Introduction:
A. I want to begin with a very helpful warning – Here are the top 10 things not to say to a police officer if he or she pulls you over.
#10 – Was I speeding? Sorry, I can’t see anything without my glasses.
#9 – Was I speeding? Sorry, I didn’t realize my radar detector wasn’t plugged in.
#8 – Hey, don’t I pay your salary?
#7 – Officer, I was just trying to keep up with traffic and if you didn’t see any cars around me,
that tells you just how fast they were going.
#6 – Hey, aren’t you the guy from the Village People?
#5 – Hey, nice driving, you must have been doing 100 mph to keep up with me.
#4 – You aren’t going to check the trunk, are you?
#3 – Sorry I missed that stop sign, I was text messaging my friend.
#2 – Hey, is your gun a 9 millimeter? I’ve got a bigger one than that – want to see it?
#1 – Thing not to say to a police officer if he or she pulls you over – You’re only going to give me a
warning? Gee, Officer, that’s terrific – the last officer only gave me a warning, too!
B. Warnings – We all need them, but not all of us heed them.
1. As we continue our study of 1 Corinthians and arrive at chapter 10, we see that Paul is offering a stern warning that must be heeded by the Corinthians and by us.
C. It is important for us at this point to recall the situation that Paul is addressing.
1. The letter that Paul had received from the Corinthians appealed for Paul’s support of an enlightened understanding that idols are meaningless.
2. Some of the Corinthian Christians were attending meals and festivities at the temples of pagan gods, just as they had done before becoming Christians.
3. In their view, this was just a normal aspect of social life in their culture.
4. Such activities entailed no spiritual danger, they argued, because they had knowledge.
5. Perhaps they were also arguing that having participated in the mysteries of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, they had passed into a zone of spiritual blessedness that made them immune to any harm from associating with pagan worship.
D. As we have seen, Paul’s first response to this situation in chapter 8 was to raise a concern for weaker members of the community who might be led astray by the example of the strong and fall back into idol-worship.
1. Then in chapter 9, Paul summoned the strong to follow his example of surrendering rights for the sake of others.
2. But here in chapter 10, Paul’s argument takes a new turn.
3. Paul will now contend that there is another equally compelling reason to avoid dining in the presence of idols.
4. The Corinthian Christians who attend these temple meals are not only endangering the weak, but are also putting themselves in spiritual peril.
5. So let’s take a look at Paul’s argument in this chapter and then attempt to apply the principles in our own lives today.
6. The chapter has two primary sections: The first 22 verses constitute a warning from Israel’s history, and then verse 23 through chapter 11, verse 1 serve to summarize Paul’s teachings from chapters 8 through 10.
I. Warnings From Israel’s History (10:1-22)
A. Paul begins chapter 10 with these words, “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.” (10:1)
1. It may seem odd that Paul would talk with the predominantly Gentile congregation at Corinth and say, “Our forefathers.”
2. But if you know anything about Paul’s theology, you know that he believes that the Gentiles have been grafted into the covenant people in such a way that they belong to Israel.
3. Therefore, the story of Israel is also a part of the church’s story.
B. One of the interesting things about the metaphors that Paul uses to describe Israel’s experience is their parallels in Christ.
1. Israel left their slavery in Egypt by passing through the Red Sea, and Christian converts, especially in Corinth, have left their pagan past through baptism in Christ.
2. And as Israel ate and drank as the Lord provided in the wilderness, so also do Christians receive spiritual food and drink in the Lord’s Supper.
3. Paul goes so far as to suggest that Christ was present with Israel in their wanderings, just as He is present with us in ours today.
C. Nevertheless, the important point that Paul is making in verses 1-4 is that Israel, whose legacy the Corinthians have inherited, experienced powerful spiritual signs of God’s favor and sustaining power.
1. And yet, despite these signs of God’s grace, ultimately, “God was not pleased with most of them, so their bodies were scattered over the desert.” (vs. 5)
2. Paul’s main point is: Just because you have received spiritual blessings, do not suppose that you are exempt from God’s judgment.
D. In verses 6-11, Paul shares example after example as a warning to the Corinthians and to us.
1. Verse 6 says, “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”
2. And then in verse 11, Paul concludes, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.”
3. In other words: “Listen and Learn. Don’t repeat the mistakes of those who came before.”
E. In verses 7-10, Paul shares four examples of mistakes that Israel made.
1. In each case, he carefully notes that these sins were committed not by all of the Israelites, but by “some of them.” The problems at Corinth were caused by some, not by all.
