For our consideration of the
day, 1 Corinthians chapter 10 and verses 1 through 11, and
I'd like to title our subject today, Examples from the Past. Examples from the past, examples
that speak to us and that we might learn from and that might
be beneficial unto us by considering the example of others. Here's
the text, 1 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 1 through 11. We ought to actually read through
verse 13, that exhortation that's there. But 1 through 11 is our
principal text today. And then we'll be in a lot of
other places as well, as you might imagine. This is a rather
broad subject. So here's our text. Let's read
it first. 1 Corinthians 10, 1 through 11. More over, brethren. Some say,
Thor, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant how that
all our fathers were under the cloud and passed through the
sea and were all baptized under Moses in the cloud and in the
sea and did all eat the same spiritual meat. and did all drink
the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual
rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. But with many of them, God was
not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples,
to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as
they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were
some of them. So it is written, the people
sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let
us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in
one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ,
as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of the serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of
them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. And verse 11, all these things
happened unto them for in samples, and they are written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." Now,
as we take up this subject today, these texts out of the scripture,
we should bear in mind that there are many other things beside
these that are written in scripture as examples to those that come
after the people unto whom those things are written about and
to whom they happen. That the things they did and
what happened to them, whether it be good or whether it be evil,
in the sight of God are written for our benefit and our learning. They are written to be an example. They're written to be a guide
unto others, that is, unto us in latter time. Or, as Paul puts
it there in verse 11 of our text, upon whom the ends of the world
have come." Literally, the end of the ages. Much, much time
has passed between them and us. And that by God's dealings with
those people of old, we readers of the scripture and followers
of our Lord might be taught a valuable lesson from their conduct and
God's dealing with them, and that we might imitate their good
example or avoid their evil way and the judgment of God that
fell upon them because of what they did. And in the beginning,
this conceived, that not all examples out of the Old Testament
are sinful ones that brought judgment and misery upon a particular
people, that some of them are written for our spiritual imitation,
our guide, and our growth. And I could give you one great
example of this. It is found in the book of Romans
chapter 4, the matter of the justification of Abraham by faith
and an imputed righteousness. How Abraham believed God and
righteousness was imputed unto him, Genesis 15 and verse 6. And we read this in Romans 4,
23 and 24. Now, it was not written for his
sake alone, that is, these things were not written just for the
sake of Abraham, that righteousness was imputed unto him, but for
us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised
up Jesus Christ our Lord from the dead, as it was not written
for Abraham's sake only. Why should it be? God spoke to
him and gave it to him orally and personally. not particularly
to Abraham, but the standard procedure is toward the children
of God that justification is by faith and justification is
by an imputed righteousness. So as it was with Abraham, So
is it, or it ought to be, with his children. He believed it
and was justified. Therefore, to repeat, this is
not or was not written for Abraham's sake alone, for he had it by
direct promise from God, but the written record of Abraham
being counted righteous by believing and by righteousness being imputed
unto him becomes a statement strong argument for Paul to use,
especially with the Jew in the case of justification, and of
us as well, that Abraham was justified by faith, without works,
and before the law was ever given. Calvin wrote in his work in 1
Corinthians on the text that we are working today, nothing
is recorded in scripture but what is to our advantage to know,
unquote. Nothing is there but what is
profitable unto us. They contain lessons for us that
we might learn. even us so far removed from their
initial occurrence, and written for our admonition, since all
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 2 Timothy chapter 3,
And verse 16, all scripture literally is God-breed, and it is profitable
for doctrine, profitable for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness that the man of God might be
thoroughly furnished thereunto. So you can see that. verse 9. Now beginning with our text here
in 1st Corinthians chapter 10, and to emphasize again two statements
that fall within the text that we have read. The first one would
be in the sixth verse. Now these things were our example. The margin has it, example of
Types are figures. These things were figures or
