Falling from Mount Everest

The world was at my fingertips. I had finally conquered education. I knew all that there was to know. I could go and make my way in the world. Sure, I was going to college, but they weren’t going to teach me anything radically earth-shattering. I had the basic knowledge of anything I needed.

I had arrived. It’s amazing the perspective of someone when they are 18 versus the perspective when their brain actually matures.

Something starts happening when we turn 25, which slowly grows and takes over. We start realizing how much we don’t know. We start realizing that we have not arrived. And if we don’t realize that soon enough, we start realizing how much of a mess we have made of our lives.

The Corinthians thought that they had arrived because they were saved. They had all the knowledge that they needed. They had the Holy Spirit. They couldn’t do anything wrong. They couldn’t believe wrong. They were good.

Unfortunately, their lives, their daily testimony showed the opposite. Continually, throughout this letter, Paul is trying to convince the Corinthians of the truth he present specifically in this passage. Our daily testimony should be inline with our salvation. Which does not come naturally, nor immediately.

Let’s read the passage:

1 Corinthians 10:1–13 NIV

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Our daily testimony should be in line with our salvation. Let’s pray.

1. Salvation Is Not Sanctification

The Corinthians thought that they were good, because they were saved. They had turned to Jesus in faith. They were not trusting in their good works. They had followed the formula. So, what’s the big deal. Paul, I have arrived at holiness.

Paul says, “Nope. You are far from it.” We have already discussed the Corinthian’s pride. Their lack of love. Their sexual immorality. And we could keep going down the laundry list. Yes, they were saved, but their lives did not show it.

Salvation is not sanctification

A. Salvation reconciles us with God

So what is salvation? Salvation is a way to reconcile us with God. God created humanity to have a close relationship with him. However, we chose to go our own way. We chose to live for ourselves and not him. We chose to become his enemies.

When Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the Garden of Eden, humanities ability to have a relationship with their creator was destroyed.

Picture a beautiful dress ripped. It cannot be worn until it is repaired. Reconciliation is when you line up the two side to match and then you sew them together.

If you think about budgets. Reconciliation is when you look at your bank statement and your house records. You work through them, adding to your house records, until finally everything matches.

Reconciliation with friends is when you line up both people, so that they understand and agree about what happened, and their friendship is restored. Normally that requires a mediator and some restitution.

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 NIV

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Jesus Christ died that we might have a restored relationship with God. That we might be reconciled. What we did to God was too great for us to handle on our own. We needed a mediator and we needed someone to pay our restitution. Jesus died to pay our debt. Through him, we can approach God again, not in fear, but as a friend.

Salvation reconciles us with God.

C. Neither removes God’s discipline

Salvation takes care of our eternal punishment. In Christ, we are guaranteed to live forever in eternity on this earth. As John said: Even so come quickly Lord Jesus!

Sanctification takes care of our temporal punishment. You see, Scripture is clear that God disciplines those he loves.

Hebrews 12:5–6 NIV

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

We as humans don’t really stop doing bad things unless we realize the consequences, or the seriousness of our actions.

I remember some situations when I was taught about the seriousness of my actions. I did something wrong and my dad sent me to my room to reflect on the evilness of my life, and he was going to follow to impress on my body the evilness of my life. I got the bright idea of locking my door so he couldn’t come it. Little did I know that he could unlock that door. And he convinced very well to never do that again. I understood the seriousness of my actions. To further convince me, he reversed the door handles so that I could never do it again, in case I had forgotten the lesson in the moment of passion.

Paul tells the Corinthians about the Israelites. They possessed everything that the Corinthians claimed to have. They had experienced God’s miraculous salvation. They had been identified with God through baptism. They participated in a form of communion. They were following the direction and provision of Jesus Christ. But, they refused to align their lives with the holiness of God.

So, Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Everyone over the age of 20, except Caleb and Joshua, were killed because of their disobedience.

This is not speaking of loss of salvation. This is speaking of discipline. God protects his holiness, and when someone refuses to reflect his holiness, God will discipline them. This doesn’t mean that God is a sniper and whenever we do something wrong he will knock us off.

It does mean that he might reverse the handles on our door so that we won’t do it again. It does mean that pain might happen to remind us of the seriousness of our actions.

God desires our holiness. Those who have turned to Jesus will pursue his holiness, or they will face God’s discipline.

Salvation is not sanctification.

B. Sanctification sets us apart

Sanctification literally means: set apart as holy.

When we turn to Jesus in faith, we are set apart for the service of God. Paul calls it being slaves of God.

Romans 6:22 NIV

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Before Christ, we lived for ourselves. After Christ, we are living for him, for his purposes, for his desires. He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit, who works in us what is pleasing to God.

As the author of Hebrews writes:

Hebrews 13:20–21 NIV

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Peter said it this way, definitely, more bluntly:

1 Peter 1:15–16 NIV

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Salvation speaks to the state of our soul. Sanctification speaks to the state of our life. One cannot be sanctified unless they are saved. If you have never turned to Jesus in faith, you cannot be holy like he is.

On the flip side, there are plenty of people who are saved, but who are not pursuing sanctification.

Which brings us to this point:

2. Sanctification Is Not Immediate

Let’s think about the Israelites. Paul says that they are examples to the Corinthians and to us.

1 Corinthians 10:6–12 NIV

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

The Israelites left Egypt under the powerful hand of God. They experienced God’s miracles in a way that we never have. And then, God led them to Mount Sinai. He spoke to them. He gave them his law, requiring their holiness, so that the nations around could see him through the Israelites.

Of anyone, you would think that they would immediately snap to attention. They would immediately say: yeah, we are going to follow you God!

But just like Adam and Eve, basically to God’s face, said: We are going to do our own thing, so the Israelites did. While Moses was getting the Law, the Israelites were creating idols and celebrating through orgies.

