Not Well Pleased
Continuing the thought of being a castaway, or disqualified.The Corinthians were probably taking all sorts of liberties (like feasting in pagan temples), thinking that they were "safe" because of their past experience (especially baptism and communion); Salvation is not outward religious sacraments. Salvation is by believing and trusting Jesus, and his removing of our sins.
1 Cor 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
The LORD gave Israel signs to follow.
Exo 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
He led them through the Red sea that parted.
Exo 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Exo 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
1 Cor 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1 Cor 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;(food)
Exo 16:14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
Exo 16:15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
Exo 16:31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
(From this description I have a special manna bread that we eat as a quick bread. I use 2 cups flour , honey, fresh oil, a pinch of salt and water or milk. Roll it out flat and bake it in a 400 degree oven. I also add raisins and nuts, promise land extras.)
1 Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Moses struck the rock and water flowed, perhaps the water followed them as a river. The rock was symbolic of Jesus, the Rock of our salvation, stricken once for our sins.
Exo 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
1 Cor 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Because of unbelief the LORD cursed an entire generation. Only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter the promise land with the children of the disobedient fathers. Moses did not enter because he struck a rock again for water after the LORD had commanded him only to speak to the rock (Jesus). Jesus was not to be stricken twice.
What Paul is illustrating is that God under the law, punished the unfaithful in His past dealings with his people. We should not be careless with our gift of salvation. If we continue to sin, perhaps we were trusting in sacraments rather then a personal faith in Jesus. Can we lose salvation? No, but again we can't lose what we never really had. Continuing faith and obedience is the evidence of a new life in Christ. If we fail, still the blood of Jesus covers us and we are not condemned. If we confess our sins, he forgives us. I like grace, so much better then the law, it is by faith not by a legalistic outward observance.
Resist Temptations
1 Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
1 Cor 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Exo 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Exo 32:7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
Exo 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
1 Cor 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Num 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
Num 25:2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
Num 25:3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
1 Cor 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
Num 21:4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
Num 21:5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
Num 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Num 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We must not whine and complain when the way is discouraging. We are to look unto Jesus, apply his grace and not dwell on our circumstances.
1 Cor 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Num 14:29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
They died because of unbelief, fear and murmurings. Oh friend we are all flesh, we all sometimes complain of the hard things. Being a disciple is not easy, the world opposes us and tempts us where we are at. Endure dear saints of God, trust in our Lord who has said he will never forsake you. He will keep us safe in his hand if we have faith and endure till the end. Put on the whole armour of God grab your sword, the word of God. His banner over you is love.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
God's Great Promise
1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
We are given these examples in the Bible for our learning, to make us stronger. We walk in the Spirit and by faith.
1 Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
We are most vulnerable when we are self - confident.
1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
I love this verse. It comforts me in the dentists chair, but it is much more then this. It is there for those in great danger. It is God's promise of giving us a way to escape temptations or trials. A way to escape every lust, every temptation to sin, every peril that we face. This verse I use with Is 61 :1. These verses are God's promises to the believer for freedom from bondage. God has never failed when we believe his promises. By these verses I have seen great deliverances. I have promised others that God will set them free and God set them free. God has worked miracles for those who have believed him. Why would we complain? God is our loving father so ready to help us.
Flee From Idolatry
1 Cor 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
In verse 14, there is an article: the idolatry; Paul is specifically referring to the idolatry at the pagan temples. Do not eat at pagan temples; you say this doesn't apply to me? How about eating in restaurants found in gambling casinos? You are free to do anything, but remember your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. You are the ambassador of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
Just as Christian communion speaks of unity and fellowship with Christ, so these pagan banquets, given in the honor of idols, speak of unity with demons who take advantage of misdirected worship. A woman who was witnessed to on the Internet, refused Jesus. She said that she had many demons and listed their names. She then inquired,"which name do you want." Accepting a name invited that demon into your life. Better to not be around the affairs of those worshipping demonic idols. What appars to be innocent may lead to a spiritual stronghold. How about the idol of lusts?
1 Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Cor 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
We take communion in one Spirit and in one body of Christ.
1 Cor 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Cor 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
1 Cor 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1 Cor 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Here is the heart of the message. If you eat in temple restaurants dedicated to idols and demons, your partake with them. Gambling casinos are owned by crime figures controlled by demons. If we support them we are tything to demons. Better to forgo your "fun" for the sake of not bringing discredit to the name of our Lord.
1 Cor 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
1 Cor 10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
We say we know what we are doing, we are strong and not bound to legalism? Are you stronger then God? His word forbids partaking in idolotry.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
No offense
1 Cor 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1 Cor 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
Sure, we have freedom , but we don't "do our own thing" to anothers harm. We must be careful to effect others in a positive way. Leave others better then when we meet them.
1 Cor 10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
If you don't know the source don't ask. For it is through the mind that satan tempts and lies to us.
1 Cor 10:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
I see this as saying, that what God has made is good. Remember Peter's vision?
Acts 10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
Acts 10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
Acts 10:13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
Acts 10:14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
Acts 10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
1 Cor 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
As Paul mentioned earlier, be all things for all people, that none be offended. This reminds me of the Philippine missionaries eating in the remote villages. You don't ask where the food came from, you eat with grace. (and much prayer, lol)
1 Cor 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
Once again, the Lord has left the food as a neutral, but for the other's sake we do not partake.
1 Cor 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
Do not go against anothers conscience, if another is offended, refrain.
1 Cor 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Yes, do what glorifies our LORD.
1 Cor 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
1 Cor 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Phil 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Gary
1 Corinthians Chapters
1 Corinthians 11
1 Corinthians 9
1 Corinthians 1 Index