type are examples unto us. That is the things just mentioned
and the things about to be mentioned. Then the other one is in verse
11. These things happened unto them
for in sample. And again, the margin has types. They are written for our admonition. These things are written. They
happened and they happen typically in a sin. And in the end of verse
6 again, they were written that they might serve a particular
and a good purpose, to the intent that we should not covet. after the example of the evil
desire of some of those in the Old Testament. We should not
crave, we should not want, we should not be longers after evil
things as they craved or desired or longed for. and the judgment
of God fell upon them. Before we go any further, let's
consider our text here in the light of the overall context
of the first Corinthian epistle. Why does Paul include this in
his writing to this letter in this church? What is the connection
to the overall flow of thought and of teaching? What is the
relevance or the relationship of this unto the matter that
is at hand? Now, from the tone of our text,
It is clearly intended to become a combination of both a rebuke
and a warning. A combined rebuke and warning
to the Corinthian assembly concerning their behavior in their professed
practice of Christianity. And the chapter division here,
that is between chapter 9 and chapter 10 does not mean that
a new subject is taken up or that something completely different. As we see in verse 1, moreover,
or far, because it makes a connection to that which has gone before. What has Paul been rebuking them
about? Well, their pride in their sectarian
preacher, their pride in their gifts, And Paul's exhortation
of them to self-denial is strong in chapter 9. He even uses himself
as an example. For example, fall back into chapter
9 and look at verse 26 and 27 so we can see what our text follows
upon. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly,
so fide I, not as one that beateth the air, but I keep under my
body and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when I preach
to others, I myself should become a castaway." Strong language
indeed from the apostle. So in chapter 10, as John Gill
wrote in his commentary, he pursues the thought and he improves the
use of it unto the Corinthians and their particular situation. He shows them that they ought
not to rest in their gifts and to be proud of them. They ought
not rest in their knowledge or in their profession, since their
fathers had all of those high privileges that are mentioned
in verse one through four of chapter 10. They were under the
cloud, they passed through the sea, they were baptized under
Moses, under the cloud, they all ate and drank the same spiritual
thing. And yet look at verse five, but,
Many privileges, but many, that is, with a majority or the most
of them, they had these high privileges, but with a majority
or the most of them, God was not well pleased. Why? Some became
idolaters and were destroyed. In verse 7, some of them committed
fornication and they died. in great numbers. In verse 8,
some tempted God and fiery serpents came among them and bit many
and they died. That's in verse 9. And some murmured
and were destroyed. And that's in verse 10. So that
in verse 11, he drives the point home again unto them. These things happened for examples
unto us. Consider the words of Paul in
Romans chapter 1 and verse 18. For the wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men who hold
the truth in unrighteousness. And just think about the occasion
and examples that we have. There's the flood of Noah. There
is a fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah. There are the different
plagues that God sent among them. The earth swallows up thousands. There is the captivity of the
nation in the Babylonian land. There's the golden calf and the
judgment of God that came upon them because of it. Now these
things are an actual account of historical events and being
written after the fact, that is, after they happen, they serve
as guideposts unto later generations. that we and they might heed the
warning and avoid the judgment or the chastisement of God, that
is, the temporal judgment of God that came upon them because
of their sin. Consider, if you will, an admonition
from the Lord to a question that some Pharisees put unto him in
Luke 17 and verse 20. When should the kingdom of God
come? They demanded of him. Well, he
answers by speaking of some things that happened in the days of
Noah and of Lot. When the people were busy with
the common pursuits of life. They carried on their normal
activity when about their business. They married and they gave in
marriage. They neither heard Noah nor did
they give ear on the righteous lot as he spoke unto them in
Sodom. But judgment came on both occasion
and destroyed them all. The flood came when Noah was
in the ark, fire and brimstone when Lot was brought out of the
land of Sodom. And it seems clear from that
text there in Luke chapter 17 that in this revealing of the
Son of Man there must be something included concerning the coming
destruction of the nation of Jerusalem and the Jewish commonwealth
in the 70th century, as our Lord answers them. Gil put it, to
come and destroy the Jew, their nation, their city, their temple,
and to avenge himself upon them. But now here's the text. or the
warning in Luke 17 and verse 32. Remember Lot's wife. He speaks unto them as they ask
the question, when shall the kingdom of God come and be the