As Paul said, they were idolaters, sexually immoral, grumblers, testers of God.

They suffered discipline for their actions. Thousands died in the wilderness every time they grossly disobeyed God. But, they still didn’t learn.

We could stand back, shake our heads, and say: “Oh, Israelites, we would so do better.”

You see, while the Israelites experienced the miracles of God in a way that we never have.

We have experienced the miracles of God in a way that they never have. They saw God save them physically. We get to see him save us spiritually. To take us who were spiritually dead, and raise us up to newness of life.

Therefore, if we have experienced that, we have seen God’s miraculous hand, obviously we wouldn’t so quickly turn away from him. Obviously, we would change right away.

But as Paul says:

1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

I need a volunteer. Thank you!

How hard would it be to walk around the sanctuary?

Now, how hard would it be to walk around the sanctuary with your eyes blindfolded? Let’s try it.

Whenever we think: Oh, I am good. I’m saved. I’ve got everything together. I don’t need to change anything. We have placed a blindfold on our eyes. And we so easily follow in the footsteps of Adam and Eve, the Israelites, the early church, our parents. Basically, anyone who is human.

Sanctification is not immediate. It is a process of continually humbling ourselves to God, saying:

Psalm 51:10 NIV

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

We realize that we have a relationship with the creator of the universe, so we pursue that relationship. constantly confessing the words to the hymn:

Lord I need you, every hour I need you.

Through that relationship we are renewed to be like him.

It is a journey. We cannot say that we have arrived in sanctification, until we finally reach eternity.

Until then, we are either moving toward Jesus Christ and his cross, or we are moving away from him. Which direction are you going?

Salvation is not sanctification. Sanctification is not immediate.

3. God’s Faithfulness is Enduring

After a long passage of warning the Corinthians about their life and actions, he brings in a word of comfort. One of the most famous verses in 1 Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Paul reminds the Corinthians about God’s faithfulness.

You see, we are fickle. We so easily are swayed to leave the path of following Christ, by all the stuff in life.

I think about Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan. Christian and Faithful are on thsir way to the Celestial City. They travel through Vanity Fair, and are tempted by all the stuff, the worldliness, the immorality, the greed.

1 John 2:16 NIV

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

And they were tempted! Many a pilgrim had stopped there and forgotten their journey to the Celestial City.

Christian and Faithful refused to be distracted. Faithful was burned for his faith. Christian was thrown into jail, and after a period of time, escaped. They both declared they would not turn aside and pursue what the world would offer because their focus was on Jesus Christ.

Fictional story, but one that is relived every day by Christians around the world. Too often, we are not like Christian and Faithful, but like so many others who turn aside at the sparkling things of this life.

We are not faithful. We so easily fall. But God is faithful.

Paul writes to Timothy

2 Timothy 2:11–13 NIV

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

When I was in high school and college, I turned to these verses every day. I was shocked by my sins and wonder why I turned over and over to my addictions. Why could I not get freedom? Would God give up on me?

Scripture consistently teaches that God is not human. His character is not ours. While we are faithless, God shines ever faithful.

Because of his faithfulness, as we pursue him, he gives us strength through turmoil.

How does he give us that strength?

A. He Provides a Barrier

Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

God provides a barrier. Whatever the situation, God makes sure that we are not given more than we can handle.

I think about Peter on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion.

Jesus looks at him and says:

Luke 22:31–32 NIV

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter was going to be brought through a time worse than anything in the whole world. He ends up denying Jesus. We would say that he failed. We would say that he was led through something worse than he could handle.

But, what did Jesus pray: that his faith may not fail. And his faith didn’t. Momentarily, it did. But, he turned back and he strengthened his brothers. Peter did not face something that would rip him completely from his faith.

Yes, we are faithless, but God’s faithfulness is enduring.

He provides a barrier.

B. He provides a way out

In the barrier, there is a gate. Whatever we are facing, whatever is trying to pull us away from the cross of Christ into a life of faithlessness, a life that is not in line with our salvation, we have a way out through Jesus Christ. The trial will not last forever.

Salvation is not sanctification. Sanctification is not immediate. God’s faithfulness is enduring.

4. Let Our Endurance Mimic His

We must talk about the way out.

When we are sitting on the fence of sanctification, being tempted to put our toes in all those things which are not in line with the cross of Christ, whether it is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life.

There is sometimes when the way out is fleeing from the trial. We remove ourselves from it. If we think about certain temptations, we flee them. Like Joseph fled Potipher’s wife. Like Paul writes to Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:22 NIV

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Or, as he will write to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 10:14 NIV

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

However, in the verse, the way out is something different. He says:

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

The way out of the trial or temptation is not a removal of it, but an ability to endure it until the end comes.

We live in a society that wants peace. But, we look for it in all the wrong places. We look for it in substances, in technology, in rest, in escapes. We look for it in easyness.

God says: find rest in me. Grab onto my faithfulness. Cling tight to who I am, so that who I am bleeds through you. As we focus on him, we start having his endurance.

We realize that the way out is not a door, but a panel that we can reach through and grab our savior’s hand. And we keep going.

Why? Because we want our daily testimony to match our salvation.

The Israelites gave up. And they died in the wilderness. The Corinthians gave up and lost their testimony.

Our endurance, our faithfulness, should mimic Christ’s.

What do people see when they look at us?

Do they see someone who lives in Neligh, or another town? Do they see a farmer or a business man? Do they see someone who cares about politics, who is scared about what the future will bring?

What do they see?

Do they see someone who is saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and who is trying every minute of every day to show him to those around them?

Are we someone who keeps setting our hearts on evil things? Or are we someone who strives to have their daily testimony match our salvation?