Spiritual Growth Series: Overcoming Temptation

by Dennis Michelson
(FaithBaptistOH.org)

Israel and the Church are different in many respects but the basic temptations for both are the same. The principles concerning temptation are identical but thankfully the penalties are different.

1. The Exhortation about Temptation (10:1-5)

1Co 10:1 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;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

a. They Had Supernatural Guidance (1) “The Cloud”
b. They Had Supernatural Deliverance (1) “The Sea”
c. They Had Supernatural Direction (2) “Unto Moses”
d. They Had Supernatural Sustenance (3-4) “Ate and Drank”
e. The Had a Serious Warning (5) “Bodies in the Wilderness”

2. The Examples of Temptation (10:6-11)

1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 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.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

a. Examples for the Corinthians (6)

b. Examples of Sensual Sins (7-8)

(1) Idolatry (7) cf. Exodus 32:1-6
(2) Fornication (8) cf. Numbers 25:1-5 and James 4:4

c. Examples of Spiritual Sins (9-10)
(1) Unbelief by Tempting Christ (9) cf. Psalm 78
(2) Dissatisfaction by Murmuring (10) cf. Exodus 16:2-3

d. Examples for Us (11)

3. The Escape from Temptation (12-14)

1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

a. The Wrong Way (12)
b. The Right Way (13-14)
(1) Faith in God
(2) Flee from Sin