April 14, 2024
Evening Service

Warning Against Idolatry

1st Corinthians 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 

1st Corinthians 10:2  all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 

1st Corinthians 10:3  all ate the same spiritual food, 

1st Corinthians 10:4  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 

1st Corinthians 10:5  But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Paul is giving good reason to not commune with any idolaters that generates a false sense of security, idol worship is sinful in the very nature, and he reminds them of the old Jewish nation in their exodus from Egypt. It was a miracle from God that the Red Sea parted for them to flee from the Egyptians on dry ground. The army of Pharaoh drowned in pursuit because this was the Will of God to punish them for their sinful hearts. This was a type of baptism by the faith of the Israelites to partake of the God given escape from Pharaoh. Some may have been fearful of walking between the parted waters, but by faith, they followed Moses whom God chose to lead them away from Egypt and their bondage. To them, it was a type of baptism done by faith in God our Lord. Paul speaks of the spiritual food from Heaven the Jewish people had partaken of in the desert; this was a symbol of Christ’s crucifixion on the cross. The communion we take in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made gives eternal life. Jesus was the Bread that came down from Heaven for us to eat of and have eternal blessings from God. Jesus is the Rock on which our faith in God has its foundation. When we drink from the Rock of Christ, we become refreshed and it is for whosoever will do this. Recall the woman at the well that Jesus said if you drink of the Living Water, you would never again thirst!

John 4:13  Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 

John 4:14  but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

The water Jesus gives us is of the Holy Spirit and has sacred and holy abilities to develop and mold our character to that which is Christ like. It is God’s Will to give this to all believers in Jesus as the Son of God who paid their sin debt in full! We must remain aware that even though we possess this great privilege and gift from God, His righteousness is what we rely on and not of ourselves.

1st Corinthians 10:6  Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 

1st Corinthians 10:7  And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY." 

1st Corinthians 10:8  Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 

1st Corinthians 10:9  nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 

1st Corinthians 10:10  nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 

1st Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 

1st Corinthians 10:12  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 

1st Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

1st Corinthians 10:14  Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Everyone has sin in their life and must have Jesus as Lord to be accepted into the spiritual life after this current one. With man, there are instances in which we can become caught up in the desires of the flesh. The way to address most carnal desires is not to give way to them when they first surface. What happens when we dip our foot into the pond of sin is that it allows for more of the same to come our way and the deceiver will win by our own defects of character. Paul gives examples of how sin entered in and how God punished the tribe of Israel for allowing it a foothold. He clearly writes that this was written for us to learn from and not to fall victim to the same patterns. We have no power of our own to fight sinful natures that are within us. We must bear ourselves up in the Word of God for the strength and power He has. God can and has defeated sin; this is where the power to defend ourselves from Satan comes from. Even if we had been successful a time or two about using willpower to flee from sin, we will inevitably fail when left to our own accord because of our deeply rooted sinful nature. The Word of God is good for instruction in righteousness and must be used with the power of our Lord to be successful. Acknowledging our weaknesses and inefficiencies is an excellent place to start, through our weaknesses, our God becomes strong in our life. Obedience to God and the Holy Spirit will prevent Him from becoming dissatisfied with our actions in the flesh. All scripture is written for our wisdom in living a dutiful life to God.

2^nd Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 

2^nd Timothy 3:17  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

These examples in the Word about people whom have fallen by the wrath of God is for us to learn that we too may fall by the same actions. The believer in Christ has a way to ward off and gain security against sin; it is simply to not trust our own judgment. God wants the believer in Jesus to seek a trusting and wonderful relationship with Him as the focus in our lives. He is our Lord and God and wants us to have life to the fullest; this only comes from resisting the devil and submitting to God! Other people have similar burdens and temptations; we are not unique in our faltering ways. In like ways that they have withstood the trials of life, we may withstand also, when Jesus is our point of focus. Any troubles in this life we endure will be according to our strength that God knows and graciously equips us for the moment. He knows the threshold of what we can bear and He will make a way to escape; he will either deliver us from the trial or the recklessness of it. The bible instructs us to flee from sin, and cling to God. There is no possible way we can fall into temptation if we are holding strongly on to our God! The world is an enemy of the believer in Jesus, it works in such a way to dilute our faith in God, but He will give us His strength to overcome. God is our refuge in a wicked and perverse world and provides us with the comfort and peace only He can give.

