(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

In the preceding chapter Paul warned the Corinthians who were flirting with idolatry that they were in danger of being disqualified from the prize. Wordly believers who got out of spiritual condition could fall from grace and be lost to Christ and his church. In the passage under consideration the apostle underscores his warning by referring to the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness. Very few of them entered the Promised Land!

(B) The privileges of God's people.

Paul illustrates the blessings of being a Christians by using the Israelites who escaped from slavery in Egypt as an example. The chosen people:

(1) Were all under the cloud. v1. By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way. Ex13v21. God was present with the Israelites in the cloud and God the Holy Spirit is with Christians providing help along the narrow road that leads to life.

(2) All passed through the sea. v1. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians. Ex14v30. God's intervention saved the Hebrews from Pharaoh and his pursuing army. Christians are the redeemed of the Lord - set free from bondage to sin and self and Satan by the saving work of Jesus.

(3) Were all baptised into Moses. v2. And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. Ex14v31. God delivered the Israelites through Moses his chosen leader and so the people trusted Moses and accepted his leadership. Christians are baptised into Christ. This means we accept his authority over us. We enter his kingdom.

(4) Ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink. v3and4. Paul indicated that God's provision for the Israelites prefigures his provision for the Christian by writing: And that rock was Christ.

Jesus referred to himself as: "The living bread that came down from heaven." Jn6v51. He also said at the Feast of Tabernacles: "If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Jn7v37. Christians rightly sing:

I'm feeding on the living bread,
I'm drinking at the fountain head;
And whoso drinketh, Jesus said,
"Shall never, never thirst again."

Paul concluded his review of the history of the Israelites in the wilderness by writing the solemn words: Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. v5. Notwithstanding all their privileges they failed to enter the Promised Land. This is a clear warning to Christians not to make the same mistakes as the ancient Israelites - to take heed lest you fall. v12.

(C) Why were the Israelites disqualified from the prize of possessing the Promised Land?

Paul summarised his answer to this question thus: Now these things occurred as examples (types) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. v6. The Israelites set their hearts on evil. It was their settled will and purpose to rebel against God. Paul provided four instances of the Chosen People succumbing to temptation. They were tempted:

(1) By a sense of anticlimax.
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written; "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." v7. This all happened after Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mt Sinai. When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered round Aaron and said: "Come make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him." Ex32v1.

The children of Israel got fed up waiting for Moses. They were cross with the delay and thoroughly bored. So, to create a bit of excitement they reverted to the pagan practices they were familiar with in Egypt. The party was in full swing when Moses arrived!

Certain Christians in Corinth were turning back to paganism for entertainment. They were not willing to forgo the pleasure of feasting and socialising in the heathen temples. These reckless believers were in danger of being drawn back to their old, ungodly way of life.

There is a real danger period for new Christians today when the initial enthusiasm and excitement following conversion has worn off. Everything goes a bit flat, stale and routine. It is then that Satan will do his utmost to lure the immature believer back into the world. The world has real pleasures on offer - the warm, friendly bonhomie of the pub, weekend parties with lots of new young people to meet, Sunday morning golf with lively conversation at the bar afterwards.... .

(2) By the attractions of the world.
Paul wrote: We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did - and in one day twenty three thousand of them died. v8. This is a reference to an incident recorded in Numbers: While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. .... And the Lord's anger burned against them. Num25v1to3. (According to the account in Numbers, 24 thousand died not 23 thousand - a small mistake that would not exist if the Bible was inerrant!)

Some Christians in Corinth were behaving just like their pagan friends. They used prostitutes, many of whom would be dedicated to the service of pagan deities. Converts were gradually lured back to paganism to satisfy their fleshly appetite.

It is dangerous to be too friendly with people in the world. It is easy to be drawn into activities that are not helpful to our development as Christians. Young people are particularly vulnerable when they leave home to attend university. A Christian girl gets rather friendly with an unbelieving boy. She starts going with him to parties and is introduced to soft drugs .... . It is not long before church attendance is a thing of the past. However, it isn't just the young who succumb to temptation. A man may get on well at work. The Christian mixes with affluent and influential people whose worldly lifestyle he comes to admire. The man wants to integrate with his successful, sophisticated non-Christian friends. He begins to bow down to their gods of self-gratification, individual freedom, personal happiness and material prosperity.