sign of thy appearing? This is the reference to Genesis
chapter 19. when the angels snatched Lot
and his family out of Sodom and commanded them in verse 17, do
not look back behind you. Leave, flee, go. Do not look
back behind you. But we read in that chapter,
in verse 26, that Miss Lott turned, and she looked back, and the
scripture said, and I believe it, she became a pillar of Saul. Soon, as Gil noted, on Luke 17
and 31, they would hear of the Roman army's coming, coming to
siege Jerusalem, and they must leave all their possessions behind. Then comes the exhortation to
remember Lot's wife, who was transformed because she looked
back and because she hesitated, into a pillar when she disobeyed
God and looked back towards Sodom. Whatever be her reason, we could
only surmise. And methinks there is validity
in the view of those who see a double application in the words
of the Lord, a primary one and a secondary application. Number one, of course, it is
to those Jews in that time not to try to salvage their material
possession when the desolation of Jerusalem was imminent. To go, to flee. Don't go back
to the house for this or that or pack your goods. Flee, go. Secondly, the professors of Christianity
in any age. not to turn back to the world
in time of trial or distress. Since our Lord said in Luke chapter
9 verse 62, no man having put his hand onto the plow and looking
back is fit for the kingdom of God. That if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews chapter 10 and
verse 38. Remember that some went back
because of the hard sayings of our Lord and walk no more with
him in John chapter 6 and verse 66. We must know as God spared
not law, apostate. God did not spare those who apostatized
from the law of Moses. Neither will he spare gospel
apostates. And you can read that in Hebrews,
very strong words. Hebrews chapter 10 verse 28 and
verse 29. He that despised Moses' law died
without mercy under two or three witnesses. How much more shall
he be thought worthy of death who hath trodden underfoot the
blood of the covenant, the blood of the Son of God and counted
as nothing the work of the Holy Spirit. We have it again in Hebrews
chapter 2 verse 2 and 3. How much sorer punishment! He that did not hear, and does
not hear the things that were spoken by our Lord, so great
salvation. Now we note something, and that
is that these Hebrew texts that we have referenced are especially
again relevant under the Jew in that day and time. But then
there's another matter that is worthy for us to consider when
using these texts and we're using these Old Testament texts to
make New Testament application. As there are some who say that
the Old Testament God of wrath has morphed into that kind, gently
loving God of the New Testament, so that he will no more send
a universal flood, no more fire and brimstone shall come down
and destroy San Francisco. not open the earth again and
swallow up sinners alive, nor send fiery serpents again among
disobedient people. And though they are visible manifestations
of the wrath of God even under the gospel, yet Methinks that
Calvin has a point when he wrote this in his commentary. Quote,
there is a different kind of punishment today," unquote. Punishment, but of a different
kind. And he goes on to say that the
blessings and also the rewards of the ancient people of God
were for the most part earthly and of the material sort. So
God demonstrated his wrath more by physical punishments in that
day. This is not to say that the faithful
people of God of old lacked knowledge of God or faith in the coming
Redeemer, or lacked knowledge of salvation and everlasting
life to come. They certainly did, by faith,
look forward unto these things. My point is that with the appearance
of Christ and the preaching of the gospel, there came a fuller
revelation than was ever given before. And his wrath, therefore,
may not be as often or as severely manifested or inflicted in our
day. He may not destroy the wicked
by thousands, as he did of old, though some seem in our day to
dare God to judge them and to take ambrance at their behavior. God has left us many examples,
left us many warnings, that when the things of God are trampled
under feet and God is blasphemed, and when people fall into idolatry
and gross open sin, there will be a manifestation of the displeasure
of God. Now, with all that behind us,
let's get the main thought again in our mind, and that is that
many things are written for our admonition. That means that we
ought to pay attention to them when we read them or when we
hear them. 1 Corinthians 10 and 11, for
our example, for our type, By the way, here's a new verse in
Romans chapter 15 and verse 4. Paul says that to them when their
hope is tried. Paul has given them this exhortation
in verse 1 and 2 of that chapter. and used the example of the Lord
in the third verse, then quoted a verse of scripture in the end
of verse 3, found in Psalm 69 and verse 9, and then he adds
what he does so often in his epistle quote from them and appeal
to them to refer to, to make application of them, of what
he called the things that were written before. Meaning, not
the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but the Old Testament
Scripture, for he has just quoted from one of the Psalms, 69 and
verse 9. By the way, I think it is amazing
in the Roman epistle to notice how often the Apostle quotes
from the Old Testament scripture. Boy, if you look at Romans, how
often you find Paul quoting from the Old Testament scripture.