2. The first of the four examples targets the central theme of the passage as a whole. Look at the beginning of verse 7, “Do not be idolaters, as some of them were…”
3. The most serious sin of the wilderness generation certainly was their worship of the golden calf.
4. After God had brought them out of Egypt in such a powerful way, how could they so quickly turn to idol worship?
5. It is interesting that Paul doesn’t have to give a lot of details in order for us to know the specific story he is pointing us to.
6. And it is telling that the words from the story that he chose to mention are “the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” (vs. 7, Ex. 32:6)
7. Can you see how directly that relates to the problem that was going on at Corinth? Paul is speaking against some of the Christian’s practice of eating in the presence of the idols and how that that participation in the idol feast can lead to other immoral behavior.
F. The second example is also aimed directly at the Corinthian’s misdoings.
1. As we have already seen in Paul’s correspondence with them, sexual immorality was a problem.
2. So in verse 8, Paul alludes to something that happened in Numbers 25.
3. While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab, and not only that but they also joined them in their sacrifices to their gods – so some of the Israelites ate with them and bowed down to their gods.
4. What did God think about that? The Bible says that his anger burned against them.
5. God sent a plague and over 23,000 of them died.
6. So, Paul is trying to show them that some of the Christians at Corinth were doing the very same thing as some of the Israelites at Shittim – they are joining in the sacrifices at the idol temple and are committing sexual immorality.
G. The third example that Paul offers as a warning also had to do with food, although in this case there is no direct reference to idolatry.
1. The sin from this example seems to be primarily the sin of complaining against God.
2. The story is from Numbers 21 where the people were complaining,
3. The Bible says, “they spoke 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!’” (Num. 21:5)
4. This time the punishment took the form of poisonous snakes.
H. The final example used by Paul is the most difficult to connect to a specific OT story, and is also the most difficult to relate to any behavior of the Corinthians.
1. The best guess is that Paul was thinking of Numbers 14 where the people complained against Moses and Aaron and desired to return to Egypt.
2. The punishment for their behavior was the death of all people over the age of 20. It would take place over the next 40 years of wilderness wandering.
3. How might this story be related to the problems at Corinth?
4. Perhaps Paul thinks of their criticisms of him as analogous to Israel’s complaints against Moses.
I. The point of each of these stories is that God is not to be trifled with.
1. Those who defy God’s authority by flirting with idolatry and “craving” idol-tinged food will suffer catastrophic consequences.
2. The moral of these tales is stated in verse 12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”
3. The strong, knowledge group at Corinth was confident of their own power to stand against any temptations or dangers associated with the pagan temples.
4. Paul, however, sternly warned them not to be so sure about that.
J. Verse 13 is one of those beloved and comforting texts.
1. We often turn to it to help us understand and overcome temptation.
2. But in a sense it seems to be out of place in the progression of Paul’s argument.
3. Perhaps what Paul was trying to do was to contrast the “testing” that God allows to come to us with the very different dangers associated with our “testing” of God.
4. God certainly provides a “way out” for those who are “overtaken” by trials that come naturally in our human existence.
5. But for those who deliberately put themselves in jeopardy by participating in idolatry, they are in a very different position and should not presume to have any guarantees of safety or salvation.
K. After Paul’s forceful call for the Corinthians to flee from idolatry, he now changes tone and tries to reason with them as “sensible people.”
1. Paul then makes a comparison of three meals – the Lord’s Supper, the Jewish sacrificial meal, and the meals at the table of a pagan God.
2. What each of these meals have in common is the fact that a fellowship is created among the participants and that a specific deity is honored in each of the meals.
3. Once those points are granted, the application becomes obvious.
4. The Corinthians cannot claim to eat in the idol temple and somehow avoid the fellowship with the other participants, and the honoring of the idol god that is being worshiped.
5. While Paul grants that an idol is not a real god, he wants the Corinthians to be aware of the existence of a world of spiritual powers that are hostile to God.
6. Those who participate in the temple meals are becoming “partners with demons.”
7. All of us, including the Corinthians, must choose between the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
8. It is impossible to be a sharer in both. And why is that? Because God will not allow it.
9. God is a jealous God (in the very best sense of the word).
II. Use Your Freedom for the Glory of God (10:23-11:1)
A. As Paul summarizes his answer to the idol meat question, he makes three final points.
B. First, he again quotes the Corinthian’s theme statement, “Everything is permissible.” (back to chp.6)
1. Paul’s counter slogan is, “But not everything is constructive.”
2. Paul then clarifies what he means, “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (vs. 24)
3. You remember how he began the subject back in chapter 8, verse 1, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up”?
C. His second point clarifies something about idol meat that is sold or eaten out of the idol temple.
1. Is such meat spiritually contaminated even if it is not eaten in the idol temple? The answer is “no.”
2. Nevertheless, Paul doesn’t want them to forget about his concern for the weak in the community.
3. So he constructs a hypothetical scenario in which a Christian who is dining in the house of an unbeliever is informed by someone that the meat being served is idol meat.