(3) Because God did not give them everything they wanted.
Paul wrote: We should not tempt the Lord as some of them did - and were killed by snakes. v9. In Numbers21v4and5 we can read in more detail about this sad affair: They travelled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea to go round Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spake against God and against Moses and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"

Paul knew that an element at Corinth were just like the unruly Israelites. They disliked the need for self-restraint, discipline and a spiritual routine. These Corinthians lost patience with the restrictions imposed by Christianity. They wanted to be free to do as they liked. Their watchword was: "Everything is permissible to me." The ultra liberal faction in the church rebelled against the humdrum and mundane.

Undoubtedly many Christians get fed up with the routine of Christian living. Church attendance is unexciting and a chore. Daily devotions become a sterile, monotonous duty. Church work is unrewarding and lacking variety. Sermons are boring - the spiritual diet is very unappetising. A frame of mind like this can lead to a Christian becoming disillusioned and packing it all in.

It is also possible to get angry with God if we do not get what we pray for. We can blame God for our failures, setbacks and disappointments. Just like the Israelites our disaffection grows and we grumble and complain about God and his servants.

(4) By their pride and self-love to reject God's authority and that of his spokesmen.
Paul counselled the Corinthians: And do not grumble, as some of them did - and were killed by the destroying angel. v10.

In Numbers16 the rebellion of Korah and his associates is described. They were leaders of the Levites who wished to become priests. Korah challenged God's decision to appoint Moses and Aaron as leaders. He reckoned he had as much right to lead the Israelites as Moses.

The Corinthians, too, were proud and self-satisfied. They belittled Paul who had been appointed by Jesus as the apostle to the Gentiles. Paul's remonstration exhibited his intense frustration with their stupidity: Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! you have become kings - and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 1Cor4v8. See 1 Corinthians4v6to21.

The vast majority of the numerous break away movements in the church are motivated by pride - pride in being right. Division occurs in complete defiance of Christ's emphatic teaching on unity. (See section on unity in John17) Factionalism results in churches devoid of grace.

Conclusion
I hope it is clear by now that Paul was not writing to the Corinthians about low level, habitual sins rooted in their dispositions, temperaments, personalities and character. All Christians commit these sins to some degree or another and in my experience there often isn't a way of escape. Cautious ultra-conservative Christians, sisters who lack self-confidence, worriers who are frequently over anxious, folk like my mother who are super-sensitive, individuals like myself with a very short fuse, brothers with fragile egos who cannot bear to be ill thought of and laid back, easy going types exhibit weaknesses specific to their condition throughout their lives. These various traits result in sins but not usually sins that threaten to disqualify a believer from the prize. This is not to say that the sins do not have bad consequences, such as making us less effective in service. However, the Christians I know intimately are never quite free from failings rooted in their dispositions and personalities - but they will persevere to the end.

Paul was writing about situations where faith is tested and disbelief sets a man or woman adrift from God and results in a fall from grace.

(D) How to keep from falling from grace.

Paul told the Corinthians:

(1) You've been warned.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come. v11.

There are many warnings in God's word of how easy it is to run well and then falter, stumble and fall. Even Moses, the meekest man on earth, great as few have been great, got blasé about his privileged position and disobeyed God. He was prohibited from entering the Promised Land for his presumption - because he failed to show God enough respect. See Num20v1to13.

(2) Beware of presumption.
So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall. v12. Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. AV.

On this occasion I prefer the Authorised Version. It has a wonderful ring to it. I suppose, too, I remember my father quoting this text in his prayers and sermons. He certainly was never guilty of presumption!

Peter is the classic case of a man who underestimated his vulnerability. He told Jesus: Even if all fall away I will not. Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you. Mk14v29and31. If Peter had been more aware of his weaknesses he might have avoided the High Priest's courtyard on the fateful night of Christ's arrest.

We need to know our weak points and watch and pray lest we enter into temptation.

Many years ago the dramatic American preacher De Witt Talmage told a story of, perhaps, doubtful veracity about a testimony meeting. One brother reckoned that he was like a ship steaming serenely over the waves towards the heavenly harbour. Another, not to be outdone, boasted of going full steam ahead, 40 knots an hour, for his berth in Immanuel's Land. At this an old lady struggled to her feet and said, "I've bin a going to heaven for 70 years and I've had to walk all the way - with many a stumble and fall. As for you men who are steaming along so fast, if you go much faster you'll bust your bilers and never git there at all." De Witt Talmage concluded by saying, "There are a good many folk whose bilers have busted all about."