It would be interesting, at what time consuming, to count them. So let's not forget how often
the Lord Jesus Christ himself referred to the Old Testament
writings. And on many occasions, even telling
us things like John 5 and verse 39, that they did bear witness
of him. Search the scripture, he said,
for they bear witness of me. And of course, he's speaking
of the Old Testament scripture. Consider again the destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrah and the city's roundabout of the plain,
and the examples that they are unto others. In 2 Peter 2, verse
6, God condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example
unto those that would after live ungodly. It's mentioned again
in Jude verse 7. Giving themselves over to fornication,
or set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal
fire. With the exception of the flood,
Sodom is probably next as a great example of God's judgment against
the sins that they practice, which was not limited to their
sexual vices, but according to Ezekiel chapter 16 and verse
49, it included such things as fullness of bread, abundance
of idleness, refusal to help the poor and the needy. And concerning
the fire and the brimstone on Sodom, both Peter and Jude set
it forth as an example to any and all that should in later
times live an ungodly, irreverent life, a godless life. Now these
two authors call what God visited upon Sodom examples unto other. And so the question then becomes,
what kind of an example are they? The answer is, not an example
to be imitated. We are to imitate the faith of
Abraham and of the other great saints of God. But these are
not examples to be imitated. They're not examples to be admired. And they're not examples to be
legalized. but to be avoided. They're not
an example of pride, but of shame and of disgrace as we take the
attitude of the scripture. Now, when we think of example,
we can do so from three aspects if we think of it in that light.
When punishments or judgment or the hand of God is heavy or
visited upon another and made to serve as an example in some
way or degree. Examples come in three aspects
or three degrees. We'll look at them very quickly
and be on our way. Number one, for the preservation
and the honor of the one against whom the offense is committed. It can be an example unto them
against the honor of the one against whom they have been committed
in the sense that they are against God. that none sin with impunity
and without regard to judgment, and thereby pouring contempt
upon the dignity, the holiness of God, when they sin flagrantly
against Him, against who all sin is committed. That's an example
unto them. Secondly, it can be an example.
