and so many others, but remember one of the key purposes of the Old Testament Bible stories is to warn you from repeating the mistakes of earlier generations who reveled in idolatry and sexual immorality. You must not crave evil things as they did.
This point is so important that Paul repeats it, indicating for the second time that these things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction. None of these awful accounts that Paul unpacks were committed by Gentiles or outright pagans. All of these involve God's covenant people, who were consumed in sin and forced to pay a significant price. Bottom line: sin is dangerous; it will hurt you, God and your neighbor.
Dig Deeper
For several months now, we've been basking in the beauty of this fifth and final point of the Canons of Dordt, being reminded each weekday of the absolute security of your salvation. We've read one scripture of another reminding us that God never lets go, and that His grace is far stronger than you are. This is why you'll so often see the motto Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God Alone - attached to Reformed churches and institutions.
And there's still more confidence to come as we wrap our study of the Canons up over these next few weeks. But today we're given a warning: Do not put Christ to the test... Don't let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall. Once again it's clear that our primary problem is cognitive! When you lose the sense of ongoing repentance (which literally means to think differently), your mind once again becomes prone to wander after the lies of the world, and before you know it you're tumbling down.
Notice, though, that the warning here is for you to be careful, not to be afraid. Remember that although you truly hurt yourself, God and others when you stumble, you can't fall so hard and fast as to slip out of your Father's almighty grip. Remember: God is faithful! He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.
Notice also how it is that God preserves you through temptation. He doesn't always rescue you from it, but He always provides a way out so that you may be able to endure it. Those ways out are made visible to you through His Word and Spirit. In other words, the more you make use of Spiritual Disciplines like weekly church attendance, daily Bible reading and prayer, the easier it is to endure and escape temptation.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who is faithful!
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will be careful so that you do not fall;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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