Paul concluded chapter 9 with analogies promoting self-discipline and intentionality about how we live for Christ. In chapter 10, he applies this principle to every Christian. We should understand just how serious sin is – it’s not to be flirted with! Paul isn’t preaching legalism or salvation by works, but he is clear: for participants in the life, death, resurrection, body, and blood of Jesus Christ, we cannot, should not, and must not willfully embrace sin!

Following Christ in 21st Century Corinth – Week 13

presented 19 December 2018

1 Corinthians 10: 1-22

AUDIO

Lecture Handout

Handout Week 13

Lesson Notes

Our Spiritual Journey & The Battle with Temptation (1 Corinthians 10: 1-13)

  • Paul compares our spiritual journey in Christ with the journey of the Israelites during the Exodus, including God’s goodness and provision and the ugliness of Israel’s sin
  • Verse 1 – Our faith compared to Israel in the Exodus
    • Under the cloud – the visible presence of God who led and protected them
    • Through the sea – the parting of the Red Sea, to escape death in Egypt
    • Exodus 14: 19-25
  • Verses 2-4 – Elements of the comparison
    • A kind of “baptism” passing through the waters of the Red Sea
    • Spiritual food (manna), spiritual drink (water from the rock)
    • But the true spiritual rock with them was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ
    • He was their true spiritual provision
  • Verse 5 – The analogy is to the church in Corinth, baptized, saved, enjoying the Lord’s Supper (though in a very bad manner)
    • God was displeased with the Israelites and “overthrew” them
    • Hint to the Corinthians – this could happen to you!
  • Verse 6 – The Wilderness experience serves as an example for us today
  • Paul will highlight particular sins and punishments from the Exodus that are particularly applicable to the Corinthian Christians
    • Idolatry, sexual sin, testing God, having a grumbling spirit – these are still problems
    • An interesting lesson in one way to read and apply Old Testament Scripture to New Testament life
  • Verse 7 – Idolatry
    • Paul begins making the case that while there may be a “right” to eat whatever, but sometimes that’s just an excuse for idolatry which is never acceptable
    • References Exodus 32: 6- Golden Calf
    • Guess what – idolatry is a problem for us today – anytime we functionally make something more important to us than God!
    • It’s the source of our interpersonal conflicts and distractions from God – idols of self, radical autonomy, sports, money, fame, status, etc.
  • Verse 8 – Sexual immorality – refers to events in Numbers 25
  • Verse 9 – Don’t put Jesus to the test – with our cheap grace and empty repentance;
    • This is the essence of the Mormon pitch – despite clear contradiction with Scripture, pray and see if you feel led to accept the book of Mormon
    • References Number 21: 4-9
  • Verse 10 – Don’t have a complaining spirit – how many of us are guilty of that? It’s baked into our culture
    • Numbers 14: 26-35, 16: 41-50 – 2 episodes of grumbling against God
    • All these are common among Christians today!
  • Verse 11 – The disastrous punishments of the Old Testament were preserved in Scripture for our sanctification!
    • Now that we live in the end of the ages – the final era of salvation history before the return of Christ
  • Verse 12 – If you’re proud that you’ve got sin beaten – and most of us have known Christians who seemed to believe that – beware!
    • Remember Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 9: 27
    • We can have our mountaintop experiences and do great ministry work, then suddenly disqualify ourselves because we let our guard down
    • So many Christian leaders have done that, especially lately!
  • Verse 13 – Don’t think your situation is unique which somehow justifies giving in to sin
    • One of the great deceptions of Satan is to think our problems, struggles, and temptations are unique, and worse than anyone else’s, that nobody understands, that it’s not fair, etc.
    • Our temptations are common to mankind
    • God doesn’t tempt us, but permits us to be tempted
    • Not past our ability to resist or escape – so we have no excuse for giving in
      • No, the devil didn’t make you do it!
      • God always gives a way out, if we genuinely want to take it
      • No matter how much it feels otherwise!
    • God always provides that means of escape, but are we seriously looking for it? Are we willing to do whatever it takes, pay whatever it costs, to escape?
    • Or do we actually enjoy toying with, dabbling in, flirting with temptation?

Idolatry & Fellowship with Christ (1 Corinthians 10: 14-22)

  • Verse 14 – FLEE from Idolatry
    • Earlier Paul said to flee sexual temptation
    • You aren’t some rock that’s immune to temptation, and you don’t get a badge for steadfastly resisting temptation when God provides the door out
    • Just get out of there! No matter how ridiculous, costly, or humiliating
    • Value the state of your soul above anything else
  • Verse 15 – Paul’s going to make a logical argument, so consider it carefully
  • Verse 16 – the Lord’s Supper – symbolic participation in the body and blood of Christ
  • Verses 17-18 – describing our fundamental unity as Christians
    • 1 body, many parts
    • We participate in the body of Christ as the church
    • We also participate in the body of Christ at the Lord’s Table
    • He’ll make a point in chapter 11 that we need to discern that body of Christ, that unity, as we’re participating in the Lord’s Supper
  • Verse 19-20 – What’s offered by pagans is being offered to demons
    • We can’t participate in that because we participate in the body of Christ
    • It’s one thing to buy idol meat at the market (chapter 8), quite another to sit in the temple and eat at a ritual meal
    • As a note – this could have professional or social implications as I understand it – because some professional societies met in temples
  • Verses 21-22 – Becoming and being a Christian means leaving behind the trappings and participation in other faiths
    • Also leave behind the idols of our own making – they defile us and provoke God
    • Whatever “rights” you might have, you can’t flirt with sin or participate in behavior contrary to God’s desire by claiming it’s technically OK
    • We’re called to be holy – we need to take that seriously
    • That isn’t legalism or Pharisaism, it’s seeking God’s glory first and foremost
    • The Lord’s jealousy – not the ugly, envious jealousy humans experience
      • The passionate love and protectiveness God feels toward His creatures created in His image
      • Imagine the zealous protectiveness of a parent toward a creepy looking person hanging around the playground

In Two Weeks: 1 Corinthians 10: 23- 11: 16