Summary 1 Corinthians 10:1-11

God was not pleased with most of the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, because they refused to obey God and his commandments, and they chose their own ways and their sins, instead. Therefore, they were overthrown in the wilderness, i.e. they were put to death because they desired evil. They were drunkards, revelers, idolaters, adulterers, and those who indulged in sexual immorality, who put Christ to the test, and who grumbled against God and against his servant Moses.

And these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did, i.e. that we might not be drunkards, revelers, idolaters, adulterers, the sexually immoral, and those who put Christ to the test and who grumble and complain against God, etc. And these things happened to them as an example to us, and they were written down for us for our instruction so that we do not do what they did and end up dying in our sins and not having eternal life with God, because we loved our sins more.

“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.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 ESV)

Probably those who fell in the wilderness because of their disobedience, which God regarded as unbelief, thought that they were secure because they were the Israelites who were God’s chosen people, the Jews. And I believe that is where many people are today who profess faith in Jesus Christ, but who desire evil as they did, and who are addicted to sin, as they were. They think because they professed faith in Jesus Christ that God will not judge them for their sins, and so they go on living in sin, free from conscience.

But Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

And..

By God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

Therefore, we must be careful to not have this notion that we are now invincible because we “believed” in Jesus Christ. For it is not lip service only which secures us salvation from all sin and eternal life with God. For by faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, but which comes from God, and is gifted to us by God, and is persuaded of God, we die with Christ to sin that we might now live to God and to his righteousness in obedience to his commands in holy living – all in the power of God, and not of human flesh.

God will help us to resist the devil and to flee temptation and to follow him in obedience, if we are willing and obedient, and if we do not resist him, and if we do not choose our sins over God. There are no excuses for any of us who believe in Jesus to continue in deliberate and habitual sin against our Lord. For Jesus paid the price for us on that cross with his blood to free us from our bondage to sin so that we will now live for him in doing what pleases him, no longer to live as those who live to please our sinful flesh.

So, no more excuses! Surrender to Jesus today. And obey our Lord!

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Words by Adelaide A. Pollard, 1907
Music by George C. Stebbins, 1907

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

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