1 CORINTHIANS LESSON 15


     We will begin this lesson in I Corinthians 10:1 "Moreover,
brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our
fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;"

     Paul is showing them how the crossing in the middle of the sea
was symbolic of water baptism. This, also, shows that God provided a
cover for all the Hebrews. His smoke and fire was with them, leading
them and protecting them. Even though all partook of God in this way
and were even symbolically baptized in the Red sea, some of them fell
into idolatry. Paul had this Israelite heritage. He, also, was
familiar with the fact that all who have faith in God are Abraham's
seed. He knew that the wandering forty years in the wilderness formed
a people for God. It, also, established the law. We learned in the
Leviticus study that the law had to exist before the grace was
established. The Christian's were actually founded in the law of God
and given grace through belief in Jesus Christ. The law was our
schoolmaster to make us realize our need for a Saviour.

     I Corinthians 10:2 "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud
and in the sea;"

     They went down into the Red Sea as dead men and came out to new
life on dry ground on the other side. That is what baptism really is.
We bury the old flesh man in the watery grave, and rise to new life in
Christ. The cloud and the crossing of the Red sea were both a type and
shadow of water baptism.

     I Corinthians 10:3 "And did all eat the same spiritual meat;"

     The Manna, and the water that flowed from the Rock, both
symbolized the Lord Jesus Christ. It, also, symbolized the Lord's
Supper. Jesus told them except they eat of His flesh and drink of His
blood, you have no life in you. John 6:53 "Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of
man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."  The Manna
symbolized Jesus' body, which was the Bread of life. The following
Scripture is printed in Red in the Bible, which means that Jesus spoke
the Words. John 6:51 "I am the living bread which came down from
heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the
bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of
the world."  Verse 3 above is speaking of the Bread of Life {Manna}.

     I Corinthians 10:4 "And did all drink the same spiritual drink:
for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that
Rock was Christ."

     Paul leaves no doubt at all who the Rock was. This is why it was
so terribly important to strike the Rock for the first miracle flow of
water, and was equally important to speak to the Rock the second time.
The striking of the Rock symbolized the crucifixion of Jesus. The
wonderful thing about this Rock gushing forth water, is that there was
sufficient water which came forth to quench the thirst of nearly 3
million people. Look, with me, at that spiritual water in the next two
verses.  John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall
give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall
be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John
6:35 "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh
to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst." In both of the Scriptures, Jesus was speaking.

     I Corinthians 10:5 "But with many of them God was not well
pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness."

     This shows, that even though a person has been baptized and
protected by the Lord, it is possible to fall back into idolatry. It
is very important to be baptized, but we must have faith to continue
with the Lord. Abraham's faith was counted unto him for righteousness.
Without faith, it was impossible for them to please God, and without
faith, it is impossible for us to please God.

     I Corinthians 10:6 "Now these things were our examples, to the
intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted."

     We can learn from their mistakes, if we will. They murmured
against God over and over. It seemed they were never satisfied.

     I Corinthians 10:7 "Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of
them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose
up to play."

     This is speaking of the time when Moses had gone to meet with God
and get the tables of the ten commandments. They really had no excuse,
because God had spoken to them from the mountain and given them orally
the ten commandments, even before Moses went to get them on the tables
of stone. They believed something had happened to Moses, and they had
Aaron to form them a golden calf to worship. The problem with these
people, and with those caught up in false worship today, is that they
wanted a god they could see with their physical eyes to worship. God
is Spirit. If you can see something with your physical eye, it is part
of God's creation. It is not God.

     I Corinthians 10:8 "Neither let us commit fornication, as some of
them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand."

     "Fornication" in this verse, means to act the harlot, or to lust
for either sex. This is mentioned by Paul over again, here, to remind
them of the error of the worship of Aphrodite which was associated
with all types of evil sex in their temple. There were literally
thousands of prostitutes working in this blasphemous temple. This
false religion was a very evil sensual religion. God had forbidden the
marrying of the heathen to the Hebrews, but they did not listen, and
they were involved in a very similar situation to these in Corinth,
who worshipped Aphrodite. God killed 24,000 in one day for this sin.
You may read more about this in Numbers chapter 25. It is just a
clerical discrepancy in the 23,000 here and the 24,000 there. The
number is unimportant. The lesson is important. God will not put up
with fornication, and especially in the church.