1st Corinthians 10:15  I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 

1st Corinthians 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? 

1st Corinthians 10:17  For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 

1st Corinthians 10:18  Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 

1st Corinthians 10:19  What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 

1st Corinthians 10:20  Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 

1st Corinthians 10:21  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. 

1st Corinthians 10:22  Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Paul is saying here that when we take part in the Lord’s Supper, we are in fact professing our faith and belief in Jesus as the Lamb of God sacrificed for our salvation. By partaking in the communion, we are claiming the blood shed by Jesus on the cross as atonement for our sins. We cannot do this act of faith and confession and at the same time eat of any animal sacrificed to an idol that is in fact a demon. Believers in Jesus as our Lord partake of His body and His blood as ordained by Christ to do, therefore uniting us believers as one body. This analogy of all the grains of wheat in a loaf of bread are separate, but at the same time, united as one in the bread as a whole. We are the grains of wheat united in the body of Christ as the Bread of Life. As the Jewish people sacrificed in worship in one accord as was their custom and confirmation of their faith. Paul is saying that since the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we cannot continue to eat of animal sacrifices because this is opposing in our worship to Jesus. Eating food that was part of a sacrifice, was worshipping the idol to whom it was made, and having fellowship or communion with it. In like comparison, as we partake of the Lord's Supper, it is accounted to partake in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Similarly, as they who ate the Jewish sacrifices partook of what was offered on their altar. Therefore, eating of things offered on an altar of the Gentiles that was not of Christ was partaking in the worship of demons and not fitting to believers in Jesus. It was in fact denying Christ as our Lord, for communion with Christ and communion with devils, could not be done at the same time. By partaking of both things feel necessary to you, this in the very definition opposes Christ as our Lord; He will not allow dual beliefs. Delving into sacrifices and lusts of the flesh will provoke God and is an abomination.

Do All to the Glory of God

1st Corinthians 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 

1st Corinthians 10:24  Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 

1st Corinthians 10:25  Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; 

1st Corinthians 10:26  for "THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL ITS FULLNESS." 

1st Corinthians 10:27  If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. 

1st Corinthians 10:28  But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL ITS FULLNESS." 

1st Corinthians 10:29  "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? 

1st Corinthians 10:30  But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? 

1st Corinthians 10:31  Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

1st Corinthians 10:32  Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 

1st Corinthians 10:33  just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

*When I first read the bible, I spent time cross-referencing other versions to help me understand better, this version helped me to clarify the meaning.

*The Amplified Bible

1st Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

Described here were events where believers in Jesus may have eaten food offered to idols, without sinning. If the food being eaten was not described as food offered to idols, the person can eat it with clear conscience and without sinning. If the person were made aware of it being food offered to idols, eating it would be a sin because of the conscious awareness. Moreover, food sold in the market as regular food that may have been given to a priest and made its way to the market for sale would also apply. All things aside, a believer in Jesus should not only assess the lawfulness, but also what is appropriate and would be done to edify others. Being a believer in Jesus should prompt us to follow the example set by Him when He was on the earth teaching and preaching. This is the standard to which we are called, and if we practice responding as Jesus did, we will find our actions will not be so offensive to others. Remember Jesus challenged us to love others as He loved us and this is a big measuring chart to plot our progression in showing love. Sometimes we may find something offensive to us just because of our lack of education concerning practices and customs of other nationalities in the world. It reminds me of the book of James when he wrote, be slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to listen. We may just find that our discomfort or provocative feelings are spurred by our lack of understanding. However, we must not confuse the fact that partaking in religious festivals or worshipping of idols is not part of the walk with Christ. Paul advises that we be careful not to use our liberty to the harm of others or to our own disapproval. The thought of this scripture is in our eating and drinking, and in everything we do, we should do all for the glory of God, aiming to please and honor Him. Whenever we find ourselves, in a situation that does not seem to have a direct rule or command concerning the predicament, do whatever you do to the glory of God and you will find that you did not err in the decision. Our Lord is a truly awesome and wonderful God full of joy, when we correctly place Him in the driver’s seat of our daily lives, we will find that He can disarm and diffuse the greatest of our enemies.