1Co 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;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 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.
They started out good. They were walking in their first love. They rejoiced and
had joy in the Lord. They didn't know the name of Jesus as we know it but the
Rock that followed them and protected them was Christ. The Christ whom the
religious Pharisees later denied, was protecting them in the days of the
wilderness.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were
overthrown in the wilderness.
God cut off those that rebelled (God not man). If he didn't do that others would
have followed their rebellion and no one would have been saved.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust
after evil things, as they also lusted.
When we read of the accounts of Israel in the Old Testament, we can learn from
their mistakes and their successes. We can see that if we commit the same sin or
have the same unbelief we too can suffer loss.
1Co 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.
Lust, idolatry, greed, desire for comfort, fornication and complaining were
present among them and is also a temptation to the church and any who choose to
follow Christ. We need to daily seek the Lord to be strong against these things
that Satan brings in to defile God's people. Satan desired to stop the gospel
from even coming to us by defiling Israel. Israel was chosen as the one to bring
salvation to the whole world. Satan has been out to destroy them from the
beginning.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and
fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were
destroyed of serpents.
Unbelief is the biggest insult to Christ. God took care of them in the
wilderness and every time they murmured when things went a little wrong, it was
an insult to God. They forgot that God was with them and would care for them.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were
destroyed of the destroyer.
This also is a temptation we face today. We must avoid murmuring and
complaining. We must instead take our concerns to the Lord. Be slow to cause
trouble and quick to pray.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are
written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
It is possible to fall from grace or else this would not have been said by Paul.
We don't have to fall but it is possible if we let a root of bitterness enter
into our souls defiling us and we refuse to root it out by repentance.
1Co 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.
While it is possible to fall, it is possible to not fall. God will not allow us
to be tempted above what we cannot withstand by faith in Him to overcome and not
sin.
1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
Idolatry is having our affections on that which is trivial and that which is not
centered in Jesus Christ. For example: Our desire to make a living is good but
if it got to the point that we compromise what is biblically sound doctrine in
order to gain materially, that thing becomes an idol. If we break the word of
God to please a friend or co-worker, that person becomes an idol.
1Co 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1Co 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?
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all
partakers of that one bread.
1Co 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the
sacrifices partakers of the altar?
Paul is continuing the subject of whether to eat things sacrificed to idols and
to commit fornication. Idolatry would be spiritual fornication. We are to avoid
both. Compromising our faith for the pleasures of this life is idolatry.
1Co 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is
offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 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.
To eat things sacrificed to idols is the same as acknowledging the sacrifice to
devils. To compromise and allow ourselves to partake of the things of the world
to please others or to please the flesh is like giving part of our time to
Satan. If we know something is contrary to the teachings of God and we do it
anyway trusting in the fact that we are saved by grace and not by works, are we
not compromising and in danger of idolatry? If our attitude is, "I'm saved by
grace so it doesn't matter what I do, I'm covered," then what does that say
about our relationship with God? If we know to do good and do it not, are we
still saved by grace? Will our freedom in this save someone else who is watching
our lives? What does it say to others when they see us do things the sinners do
and partake in the same idolatry they partake in?
Christ has so much better things for us that the world cannot duplicate. Why do
we even think of compromising the word of God by copying after the ones that
live after the world and not after Christ. Paul shouldn't have even had to write
this epistle to the Corinthians. They shouldn't have even considered fornication
and idolatry to be acceptable as believers in Jesus Christ.
1Co 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.
We can't serve God and the devil at the same time. We either hold to one or
cleave to the other.
1Co 10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1Co 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.
We can do what we want but it does not edify or do the cause of Christ any good.
1Co 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
Don't just live by our own wants and desires but live so that others will see a
life full of the spirit of God and may cause them to desire to find the God that
we are letting them see by the example we set.
1Co 10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the meat market, that eat, asking no question
for conscience sake:
1Co 10:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.
1Co 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.
1Co 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 fullness thereof:
1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my
liberty judged of another man's conscience?
1Co 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that
for which I give thanks?
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to
the glory of God.
The sum of the whole chapter is do all for the glory of God. This is a good test
my dad always taught me. If I was contemplating whether it was okay to do this
or that, he would ask, "Does it glorify God?"
The answer would immediately come.
Do we desire to marry an unbeliever? We could ask, will it glorify God if the
person never comes to Christ?
Do we desire to go here and do this? Will it bring glory to God?
The way Satan will get us to compromise is that he will make the suggestion in
our minds that we could use it as an opportunity to win someone to Christ. The
thing is that very seldom will compromising what is right bring anyone to
Christ. It usually works just the opposite. I heard of one who thought he could
hang around the bars in hope of winning someone to Christ. He eventually got
involved in the drinking, laying around with women and desires of the flesh
himself.
God gave us His Holy Spirit so that we can make the right decisions and walk in
the spirit. We don't have to compromise our faith and go here and there. We can
be led of the spirit.
1Co 10:32 Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to
the church of God:
If doing just one thing that will offend and cause just one person to lose their
soul, it isn't worth it.
1Co 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.
This pleasing men he is speaking of is for the sake of not giving offense or
doing things that will make their conscience weak. He is not talking of pleasing
men by compromising the word of God or putting men above the Lord. In that case
we must obey God rather than men.