Amazing grace Baptist Church, Hamburg

Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Hamburg – Bible Study Material on 1 Cor 10:1-13

Introduction

1 Cor. 10 closes the section dealing with meat offered to idols. Paul has mentioned the example of Jesus (1 Cor. 8), his own example (1 Cor. 9), and now points to Israel’s past history. He probably had in mind the overconfident members of the church at Corinth.  Some believers thought they had such wisdom and knowledge that they did not have to beware of temptation or sin. Paul warns them in verse 12 and uses a bit of sarcasm as he calls them “wise men” in verse 15. While the believer has liberty to eat and drink, he must beware of at least three dangers.

Illustrations on the Christian’s Temptation and Sin using the Example of Israel

Paul uses Israel to illustrate the temptations and sins of God’s people. While Israel in the Old Testament is different from the church in the New Testament (note verse 32), there are several parallels between the two.

Paul compares Israels’ passing through the sea and under the cloud to the believer’s experience of baptism. Just as a believer’s baptism identifies the believer with Jesus, so Israel’s “baptism” identified the people with Moses.

 Israel was delivered from Egypt by the blood of the lamb just as believers are delivered from the world and sin by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. God opened the sea to let the Israelites through, thus separating them from their slavery in Egypt. In like manner, the resurrection of Jesus has separated the believer from the world and the slavery to the sinful nature.

The Jews ate manna, and the believers feed on the Messiah, the Bread of Life, as they partake of the Word.

Israel drank water that was supernaturally provided.  Believers drink the living water (John 4:10-14) of salvation and the refreshing water of the Spirit (John 7:37-39). Some are puzzled by “that spiritual rock that followed them” (verse 4), as though a literal rock rolled along in the wilderness with the Jews. Two explanations are possible:

Paul states that a spiritual rock followed them, and certainly Jesus did travel with His people and met their needs.

The word “them” is not in the original text, so that Paul may be saying, “They drank of that spiritual rock that followed [after the manna was given].” First the bread, then the water followed.

Israel fell because of sin (1 Cor. 10:5-10)

God was “not well pleased” with them (verse 5.) They were disapproved.  They lost their lives because of sin. They lusted (Numbers 11:34).  They worshipped idols (Exodus 32:1-14).  They committed fornication (Numbers 25:1-9).  They tempted God by deliberately trying His patience (Numbers 21:4-9).  They complained (Numbers 16:41-50).

What a list of sins! Yet, God had to judge their sins even though they had been wonderfully delivered from Egypt. Spiritual privileges never give us freedom to sin. Rather, they lay upon us the greater responsibility to obey God and glorify Him. (Note on verse 8: Paul gives 23,000 slain, while Numbers 25:9 says 24,000. However, Paul recounts how many died in one day, while Moses records the total number of deaths, for obviously some died later.)

Conclusion: Israel as a warning to us today (verses 11-13)

The people of God, whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament, must never presume to sin. In verse 12, Paul warns the overconfident and then encourages the fearful in 1 Cor. 10:13. It is important to emphasize here that a true believer in Christ will not be happy to remain in sin. Temptation is an invitation to sin. With the help of the Holy Spirit living in Christians, they have the power to overcome and thus live a victorious Christian life.