1 Corinthians 10 - A Foolproof Strategy for Resisting Temptation

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Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Paul recounts the Israelites in the wilderness when they were delivered through the Red Sea and ate manna. The Lord directed them by the clouds by day and a pillar of fire by night. When Moses struck the rock water came out of it. This was all a foreshadowing of Jesus. Jesus is the rock of our salvation. He is the light of the world. He is the living water! Despite God's miraculous provisions for them, they made idols and substituted them for the one true God. Therefore, they did not make it into the Promised Land. 

Paul’s point hits hard: the Corinthian Christians were probably taking all sorts of liberties (like feasting in pagan temples, stumbling their brothers), thinking that they were “safe” because of past blessings and spiritual experiences (especially baptism and communion). So Paul warns them to beware, because just as Israel was blessed and had spiritual experiences, they still perished – and so some of the Corinthian Christians might also! - Guzik

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

As we said earlier, Corinth was a hotbed of sexual immorality. Paul points to what happened to the Israelites when they went outside of God's boundaries for sexual relationships. When we sin without "batting an eye", we test God. Though we are saved by grace and will not face the penalty for our sin, it doesn't mean God doesn't still hate sin. For a Christian to thoughtlessly indulge in the desires of the flesh, after they have freely been forgiven, is like spitting in God's face.

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 is probably the best verse when it comes to fighting and beating temptation. 

1. No temptation has overtaken you which is not common to man. When we are being tempted it is nothing that all people haven't faced over many centuries. We may think that we are the only ones who have had to endure it, but it is common to all people. 

2. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your strength. There is never a temptation that is so great that we can't stand up under it with God's help. This is good to know when you feel like you have no strength left to fight a particular temptation. 

3. But when you are tempted, he will also provide the way out so you can endure it. God always provides an escape hatch. When we are tempted, if we look for a way out, we will find it. If we are intent on sinning there is not much to stop us. But if we look for the way out, we see how God provides a way out. This is also why Paul said to the Corinthians, "Flee sexual immorality". If you are in a situation where it seems like you are going to give into temptation flee. Go to safe place. If you want to avoid falling avoid slippery places. 

Where are you most often or most likely to be tempted? How can this verse help you to keep from falling?