1 Corinthians 10:1-13
“Drinking From the Rock”
Sermon by
Mark A. Horne
Have you ever been reminded of something in your past that was not good? It may not necessarily be a sin per say. It could have been something you were apart and looking back - you wished you had not been in that certain situation. It could be something one of your parents, grandparents, or even great grandparents did and it shames the family to this day.
In our passage this morning Paul gives such a reminder to the Corinthians. Yet, it was not a reminder to shame them or make them feel bad about themselves. It was a reminder to edify them, and we can take comfort in the edification as well. Paul sets before them the examples of the Jews. Israelite history proves that they enjoyed great privileges as God’s chosen people. However, they took advantage of God’s redemptive acts and fell under his discipline and punishment. This is something we have to bear in mind as we walk in our Christian life. But how do we do this? I believe our passage gives us four points to show us how we can fulfil our chief end bringing glory to God and enjoying him forever.
1. We have to recognize the providence of God towards us, and the life given to us through the redemption of Jesus Christ.
2. We have to recognize that sin occurs because our hearts desire something other than God.
3. We have to recognize the fact that God lovingly disciplines his children when they do wrong.
4. We have to recognize the sin that eludes us and ask for God’s forgiveness and help in shunning our sin.
We have to recognize the providence of God towards us, and the life given to us through the redemption of Jesus Christ as verses 1-5 indicate.
John Frame says this: “…the Lord promises that he will not be an absentee ruler, but will be present with the vassal to bring blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. He will thus be involved with the ongoing life of his covenant people. …the covenant form continues to emphasize the presence as it concludes with an emphasis on continuity: the relationship between Lord and vassal will continue for generation after generation.” (Doctrine of God, 42)
I think it is interesting that Paul uses the example of Israel’s history with the church here in Corinth. All indications point to the fact that Paul was writing to a predominantly Gentile church. Of course there were some Jews in the church, but I don’t think that he would be writing specifically to them considering all of the turmoil the church is in. Paul has been concentrating on the misdirection of the church. They have been following false teachers and have not taken care of each other, as a church should. Paul has constantly addressed those issues up to this point. And he continues on here as well.
Paul wanted the Corinthians to know that the church was a continuation of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. God’s providence shows forth most clearly in his people. And when Christ died and was raised the church became that which God would work through. The church is apart of the “generation” Frame describes. If you look at the one act of God Paul calls his readers attention to, you will see the same kind of work that has been displayed to us. Israel was delivered from Egypt. They were miraculously led through the Red Sea, but the pursuing Egyptians perished at God’s hand as the waters crashed upon them. The parted waters were the way to freedom from bondage for the Israelites, but they were a grave to those who mocked God.
And from this miracle the Israelites were baptized into Moses just as we are baptized into Christ. As a people the Israelites were united because of God’s redemption. They were united one with another through what He did for them. They submitted to the leader God set in place. The church is people united because of God’s redemption. The plan He has ordained from eternity. We are united one with another because of Christ. He is the one we submit to now. He is the Great Redeemer.
It is this Redeemer who is the Redeemer of both the Old and the New Testaments. He is the “same spiritual rock.” It is from Christ that we obtain the things we need to have life eternal. We receive what we need through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And we have the privilege of enjoying God by these mighty and merciful acts.
But we have to take note as verse 5 states; God is the giver of life and freedom. It is through His providence that we have such things. And when we do not follow after his will, we displease God. We have to be careful of any presumption we make concerning our relationship with Him. We have to understand and not be ignorant that it is Jesus Christ our risen Lord and Savior who delivers us from the hand of death.
We have to recognize that sin occurs because our hearts desire something other than God. Paul reminds us in verse 6 that the Israelites did not obey God because they set their hearts on un-Godly things. This should be a verse that reminds us of what Christ himself said to Peter in Matthew 16:23 after he announced what His purpose was, “…you do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men.”
