Ways of Escape and Faithfulness #2455

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:12–13, NKJV).

This passage teaches significant points of truth for our benefit. It warns Christians of the possibility and danger of falling away from the living God while comforting us with assurances of God’s faithfulness when tempted to sin (Heb. 3:12-13). Please see the contrast between trusting in oneself when tempted and trusting in God. Pride’s arrogance puts people on the precipice of spiritual disaster (v. 12). We must stand fast in the Lord and not think we are sufficient in ourselves to stand the onslaught of temptations (Eph. 6:10; Gal. 6:3; 2 Cor. 3:5). Jesus cautioned that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41). But like Peter’s bold boast that he would not deny Jesus, we trust in ourselves when we fail to look for and use the paths of escape from temptation’s snares (Matt. 26:33-35). Peter could have resisted the temptations to deny Jesus, but he failed to use the ways of escape before him (Matt. 26:58, 69). God is faithful. He gives us ways to escape (bear up against) temptation. We cannot rightfully blame God when we yield to temptation and sin. We, not Him, are unfaithful when we yield to temptation and sin against our God (James 1:12-16).

“I Declare To You The Gospel” #1928

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:1–2, NKJV)

The gospel is God’s power to save the lost (Rom. 1:16). No other message has such power. Since all have sinned, every one of us needs its power to save us from sin, and the eternal death sin brings (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). To grasp the preeminence of the gospel message and its impact on our lives, the apostle certifies its pertinent features in today’s text. 1) The gospel is preached. It is a constant and fixed message, unchanged by the whims and foibles of men (1 Cor. 1:18-25). 2) The gospel is received. Believers do not keep it at arm’s length; they embrace it and thoroughly associate themselves with its converting power (Rom. 12:2). 3) We are to stand in the gospel. It is not a one-off message to be initially believed and then laid aside. We must continue in it, living by its guidance and truth (Col. 2:6-7). 4) The gospel saves us if we hold it fast. The gospel teaches us to keep on living by the gospel, holding to it as the pattern for our lives (Acts 2:42; 2 Thess. 2:15). The word “if” in verse two is huge. If we do not hold fast the word of the gospel, our faith is vain, idle, and useless. Yes, if we choose not to be faithful to the gospel, our faith fails, and we are lost – not because the gospel is weak or powerless, but because we cast it aside for sin. Believe and faithfully follow the gospel, and its power will save you.