The Peril Of Presumption

The Peril of Presumption

1 Corinthians 10

10 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;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

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.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

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.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Introduction: Pre·sump·tion

1.an idea that is taken to be true, and often used as the basis for other ideas, although it is not known for certain: "underlying presumptions about human nature"

2.behavior perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and transgressing the limits of what is permitted or appropriate:

CHAPTER XIII of the FWB Treatise

Perseverance of the Saints

There are strong grounds to hope that the truly regenerate will persevere unto the end, and be saved,

through the power of divine grace which is pledged for their support;127 but their future obedience and final salvation are neither determined nor certain, since through infirmity and manifold temptations they are in danger of falling;128 and they ought, therefore, to watch and pray lest they make shipwreck of their faith and be lost.129

I. The Sins in spite of Privilege - wherefore

a. Paul’s address - brethren

b. Paul’s reminder – what they shared

c. Paul’s

II. The Sin of Presumption – let him that thinketh he standeth

Pre·sump·tion

1.an idea that is taken to be true, and often used as the basis for other ideas, although it is not known for certain: "underlying presumptions about human nature"

2.behavior perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and transgressing the limits of what is permitted or appropriate:

a. It is a fatal sin to which anyone of us may be liable:

b. That it is a fatal sin is obvious from the penalty attached to it - death

c. That the sin of presumption is a willful sin; a premeditated sin - a sin based upon arrogance

STOWELL: HOW PEOPLE GO ASTRAY

Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, in his book, Following Christ, asks the question:

HOW DO PEOPLE GO SO FAR ASTRAY SPIRITUALLY?

The question was prompted when Dr. Stowell read an article given to him from the local paper the about Tom Wilson who died, gunned down as a member of a Neo-Nazi gang.

Tom had grown up in the church he of which he was now the Pastor

• Active in the youth group

• Professed Christ as Savior and was Baptized

• He was "A very good student and won many points for faithful memory work, lesson completion, and attendance" according to his fourth-grade Sunday School Teacher.

How did he fall so far?

"That first step was, more probably, a choice to not listen to the voice of the Spirit, to love his lusts more than Christ, or to choose a friend who encouraged his stepping off the path. This sad story of a life inflicting incredible damage on the Name of Christ was played out, not by momentary, cataclysmic departure, but by the gradual erosion of a commitment to be a fully devoted follower of Christ."

Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, Following Christ, pg. 154

1. The man of God that returned with the prophet that had lied to him - I Kings 13:8-25

2. King Saul committed the sin of presumption when he deliberately disobeyed the voice of the Lord - I Sam 15:1-35

3. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, committed the sin of presumption - Acts 5:1-11

4. Judas committed the sin of presumption when he sold his Master and betrayed him with a kiss - Matt 27:1-5

5. Herod Agrippa committed the sin of presumption when he accepted the honor that belongs to God alone - Acts 12:21-23

6. Many religionists in the last days will commit the sin of presumption by assuming that they can substitute their own concept of righteousness for the word of God - Matt 7:21-26