Our text for today is our Epistle lesson from 1 Corinthians 10, especially verses 12-13 where St Paul writes, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God is faithful…” (vv 12-13). Here ends our text.
So, the person who thinks he can be tempted and not fall into sin is foolish. He is filled with pride. And what does God do? First, He humbles us by means of the law, then He comforts us with the Gospel. First, He strips away our pride, then He fills us with faith in Christ. Pride is one of our greatest dangers. It says, “I can handle temptation. I would never fall.” This kind of attitude crept into the church at Corinth. They had been baptized. They received the Lord’s Supper. They belonged to the Church. They assumed, then, that they were safe no matter how they lived. Their faith rested in themselves rather than in Christ.
So, St. Paul warns the church at Corinth against the sin of pride by taking them back to when Isreal was in the wilderness. He says, “Our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea… all ate the same spiritual food… all drank the same spiritual drink” (vv 1-4). In other words, the Israelites all experienced God’s mighty acts of salvation. They were delivered from slavery in Egypt. They all passed safely through the Red Sea. They all ate manna from heaven. They all drank water from the rock. And Paul tells us that “the Rock was Christ” (v 4). Christ Himself—the Second Person of the Trinity—accompanied Israel through the wilderness. God was with them. He richly blessed them.
Yet what happened? St Paul says, “Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased” (v 5). Why? Well, many hardened their hearts in unbelief. They were blessed by God, yet many rejected those gifts. Their history was written, Paul says, “for our instruction” (v 11). God recorded the failures of Israel so that we would not repeat the same sin.
What did the Israelites do that did not please God? Well, they committed three major sins.
First came idolatry. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, Israel fashioned a golden calf and worshiped it. They rejected the God who delivered them from Egypt and made their own god with their own hands. We can read about this in Exodus 32.
God says in the first commandment, “You shall have no other god before Me.” May we never trust in an idol god. Money can become a god. The steward in our Holy Gospel for today made money and the things of this world his idol. He wasted his master’s possessions. He mismanaged the books. He stole from his master. May our faith look alone to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Second came sexual immorality. Some of the men of Israel had immoral sexual relations with the women of Moab. On that day, 23,000 of them died under God’s judgment. We can read about a this in Numbers 25.
Our culture celebrates what God forbids. Chastity is mocked. Marriage is redefined. Modesty is considered old-fashioned. But God’s Word has not changed. The Sixth Commandment still calls us to lead sexually pure and decent lives in what we say and do. Christ has redeemed our soul and our bodies as well. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. May God keep us faithful.
Finally, Israel tested God. On their way to the promised land, the city of Edom would not allow the Israelites to travel through their town. Instead, the Israelites had to travel around the city, which added a few more days to their travel. As a result, the Israelites grumbled and complained not only against Moses and against God Himself. On that day, many of them died under God’s judgment. We can read about this in Numbers 21.
How often do we do the same? We complain about our work, our finances, and our neighbors. We ask, “Lord, why aren’t You giving me what I want? Why is my life difficult? Why does someone else have more than I do?” We forget how abundantly God has blessed us. We forget that every good and perfect gift comes from God’s gracious hand. Our heavenly Father knows what is best. May we receive His gifts with thanksgiving and trust in His promises.
Again, Paul warns, “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (v 12). Peter is a perfect example. On Maundy Thursday he said to Jesus, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away” (Matt 26:33). Within hours he denied Jesus three times.
We are no different. It is dangerous for us to say, “I could never fall into that sin.” Left to ourselves, we would surely fall. Our flesh is weak. Satan’s attacks on us are relentless. The world is constantly enticing us away from Christ. We are not strong enough to resist temptation on our own.
But God has not abandoned us. He has not left us alone. Christ came precisely for us who cannot stand on our own. Jesus resisted every temptation of Satan. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Father’s will to go to the cross. While on the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, including sins of idolatry, sexual immorality, and greed. He bore all of our sin on the cross. There He cried, “It is finished.” God’s wrath is appeased. Your debt of sin is paid for by the blood of Christ. His victory over death and the devil is complete. It is finished. And to prove it, He rose from the dead.
St. Paul says in today’s Epistle, “God is faithful” (v 13). These are beautiful words.
God was faithful when He called you in Holy Baptism. There He placed His name upon you and He united you with Christ’s death and resurrection. There He forgave your sins and made you His child. God is faithful every time His Gospel is preached. You hear a message of repentance and of the forgiveness of sins. You hear over and over again that Christ borne your sins upon the cross and that He rose from the dead. God is faithful every time you come to His altar. Here He feeds you with Christ’s true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. He strengthens your faith. God is faithful. He will always keep His promise.
St Paul goes on in our text and says, “No temptation has overtake you that is not common to man.” Temptation is a reality. We are tempted by Satan, the world, and our own sinful flesh. When temptation comes, it often feels overwhelming. We may imagine that no one else has ever struggled as we do. But Paul reminds us that our temptations are common to all. None of us struggles alone. The same battles that we struggle with are the same battles that others are struggling with as well. Temptations are common to all of us.
St. Paul also says that God “will not let you me tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (v 13). This does not mean that the Christian life will become easier and easier. While God does not remove temptations from our earthly lives, He limits them. He governs them. God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear.
In the midst of temptation, God gives you strength to bear your cross. He gives you the ability to endure the trials you go through. He strengthens you with His holy Word. He forgives your sin. He nourishes you with Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. He strengthens your weak faith. He assures you that He loves you.
If you are caught in a sin and need help, seek support from a friend or family member. Talk with your pastor. He will listen in complete confidentiality. He will also speak Christ’s word of forgiveness for you. Pray that your faith in Christ would not grow cold with unbelief. Stay alert and be on guard against threats to your faith in Christ. Pray for your family and others. Encourage others in the faith who are struggling.
Even when you do fall, do not despair. Confess your sin and receive forgiveness. Look to Christ alone for your comfort and peace.
For example, when the disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus came to them walking on the water. He said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” So, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter noticed the wind, He was afraid and began to sink. He cried out, “Lord, save me!” And Jesus immediately reached out His hand, took hold of Peter, and saved him.
When you are tempted and when you become fearful and weak, then cry out, “Lord, save me. Help me.” And He does. St Paul says that God will provide a way of escape. Jesus is your way of escape in the midst of trial and tribulation. Look to Christ alone.
Jesus is your Good Shepherd. He leads and you follow Him on His path of righteousness all the way to heaven. But while you remain here on earth, Christ is your light and your salvation, therefore, there is nothing to fear. Christ is your strength, therefore, there is no reason to be afraid. Christ is your refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.
Your faith looks to Christ alone. God is faithful. You can always trust in His many promises. Amen.