The punishment may be an example to the one suffering the punishment,
and it may lead them away from their former ways. You remember
what David said. I think it's in Psalm 119 and
verse 100 and no, verse 67. Before I was afflicted, I went
astray. But now, Have I kept thy word? Notice the two things. Before
I was afflicted, I went astray, but now have I kept the word. You can see that again in Jeremiah
31 and verse 18 and 19, a scripture of likeness. And then thirdly,
the judgment of God upon the wicked deeds of the offenders
is an example to deter others from the same sin, sin that brought
judgment upon the offenders. I say this third aspect of our
example till last because As William Jenkins wrote in his
commentary on the book of Jude, this is the emphasis most often
of New Testament writer as examples to deter others from following
the bad example of those who suffer judgment in the Old Testament. Now in the text in 1 Corinthians
chapter 10, again, verse six and verse 11, Paul calls those
things our examples, and he makes them personal and specific, taking
note of both the sin and of the punishment. Pardon me while I
run through it again in that light. In verse 7, neither be
ye idolaters as some of them, that is the golden K. What did
God do in Exodus 32, 35? The Lord plagued the people because
of the golden calf. Moses strawed that calf and made
them drink it, and was it bitter. In verse 8, 1 Corinthians 10,
neither commit fornication as some of them, and what happened? 23,000 died in one day. Probably this
is a reference to Numbers chapter 25. Look at verse 9, neither
tempt Christ as some of them did and were destroyed of serpents. You know this is Numbers chapter
21. Verse 10, neither murmur as some
of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer. We believe this is Numbers 14
and verse 37. Now to repeat, these things were
not written for the sake of those who sinned, but in verse six
were our example. Verse 11, written for our admonition. There is an old saying, something
to this effect. Those who forget history are
doomed to repeat it, or something of that sort. Those judgments
of old made a public example of the sins of the people, so
that those who saw and survived, fear God and fear God greatly. Let those who hear of their punishment
upon the ancients eschew that evil and avoid it. Now, concerning example. There
are some 20 references in the Bible to God's judgment upon
Sodom. And I think that emphasizes their
sin as a special one and as a special example unto others. Consider,
though, other examples in the scripture. Jeremiah chapter 7
and verse 12. Go now unto my place, which was
in Shiloh, where I set my name, and at the first see what I did
for the wickedness of my people Israel. Now, Shiloh was sacred
before Jerusalem was, when the ark of God was there at Shiloh
and the tabernacle. Yet for the sins of the people,
Remember the ark of God was taken and carried away captive by the
Philistine and the place forsaken. Again, Deuteronomy 13, concerning
false prophets, Moses has a great lesson. And in verse 10 and 11
of that chapter, and you shall stone him with stones that he
die. And all Israel shall hear and
fear and shall do no more any such wickedness as this among
you. A false prophet was to be brought
and publicly stoned to death that it might be an example and
put the fear of God in the hearts of Israel. With that in our mind,
let's close with three practical applications from this subject
and from these passages of the scripture. Number one, these
things give us a very clear notion of how God views sin. It is not a light thing with
him, as some people would have us believe. And particularly
and especially the sins of idolatry and of apostasy and open rebellion
against God. Let them remember that it is
a fearful thing. to fall into the hands of the
living God. It is a fearful thing when one
falls after a life of sin into the hands of the living God.
Secondly, I believe this lesson is to be learned here, and that
is the incorrigible depravity of man. Do what you will. bring what judgment you will,
God may, and it will not cure the depravity of those that are
witnesses. And in spite of numerous examples
that are monuments to God's hatred of sin, people keep on committing
the same sins and worse and imitating the worst of them, sinning, as
we said last week, without shame. Take for an example, how many
young people they own dope and dope dealers, have seen their
friends murdered or in prison and yet they keep on in that
way of life. You talk to any of them and they'll
tell you how many of their friends have been killed and how many
of them are in prison and they're still doing one and the same
thing. The depravity of man is incorrigible
and the only reign for it is the grace of God. And lastly,
but not leastly, it gives us a fresh appreciation of the Old
Testament scripture. Some people don't pay much attention
to the Old Testament, but how profitable it is. But some have
put it aside as obsolete, done away with, and as having been
fulfilled and of no more use. Well, let's remember that the
New Testament writers treat the Old Testament scripture as being
useful to New Testament believers. So that, as Robert Haldane wrote,
the Old Testament, though under another dispensation, is also
intended for the instruction of New Testament believers as
well. for what is written there, whether
history, or types, or the law, or prophecy, or promises, or
examples, or whatever, is profitable to the people of God forever. They are our example. And so are the things written
in the New Testament. But the Old Testament has not
lost its usefulness unto us. It, too, is the God-breathed
Word of our God.