4. Paul says that under such circumstances the Christian should not eat the meat for the sake of the other person’s conscience.
5. Paul doesn’t give us the details about who is the informant or whose conscience he is concerned about, specifically.
6. But Paul’s instruction about idol meat can be summarized in these two commands:
a. First, don’t eat idol meat in the idol temple.
b. Second, don’t inquire about the source of meat in the marketplace or in a private home, but if someone makes a point that it is idol meat, then don’t eat it.
D. Paul finishes the entire section with a new slogan – Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1. And follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. Jesus was all about self-sacrifice and God’s glory.
2. Paul was trying to live a life of self-sacrifice, just as Jesus had led a life of self-sacrifice.
3. That’s a hard example to follow! Amen!
Conclusion:
A. So what lessons can we draw from today’s verses as well as from the entire section of which today’s verses are the conclusion?
B. First of all, we must take seriously the danger of idolatry.
1. In the secularized world we live in, we are in danger of falling into the trap of the Corinthians – the error of supposing that there is no real danger of idolatry.
2. Granted, few of us are at risk of creating a literal golden calf to bow down to or eating in an idol temple, but the idols of our time are much more subtle.
3. I won’t attempt to give a comprehensive list of possible idols, because they are so numerous, but here are just a few to consider.
a. #1 - Our work can become our idol – money, success, achievement and recognition can take the place of God in our lives.
b. #2 - Our hobbies and entertainment can become our idols. Softball, sewing, shopping, or fishing can all take over. TV, or the internet can become our focus and our life.
c. #3 - Our friends or family can become our god.
d. #4 - Our disappointments and pains can become our idol. Bitterness, anger, and unmet longings can all separate us from God and cause us to wallow in our pain and worship the idol of discontentment.
4 As I said, this is but a small sampling.
5. There are two distinct dangers with regard to idolatry – first, idols have more power than we think, and second, when we court idols, we are courting the judgment of God.
6. Satan tries to convince us that we can dabble with idols and still be a good Christian, God has told us otherwise.
7. Paul’s advice: “Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” (vs. 14)
8. Joshua told the Israelites, “Choose this day whom you will serve…”
C. Second, we must take seriously the effect of our freedom on others.
1. If we truly love others as Christ and Paul loved, then we will not seek our own good, but the good of others.
2. There is nothing that destroys nations, churches and families more quickly than selfishness.
3. How easy it is for me to look after my own rights and interests. That comes far too naturally!
4. But how hard it is to think of others and their needs ahead of my own.
5. The helpful question to keep asking ourselves is – “Does this attitude or activity build others up or is it simply for my own good?”
6. How sad for us to choose our own freedom and rights at the cost of the destruction of others?
D. Third, we must seek one singular goal – The Glory of God.
1. Let’s be asking ourselves – Is all of my life and are all of my actions bringing glory to God?
2. What truly is best for God and for His Glory?
3. Here’s something interesting…what is best for God, is best for others, and is best for us.
4. That doesn’t mean that what is best for God and others isn’t going to cost us something.
E. Tom Randall was a missionary in the Philippines in the 1990s and ran up against radical Muslim terrorists.
1. He had the opportunity to give a presentation at the half-time of a major sporting event in the Philippines.
2. He was warned by the Muslim brotherhood that if he mentioned the name of Jesus, they would kidnap him and cut off his appendages.
3. Just before he stood up to make that half-time presentation, he leaned over to the Philippino Christian brother who was with him and was often his interpreter.
4. Randall told him, “I’m afraid to mention the name of Jesus.”
5. His friend declared, “You must name the name of Jesus. You’ve always told me to do that. I’ll stand there with you if that will help.”
6. So they stood there together and Tom spoke about what Jesus meant to him.
7. Several rows of the Muslim brotherhood stood up and repeated their threats during his presentation.
8. Tom Randall was not harmed as a result of witnessing about Jesus that day, but several years later, his friend, the interpreter, was beheaded by those terrorists because of his faith.
9. When Tom went to do the funeral, he gave his condolences to his friend’s widow.
10. She spoke right up and said, “Don’t pity him or me. He is with the Lord Jesus, whom he loved and served, and I have the joy of knowing he is in the presence of Jesus and knows it was all worth it.”
11. You and I are called to do everything to the glory of God, whatever the cost.
12. Most of us will not face being killed as we bring glory to God, but all of us must crucify ourselves in order to bring glory to God.
13. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Lk. 9:23-24)
F. Will we heed God’s warnings?
1. Will we avoid idolatry?
2. Will we only do what builds others up?
3. Will we take up our cross and live only to glorify God?
