"Take Heed Lest YOU Fall"

"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

One person has rightly said, “Sin will take you further than you wanted to go; keep you longer than you wanted to stay; and cost you more than you than you wanted to pay.” Sin is serious. Sin kills. Regardless, if you think so or not, God takes sin much more serious than we do. Sin is disobedience to God's perfect will and Word for our lives. Sin is everything that refuses to conform to His perfect will. Sin is so serious that we as human beings have been separated from our Creator due to our parent’s sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Sin is so serious that God the Son was forshaken by God the Father on the cross to make the way for sinners to be reconciled to Himself. We live in a culture today that doesn't even blush, let alone embarrassed over its sin. We live in a world today that is actively hostile toward God daily. I pray you sense the immense seriousness of sin.

Hence, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to correct theological and ecclesiological (doctrine of the church) misunderstandings. Corinth was the heart of an important trade route in the ancient world. And like most cities that thrive on trade, Corinth was known for its sexual immorality, religious diversity, and corruption. The Corinthian culture was evil, wicked, and ungodly in every way much like our country today. Paul exhorted them to be watchful in the temptations that await them, not to be boastful in themselves lest they fall.

Therefore, Paul encourages them to abstain from succumbing to various sins by pointing them to the past. And he does this by showing them their father's sins in the Old Testament and how some even failed to please God and was "overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Cor.10:5). He reminded the Corinthians some of their relatives were not pleasing to God because of their sin. He pointed out the sins that can so easily consume them: "idolatry, sexual immorality, and the testing of God by grumbling and complaining." Paul wrote, "they were written down, in the Old Testament, as a reminder and instruction” for us not to sin in the same way as they did. Why? Because we are often easily persuaded since we are followers of Christ that we are good to go. I said the prayer, got baptized and joined the church. We escape hell and all is good. However, Paul warns them and us today, when you "think you stand" you better watch out! Because your fall could be right around the corner.

With that said; Here is a few questions we should ask ourselves concerning our standing before God: 

1. As a Christian, do you still need the gospel that you say saved you? 

The answer is "yes!" “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

The believer is still in need of God's gospel each day. Why? Because it's the gospel that reveals our sinfulness. It's the gospel that reveals the holiness of God, our wretchedness, and Christ's gracious act of substituting himself on the cross for sinners. It is the gospel which keeps us humble and on our knees. It is the gospel that reveals our right standing with God on the basis of His Son’s work on the cross and not something we do. Thus, Christians are to preach the gospel to themselves daily. "Take heed, lest YOU fall."

2. As a Christian, should my sins affect me on a daily basis?

The answer is "yes!" "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8). If God the Holy Spirit is not convicting you daily of your sins then you are not a Christian. For every true believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit as a gift of God’s grace to His elect. And the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and conform us more into the image of Christ. If you are not bothered by your sin, regardless if it's idolatry, drunkenness, sexual immorality, gossiping, lying, stealing, or laziness then you have a bigger problem. It may be the reason you are not convicted is that you are not a believer. Your sin should convict you to where you confess your sin and flee to Christ forgiveness. “Take heed lest YOU fall.”

3. As a Christian, do you still need to repent daily?

The answer is "yes!" "If we confess (keep on confessing) our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). What is repentance? "Saving repentance is a gospel grace in which those who are made aware by the Holy Spirit of the many evils of their sin, by faith in Christ humble themselves for it with godly sorrow, hatred of it, and self-loathing. Repentance MUST continue throughout our lives, because of the body of death and its activities. So it is everyone's duty to repent of each specific, known sin specifically" (1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith: Repentance to Life and Salvation). In other words, Repentance is the life of every true Christian. The Puritan, Thomas Watson wrote, “Repentance is a grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed.” If there is no inward humbling and outward reformation in your life than you are not a Christian. "Take heed, lest YOU fall."

4. As a Christian, is there an escape from the temptation of my sin?

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The answer is "yes!" Thankfully, Paul reminds us God provides "the way of escape" from the temptation of sin. William Hendriksen wrote, "God sets limits to human temptations and He himself comes to help his people during their trials." Thus, God becomes the believers way of escape. It is God's ever-abiding faithfulness that see His people through their trials and causes them to prevail. Paul says that with every temptation, God provides the way out. The question is; Are you looking for the way out or a way to indulge your flesh and enjoy your sin? "Take heed lest YOU fall."