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Response
The apostle Paul recognized the importance of learning from the past. In 1 Corinthians 10, he recounted events from Israel’s history to offer insights into spiritual truths and caution against sin. Paul desired his audience to grasp, as Israel had, that spiritual arrogance can be deceptive and self-reliance can lead to downfall: “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” «Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. », (1 Corinthians 10:12, ESV).
To take heed means “to be cautious, vigilant, or watchful.” The term stands in verse 12 denotes “maintaining one’s position firmly or being resolute.” Paul portrays someone who believes they are secure in their faith but is actually overconfident and self-deluded. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” states 1 Corinthians 10:12 in the New International Version.
The apostle Peter famously declared his unwavering commitment to Christ: “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death,” he proclaimed «And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. », (Luke 22:33). Jesus’ response was solemn: “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me” (verse 34). In essence, Peter, beware lest you stumble. Shortly after, Jesus instructed Peter, James, and John, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” «Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. », Matthew 26:41.
“Be cautious not to stumble” is a caution to those in the church who are confident in their own righteousness. These individuals should be vigilant as they may be on the verge of stumbling just as the Israelites transgressed in the wilderness. God was displeased with the Hebrew people due to their excessive self-assurance, lack of reliance on Him, and the wicked desires in their hearts. Consequently, “their bodies were scattered in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:5-10).
The author of Hebrews issued a similar warning: “Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, causing you to drift away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-13;ESV).
These passages are not meant to be seen as proof texts for the idea that we can forfeit our salvation. Instead, they address those who may believe they are saved but, in reality, may not be. Jesus Himself warned, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
Paul cautioned that, just as the Israelites encountered trials in the wilderness, New Testament believers would also face challenges and tests in this world: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can bear. When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Lay out so that you can endure” «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. », (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT).
Sometimes we feel like our individual struggles are unique or beyond anyone else’s ability to grasp, but Scripture says trials are “common to man” «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. », (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV). Moreover, “He who calls you is faithful,” says 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (ESV;see also 1 Corinthians 1:9,18). We can rely on the Lord to provide a way of escape or the strength to endure the test. He knows what we can and cannot handle.
Often the “way out” is simply to stand up under the test while God works to strengthen and mature our faith: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4;NLT).
One difference between true and false believers is that God keeps His own from falling away. He will bring them with great joy into His glorious eternal presence «Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, », (Jude 1:24). Jesus Christ is the vine in whom we must abide (John 15:1-17). Because of His death on the cross and resurrection to life, we are positionally secure (1 Peter 1:3-12). In Jesus Christ alone, we stand firm (Romans 4:25; Romans 5:1-2; John 10:28).
We, like the Corinthians, can learn from the past. Paul’s caution to “take heed lest you fall” calls believers of every generation to avoid becoming overconfident in our spiritual merit. The only way to stand firm in the faith is to be born again of God’s Spirit (John 3:1-8) through faith in Jesus Christ and to depend wholly on His saving grace to keep us from falling (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).