     I Corinthians 10:9 "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them
also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents."

     We can read of this in the 21st chapter of numbers. I will give
just one Scripture here that shows the Lord sent serpents when they
spoke against God and Moses. Numbers 21:6 "And the LORD sent fiery
serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of
Israel died."  "Tempt", in verse 9, above means to test thoroughly.
They had questioned God over and over. It is very dangerous to test
God, as they found out.

     I Corinthians 10:10 "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also
murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer."

     Murmuring was very displeasing to God. Paul had said that he had
learned to be content in whatever condition he was in at the moment.
Possibly, this was added, because they had sent a letter speaking
negative things about Paul. You remember, that this letter is in
answer to problems they were complaining about.

     I Corinthians 10:11 "Now all these things happened unto them for
ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the world are come."

     Paul is telling them to study the Word of God and learn from the
mistakes of others. Do not be so stiffnecked, that they had to learn
the hard way. The end of the world is a statement that actually means
the end of the ages, or the end of the Gentile age. Paul felt that the
return of the Lord was near.

     I Corinthians 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fall."

     This is just saying, don't be so proud that you can not learn.
Learn from others mistakes, so you will not make the same mistake
yourself. Paul is saying, be ever conscious of yourself. Examine your
own self, so the Lord will not have to. Purge the sin out of your
life.

     I Corinthians 10:13 "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]."

     Just because we live in a different age than these Corinthians
did, and they lived in a different age than the people who wandered in
the wilderness 40 years, it does not mean that our temptations are
different. Temptation is always the same. The flesh has been warring
against the spirit since Adam and Eve. Jesus even faced the same
temptations that you and I face each day. The difference in Jesus, and
all the rest of mankind, is that He did not fall to temptation. He was
without sin. All the rest of us fall into the category of this
following Scripture. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God;" There is a way out that we can use to keep us
from sinning. Jesus was our example. Every time He was tempted He
quoted the devil a Scripture. We must say, also, it is written and
then give the Scripture. We are in the flesh, and sometimes we sin.
There is a way out, even if we sin,  and it is found in the following
Scripture.  I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." Stand against the devil, quote the Word to him, and
he will flee from you.

     I Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from
idolatry."

     This is probably some of the best advice Paul could give in this
city where idolatry was everywhere. Paul says, run the other way from
idolatry. This is very good advice for us today, too.

     I Corinthians 10:15 "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I
say."

     Paul reminds them here, that they were wise enough to line up
with those who know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. He
expresses strongly that they must take heed to his teachings, if they
are to remain in good standing with the Lord. Think this out
carefully, before you do any of these worldly things.



























                      1 Corinthians 15 Questions


1.  Who is Paul speaking of in verse 1 when he says, all?
2.  What two things had they all done?
3.  What was crossing in the middle of the Red Sea symbolic of?
4.  What two things did the smoke and fire do for these Israelites?
5.  What did the wandering in the wilderness for the forty years form?
6.  They went down to the Red Sea as _______ ___.
7.  They came out on the other side to ___ _____.
8.  What was the spiritual meat?
9.  The water from the Rock and the Manna symbolized whom?
10. Quote John chapter 6 verse 53.
11. Who was the Bread?
12. Quote John chapter 6 verse 51.
13. Why was it so important to strike the Rock the first time, and to
    speak to the Rock the second time, to get water for the people?
14. What does verse 5 show us about being baptized?
15. Now these things were our __________.
16. What particular time, in the wanderings of the Israelites, was
    verse 7 speaking of?
17. Why were they without excuse?
18. Where was Moses when this happened?
19. Why must we not worship things we can see with our physical eye?
20. What does fornication, in verse 8, mean?
21. What false goddess was worshipped here at Corinth?
22. How was it connected to fornication?
23. Verse 8 says God killed how many in one day for committing
    fornication?
24. Some were destroyed of ________, when they tempted God.
25. Quote Numbers chapter 21 verse 6.
26. What did Paul do that was the opposite of murmuring?
27. Why did these things happen to them?
28. What was meant by "the end of the world"?
29. What lesson can we learn from verse 12?
30. When we are tempted, what will God do for us?
31. Quote Romans chapter 3 verse 23.
32. Who was Paul speaking to in verse 14?
33. What did Paul call them in verse 15?