Saturday, October 21, 2017, 3:34 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “To Be Like Him.” Speak, Lord, your
words to my heart. I read 1 Corinthians
10 (quoting select vv. ESV).
Examples for Us
(vv. 6-10)
Now these things took place as examples for us, that
we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were;
as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three
thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of
them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and
were destroyed by the Destroyer.
These things which took place
were that the Israelites of the Old Testament had been in slavery to Egypt for
hundreds of years. So, God sent Moses to deliver the Israelites out of slavery
to Egypt, which he did. But, when set free, many of them grumbled and
complained, and they wanted to go back. Even though God miraculously delivered
them, provided for them, and led them every step of the way, still many of them
worshiped idols and they disobeyed God, and they did all manner of evil against
Him, so all but a few died in the wilderness and did not get to enter into the
promised land.
Their miraculous delivery
from slavery in Egypt was a prefiguring of our salvation and of our deliverance
from slavery to sin. Just as they had to apply the blood to their doorposts for
God to pass over them and to not kill their firstborn, we must apply to our
lives the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on a cross for our sins. Jesus Christ,
God’s Son, was our sacrificial Lamb, given for the sins of the world. And, just
as we were miraculously delivered from our addiction to sin, we who have
trusted in Jesus Christ also have God now dwelling within us, leading, guiding,
and providing for our all our needs.
As well, just as many of the
Israelites rebelled against their Lord, turned their backs on God, desired
slavery more than freedom, and disobeyed their Lord by worshiping idols, and
engaging in many sins, so, many people who profess Jesus as Savior of their
lives have done likewise. So, this is a warning to not follow their example.
God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is to be our ONLY GOD and LORD. We should
not desire what is evil, including we should not be entertained by it, nor
should we engage ourselves in evil. And, we should not give ourselves over to
the gods of this world to (agape) love and worship (revere) them, adopting
their ways and their attitudes, actions, values and morals, and thereby put
Christ Jesus to the test.
Take Heed (vv.
11-13)
Now these things happened to them as an example, but
they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has
come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No
temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he
will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he
will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
So, what example is being set
before us who believe in Jesus Christ? What instruction are we being given
here? If what many are preaching today was actually true, and if all we have to
do to have eternal life is just to acknowledge who Jesus is and what he did for
us, and to accept his forgiveness for our sins, then why the warning? Why the
example? If all we have to do is “believe” with some non-descript belief in
Jesus, which requires no repentance, no obedience, and no death to sin or
living to righteousness, then why are we being given this example of the
disobedience, the idolatry and the deaths of the disobedient due to unbelief?
It is because our salvation
is not merely an escape from hell and the promise of heaven when we leave this
earth. It is also not a onetime deal and then we are in, no matter how we live
our lives from that moment forward. We are saved (past). We are being saved
(present). And, we will be saved when Jesus Christ returns for his bride and
our salvation is complete. Eternal life is not guaranteed us on the basis of
past belief or belief that is not accompanied by repentance and obedience. We
must continue in our faith until the end, as well, and we must walk according
to the Spirit and NOT according to the flesh. For, if we walk according to the
flesh, and we persist in sinful addictions, we will not see heaven but only
hell’s fury.
So, the warning here is to
take heed if you think you stand secure in Christ, lest you fall away from God due
to unbelief and disobedience, like the Israelites did. There isn’t any
temptation that comes our way that is uncommon to humans and for which God has
not provided a way out for us. Jesus put sin to death on that cross so that we
might die to sin and live to righteousness, and he has given us everything we
need to resist Satan, to flee temptation and sin, and to walk in holiness and
righteousness.
Yet, many continue in sinful
practices and addictions because they have become convinced that the
temptations are too strong for them, or that God requires no repentance or
obedience, and that all sin is covered by God’s grace, and thus none of their
sins will ever be counted against them. But, the scriptures teach that if we
walk in lifestyle according to the flesh, and if we make sin our practice, we
don’t have eternal life with God, but we will die in our sins, and we will spend
eternity without God in hell/the lake of fire. So, don’t be fooled! Not
everyone who says “Lord” will enter into heaven.
The Body of Christ (vv. 14-22)
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as
to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that
we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we
break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one
bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider
the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the
altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an
idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons
and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot
drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the
table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to
jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
So, we must flee idolatry,
i.e. we must run away from all that is opposed to God and to his Word, and from
everything which entraps us and makes us its slaves. We can’t play with
temptation and expect not to get burned. We can’t have one foot in the world
and one in heaven. If we daily take garbage into our minds, garbage is what we
will produce.
We should test everything we
do, everything we take into our minds, and every thought and action against
Philippians 4:8. If it doesn’t match up, then we should discard it. We should
throw off all sins which so easily entangle us and any hindrances to our walks
of faith so we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us to run. Too
many people who call themselves Christians are addicted to pornography, TV,
movies, Facebook, novels, sports, money, fame, etc. and they regularly consume
what is not fitting for those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus
Christ. This should not be.
When we who profess faith in
Jesus Christ live like we have not been delivered out of slavery to sin, and we
prefer slavery to freedom in Christ, because of addiction to particular sins,
we are playing with fire, and we will literally get burned for eternity if we
don’t repent of our sins and turn back to Christ to follow him in obedience. We
can’t partake of the Lord’s table and the table of demons, too. Our communion
with God, as well, is not a mere participation in a ritual, but it is a
lifestyle committed to Christ and surrendered to his will. If our lifestyles
are, instead, dedicated to doing what is evil in God’s sight, then we are on
dangerous ground. If we provoke the Lord to jealousy, then we are asking for
his wrath to be poured out on us.
To Be Like Him
/ An Original Work
March 16, 2014 / Based off
Scripture
Crucified you are with Jesus.
To be like Him, oh, you’ll
be,
Because He died at Calv’ry,
So from sin you’d be free.
Oh, what joy He brings into
your life,
Giving life with Him
endlessly.
Oh, what plans He has for
your life.
Share the gospel faithfully.
Show the people He loves
them.
Now His witness you’ll be.
Tell the world of sin about
Jesus,
How He died for them on a
tree.
Purifying hearts, He saves
them,
Who believe on Christ, God’s
Son.
Turning now from their idols,
New lives they have begun.
Jesus saves from sin; we’re
forgiven.
Over sin, the vict’ry He won!
When He comes again to take
us
To be with Him evermore,
There will be no more crying.
Gladness will be in store.
Heavens joys will now
overtake us:
We’ll be with our Lord
evermore.
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