God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness
1 Corinthians 10:1-22[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, May 13th, 2012
Ever have those teachers or professors who drop hints like, "You'll wanna write this down", or, "You might wanna review this section of chapter 6"? I appreciate those who will be more blunt and say, "This will be on the test." Since God had written down for us how dealt with Israel in the wilderness, we were supposed to be watching. There will be a test, so please – remember this. Why do I say that? Well, the book of Exodus is inspired by God, and was written and reserved for each generation, including ours. In the subsequent historical books the stories of the Exodus come up again and again. In the Psalms we read of the Exodus in Psalms 95, 98, 105, 106, 135, and 136 remind us of God's faithfulness to Israel in Egypt and in the desert. The prophets continually refer back to it – even Stephen in Acts 7 gave the rundown again! When it's that big of a theme in the Old Testament, and when it's repeated that often, we should know – it will be on the test. Let me say that we should read the Old Testament to learn at least two things, basic things, and critical things: the character of God and the character of man. Neither has changed. God is faithful and man is unfaithful. God is holy and man is sinful. God initiates with grace and provision, man mostly disdains and ignores God's good grace. Then when God judges such sinful men, people read it as God being harsh, or mean.
Astounding.
Today we're going to see Paul take the Corinthian church back to the stories of the Old Testament and remind them this simple truth: "Since God Takes Idolatry Seriously, Shouldn't We?" We're going to read verses 1-22 a bit at a time and I'll talk my way through it. Before we do this, let's go to our Father in prayer.
V 1-5, Remember the Ratio: All/Most.
1 For I want you to know, 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, [Ex 13-14]
3 and all ate the same spiritual food, [Ex 16]
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. [Ex 17, Num 20] 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. [Num 14:22-23, 26:2, 64-65]
Couple of notes here: baptism is used in this context as a metaphor of identity: they were rescued by God and led by Moses. When Paul writes, "I want you to know", it's a focusing statement. Pay attention, listen – sit up and hear what I'm saying, Corinthians! He wrote to people who were arrogant, idolatrous, immoral, and touting their freedom over the consideration of other believers. So what did he want them to know? He wanted them to think about a people who had been arrogant, idolatrous, and inconsiderate of other believers, immoral, and idolatrous. These people had everything they needed (manna, quail, water), and yet constantly grumbled about what they did not have. So Paul says, "Remember the ratio: all came out of Egypt, not all went into the Promised Land." "All" is used five times, and "most" is used once.
All were identified as believers with Moses. Near God (cloud), baptized (identified as God's people).
All ate the manna that God miraculously provided food morning after morning.
All drank the water from the Rock. (Paul probably referred to a rabbinic tradition that the rock followed Israel) Paul calls the rock "Christ", showing that Jesus was providing for Israel even then!
Most died in the desert. Paul wanted them to consider that many who were called "Israel" did not see the Promised Land. It was because of their sin against God that they were "overthrown in the wilderness."
Let me put it this way; these people all had the same religious experiences, but many did not really believe in God for salvation; not with a faith that led to obedience. Should we not consider such truth today? I think we should!
V 6-12 Remember the Wrath: God destroys sinners.
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.
It is a consistent human trait – a failed one, let me be clear – to think that we can get away with things. From watching children do silly things (eat forbidden cookies, put things in the toilet) to watching adults do profoundly ridiculous things, we generally think we won't pay for our sins. We can outsmart our parents, the cops, the IRS, our boss, our spouses, and God. God led them out and was with them the entire time – how preposterous to think that He wouldn't see, or seeing their folly, wouldn't act! But brothers and sisters, do we not completely replicate their stupidity? Yes! Paul focuses on four sins here; idolatry, sexual immorality, impatience, and complaining. Paul says, 'Corinth, read the first five books of the Bible – you didn't invent these sins, and you don't get away with them!' God is not blind and God is not deaf; God does not overlook sin, God destroys those who sin. I want you to know.
V 13 Remember the Way Out: God helps weaklings.
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.
You're not the first to be tempted and you're not the first to need God's mercy and grace. Just as God provided a way out of bondage to Egypt, just as God provided what Israel needed when they needed it every time they needed it, so God can provide for you as well. This is a promise that isn't greatly harmed when taken out of context in a stand-alone way. "Even when Christians face morally confusing situations, they should never think that they have no options other than sinful ones. There will always be a morally right solution that does not require disobedience to any of God's moral laws."[2] This promise is an excellent reminder! We aren't uniquely tempted by such sin, and God is consistently faithful to help. So cry out to him – call for help!
V 14- 22 Remember the Holiness, and Run: from God to Christ.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? [Priests and those who brought the sacrifice].
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Paul comes back to the central thought of the conversation all the way back to 8:1; "14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." Can we eat food sacrificed to idols? You can, but is it wise? Not really. God despises being identified with or compared to any other so-called god or idol. This is central to the Old Testament, to God's character. He is a jealous God: he wants our faithful, singular worship as the faithful, singular God of all. Folks, it's not God and other gods, Christianity and other ways. It is God through Christ or it is NOT. Can you fathom how God must hate hearing foolish, so-called believers say despicable things like, "Well, all roads lead to God", or, "Any representation of religion you choose to pursue is good – they're all the same god". Consider God's wrath against idolatry when you hear such statements.
Church family, - since God Takes Idolatry Seriously, Shouldn't We?
If we do, we will take the following steps.
Remember the Ratio: All/Most. All were there, most were slain in the wilderness.
Remember the wrath. Our God killed thousands at a time for idolatry, sexual immorality, impatience, and complaining.
Remember the way out. Look for it, seek it, and believe God provides it! He is indeed faithful, believers!
Remember the holiness. Run from God to Christ. God is never to be associated or compared with any idol or demon.
We will remember because we read.
We will remember because we consider as we read.
We will learn of God's character and of man's character.
We will fear the Lord and turn from evil (theme of all the wisdom literature).
And Lord willing, we will desire holiness more than freedom and rights.
Let's pray.
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