And Paul begins to list sins that infect our hearts. He begins with idolatry. The sin that Exodus 20:4 state makes God jealous. The sin that constantly got Israel in trouble as Exodus 32 describes. The sin that seems to plague the Corinthian church and I dare say plagues our hearts as well. The Corinthians wanted to feast on heathen sacrifices, as we want to feast on anything that is not Godly.
Paul continues in his warnings about sexual immorality. He has already given them a lengthy discourse in chapters 5, 6 and 7. Yet, he feels it is a sin eating away at the Corinthian church. Paul makes it clear that this is a sin one easily places above God. This is a sin that one has joint union with just as is described in Numbers 25, when Israel joined with Baal and Peor worship and over 23,000 died.
We should watch how we handle ourselves in our relationship with Christ as verse 8 states. He is not one that we have to have proved to us. He is the already proven. If we are his we should put our hope and trust in His providence and not test to see if he is real by another false god.
And he is not one to which we murmur and become disgruntled with. When Israel did this, they were struck dead by they fiery angel Numbers 16:41 describes. How can we grumble and murmur against the one who gives us life and freedom? We should be reminded of the Words of our Lord after he had fed the 5,000 in John 6. The crowd who had their fill beyond any imagination started to grumble at Jesus teaching that He is the Bread of Life. Read John 6:43-51.
It is Christ and Christ only whom we can gain eternal life from. It is our trust in Him and Him alone. We cannot desire anything other than Him, because when we do we are subject to discipline.
We have to recognize the fact that God lovingly disciplines his children when they do wrong. Verse 12 warns us that when we think we are standing firm with God and everything is right with Him, He will make sure we become corrected. Paul makes it clear to his readers in Corinth that just because they have been baptized does not mean they are free from God’s discipline. Their sins were typical of the infidelity of many under the gospel. God’s judgements were types of spiritual judgements now. And Scripture clearly portrays that history is clearly written to be a standing monitor to the church. Nothing in Scripture is written in vain and it is our duty and wisdom to learn from it. That God has not promised to keep us from falling if we do not look to ourselves: His protection supposes our care. He is constantly working in our lives because he is God. God’s discipline needs to be taken to heart because it is the correction we need to turn to Him.
Again John Frame states this: “Scripture speaks often of the wrath of God as His response to sin. Wrath differs from hatred and jealously, in that jealousy is more focused on the specific sin of idolatry, while wrath opposes our sin in general…there is something wild and mysterious about God’s wrath, which is not always easy to reconcile with God’s love…(though) God’s wrath is terrible, in the course of history, the Lord is eager to defer that anger, to forgive those who turn from sin.” (The Doctrine of God, 465-466). God’s wrath is not used to punish us for sin - that has already been accomplished through Jesus. However, God’s wrath is not deferred from us because it constantly points us to what Jesus has suffered for our redemption.
Therefore, we have to recognize the sin that eludes us and ask for God’s forgiveness and help in shunning our sin. Verse 13 is one that many Christians have memorized or are at least familiar with. This is one of the most comforting verses in the Bible to me. Whenever trials appear before us, we can rest assured that it is God who provides a way out. Sin is not something we can overpower by ourselves, but with God’s help we can wade past it. It is God who enables us to seek Him.
The Corinthians were following after false teachers who were leading them from God. They were putting their faith and trust in men and the world, things that are perishable. But God is faithful to those whom He calls His children. He knows what we can bear. He will make sure that we will not be overcome, if we rely totally and completely upon Him.
Are you relying upon God? Do you recognize that you are a sinner and need the redemption of Jesus for eternal life? Do you know the comfort of being transformed into the image of Christ through His love and discipline?
If you don’t know or are not sure, please let me or one of the elders know so that we can help show you how you can be sure of your salvation.
Let Us Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, we recognize that we are sinners who cannot be free our sin unless we rely totally upon you. Help us to recognize your mysterious yet loving discipline when we falter. Keep us safe and sound through the wisdom we gain by studying your Word. For it is in your Holy and Most Precious name, Amen.