(3) Don't make excuses
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. v13.

The Corinthians did not face temptations that were unique to them. They were not confronted with anything peculiarly difficult or irrestistible. No, all Christians have their faith tried, resolve challenged and endurance tested. The vast majority resist temptation and are not found wanting. If we give in it is no good kidding ourselves that no-one has been tried quite like we have.

I know someone very well who left the church he attended and ultimately fell from grace because his fellow Christians were such hypocrites and treated him badly. My friend gives the impression that his experience was totally unique. But this is arrant nonsense. Many Christians have been treated thoughtlessly and ungraciously by fellow believers from time to time. It is something that has to be endured!

(4) God is faithful.
God is faithful he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. v13.

God does allow our faith to be tested so that it develops and grows stronger. Our faith has to be exercised if we are to become spiritually fit. But God does not want our faith to fail. He has no desire to lose any for whom Christ died. So God does not try our faith beyond our capacity to bear it.

(5) There are ways of escape.
But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

(a) This text needs careful handling. There is not always a way of escape when we are tempted to sin. Low level temptations resulting from the interplay of circumstances, our moods, dispositions and characters find out our fallen nature. For example, one morning I awoke feeling rather low. I got my father up and gave him his breakfast. It wasn't easy as he was a bit demented. Then the post came. I opened a letter from a religious magazine in high hopes. But I was bitterly disappointed because my article was rejected. At that very moment I noticed my father was not eating his corn flakes but digging a hole in the tablecloth with his spoon. I went absolutely ballistic. My poor old father could not help what he was doing and didn't deserve to be yelled at. But there was no way I could have controlled my temper on that occasion.

(b) There are ways of escape when the Christian's faith is tried and he is tempted to forsake Jesus for the world. I am afraid that virtually none of the Bible commentators and expositors that I consulted provided a single example of these ways of escape. This is very remiss of them!! It is like saying, "Well, yes there are fire exits in the building but I'm not going tell you where they are." So here, in brief, are some ways of escape:

(I) Experience. When the Israelites got fed up with waiting for Moses and it all went flat they should have remembered what they had been delivered from and the instrument God used to deliver them. They had experienced God's deliverance from slavery and they were a free people.

When things are not going so well for us and we feel spiritually jaded it does us good to look back and remember God's goodness to us in the past.

(II) Fear. This is a very handy exit when we are tempted by the world. It is a pity it wasn't used by the Israelites who were attracted by the Moabite women or the Corinthians who frequented pagan prostitutes! Many Christians have resisted temptation for fear of letting themselves, their fellow Christians and Jesus down and losing their salvation and eternal felicity.

(III) Do good. When the Christian life seems tedious and unsatisfying the best thing to do is get more involved in Christian service. The busy man is never bored! Those that hunger and thirst to do good are satisfied. (See exposition on Mt5v6.)

(IV) Share. It is not a good thing to bottle up your troubles. When you are disappointed and dejected share your feelings with a Christian friend and take it to the Lord in prayer.

(V) God's word. God's word is a great sword with which to resist the enemy as Jesus showed when he was tempted in the desert. If pride rears its ugly head and you do not get the recognition and respect that you feel is your due turn to God's word: Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God. Mt5v3. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mt5v10. Read Phil2v3to8.

(VI) Common sense. This can be a very useful door to head for. It is a pity the Israelites didn't exhibit some common sense during Moses absence on the mountain. They said: "Come make us gods who will go before us." A golden calf was hardly going to be an effective substitute for Moses and lead them to the Promised Land.

I think Peter showed common sense when Jesus asked his disciples if they were going to follow the crowd and desert him. Peter replied: "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Jn7v68. When great misfortunes overtake us, as we enter the valley of the shadow of death, to whom shall we go if we leave Jesus and reject God. It is much better to face trouble with God than without him.

(VII) Jesus. What a way of escape Jesus is! When doubts assail and we wonder whether God cares about us we must look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. There is no better antidote to scepticism than the Man of Nazareth.

If we become disillusioned by the behaviour of our Christian brethren we should follow the advice of the writer to the Hebrews: Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb12v3.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace.

(VIII) Future glory. Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame, for the joy that was set before him. Paul wrote in his second epistle to the Corinthians: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2Cor4v16to18.