QT 24 Feb 16, 1 Cor 10:6-13, Watch how you live because he has called us to be witnesses

1 Corinthians 10:6–13 (RSV)

6 Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil 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 rose up to dance.” 8 We must not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

NOTE: "What is the purpose of the OT law if we are no longer under the law?" This is one of the questions of those who want to believe that we are under the OT law, and one of the reasons for the law is answered in this passage. There are at least 9 reasons for the OT law (that I have found), and Arnold Fruchtenbaum does a great job explaining five in his article (http://www.arielm.org/dcs/pdf/mbs006m.pdf) concerning the OT Law's applicability. In this passage, Paul tells us that the law provides a warning to us. Yes, we are saved, as were the OT saints, but intentional and habitual sin can lead to discipline (the book of Hebrews suggests physical death). We cannot lose our salvation, for then salvation would depend upon works, but we can suffer for our sin. And we can suffer in two ways. The first is the natural consequences of doing something stupid, ie, there are usually reasons you do not engage in certain behaviors. God does not promise to protect us from our stupidity, although I have noticed him do that for me on occasion. Secondly, if our witness is affected by our actions, God has every right as a Father to protect the family name by disciplining us or, in the most extreme circumstances, calling us home, as occurred in the stories in 1 Corinthians 10 above. We live here on earth, not for our enjoyment and pleasure, although that is certainly possible within the will of God, but our primary purpose is to serve God and to glorify Him with our lives.