“Overcoming Temptation”
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
Series: Chaos & Correction (1 Corinthians)
Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD
Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson
•Take your Bibles and join me in 1 Corinthians, chapter 10 (page 772; YouVersion).
We are continuing our series of messages through the Book of 1 Corinthians, preaching our way through Paul’s letter, verse-by-verse. Last week we began chapter 10. Paul had just written in chapter 9 about how Christians are to be like athletes, disciplining themselves to do whatever it takes to win—to win souls to Christ. He says we’re like athletes running a race, and he warns that if we’re not careful we may disqualify ourselves from the race. That is, we may stumble or “run out of bounds” in a way that includes losing our effectiveness as one who influences others for good.
And to illustrate what disqualification looks like, Paul gives a little history lesson at the beginning of chapter 10. From verses 1-13, we were encouraged in 4 ways, encouraged to 1) Learn from the Past (verses 1-5), 2) Live in Purity—that was from verses 6-11 where Paul says don’t fall into the same sins as the nation of Israel; idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and murmuring (or complaining). And then Paul warns us to 3) Look out for our pride, verse 12: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” And the fourth action we mentioned briefly and said we would come back to this, 4) Lay hold of God’s promise—that’s verse 13 where Paul says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful,” and Paul gives this promise about the Christian’s ability to withstand temptation.
So we’re coming back now to this one verse this morning and focusing solely upon it, verse 13, from this one verse we learn how we may overcome temptation. And I really think the specific temptation that Paul has in mind here, given the context, is the temptation to give-in to pressure that leads to the sin of idolatry. That is especially clear given what Paul says right after verse 13—right after verse 13 is, of course verse 14, where Paul says, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
And I think the idea is, “Look, you Corinthians are going to be in social situations where you may feel pressured to partake in these idol feasts, eating with others that indicates your approval of the worshiping of these false gods. You may feel pressured to give-in to the temptation to do something you know is wrong. Don’t give-in.” And so, Paul writes verse 13 which then provides encouragement for overcoming all kinds of temptation.
•Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word:
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.
•Pray.
Introduction:
Most of you know that in virtually any language one word may have more than one meaning. Just think, for example, of the English word spelled “b-o-w.” It could be “bow,” like when one bends forward in a respect greeting. It could be “bow,” like the stick used with a violin—or “bow,” like a ribbon that is tied, or “bow” like a weapon used with an arrow—or still “bow,” like the front of a ship as opposed to the stern. Most words can have multiple meanings.
That’s helpful to remember when we’re studying the New Testament and we come across a word that may be translated more than one way. In the Greek New Testament, there is this one word that can be understood as either a “temptation” or a “trial.” The word is peirasmoß (peirasmos) which can mean either “to test as to make one strong” or “to tempt as to make one sin.” It can take either of those meanings.
If we are using that word in relation to God then the meaning is “to test” because as James tells us in James 1:13, “God does not tempt anyone.” On the other hand, what does Satan do? He tempts us. So when we use this word in relation to God it is understood as a test—something God allows in order to strengthen us—and when the word is used in relation to Satan it is understood as a temptation—something that Satan hopes will cause us to sin.
So whether we should understand the word as a test or a temptation depends on whether we’re talking about God or Satan. God uses trials to make us strong. Satan uses temptation to make us sin. God wants us to “pass” and Satan wants us to “fail.”
So we’re looking at verse 13 and here is this word. In the New King James Version, it is the second word in verse 13 and is translated “temptation.” Satan desires that through temptation we will fail. God doesn’t tempt us, but He allows the temptation—as a trial—to strengthen us. What Satan wishes will make us sin, God desires will make us strong.
Now temptation can take many forms. Just remember the immediate context from last week. God’s people were tempted in the areas of idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God’s patience, and murmuring. People were tempted to sin in these ways back then and people are tempted to sin in these ways today.
In fact, this leads us to our first main truth we all need to remember this morning. Write this down, number one:
1) My Temptation is not Unusual
Paul says in the first part of verse 13:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
That phrase, “such as is common to man,” translates a singular Greek word that means, “that which is human.” In other words, my temptation is not unusual.
Let’s all say that together, “My temptation is not unusual.”
There is no temptation that is unique. Your struggle is similar to the struggle of many persons. Hopefully this will encourage a great number of us.
Whatever your temptations, they are not unique. Are you tempted to greed, idolatry, sexual immorality—fornication, sex outside of marriage, adultery, same-sex attraction—murmuring, your temptation is not unique. Others are tempted in the same ways.
Do you struggle with greed, bitterness, complaining, covetousness or discontent or dissatisfaction? Others are tempted just like you.
Two weeks ago I was in Jackson, Tennessee visiting my younger son in college. And one evening I was leaving the hotel to drive to a restaurant. And as I walked out to the parking lot, I admired again my perfect parking spot right up front and really regretted that I was going to lose that spot. So I got in the car and as I’m getting into my car I see another guy over to my right in a not-so-bad parking space, but not as good as mine. And he’s getting out of his car and beginning to walk to the hotel entrance about the time I’m pulling out of my space. And as I’m pulling out of my space, I notice that he is turning around now and walking back to his car. And I know exactly what he is doing! Only a man can appreciate this: as I’m pulling out of that perfect parking space, this guy is starting up his car and moving it into my space. 10 yards closer! I’ll be that man’s wife thought, “It’s only 10 yards closer!” But every man knows if a parking space is 10 yards closer—it’s 10 yards closer!
You know, that’s a light-hearted story that most people can relate to. And you think, “Man, if that’s the greatest temptation I face then I’ve got it pretty easy.” But I want you to think about how something as silly as that story illustrates a far greater concern, a far deeper matter in our hearts. At the heart of the desire for even the “perfect parking space” is a soul that is unsatisfied.
See the truth is, we’re all tempted and we’re all tested with regard to where our heart is. That’s why idolatry at its very core is the sin of a misplaced heart. Our hearts are not satisfied with Christ. We don’t find joy in Him and so we settle for cheap, tawdry substitutes, always trying to feed our hearts with other things we think will bring contentment—whether it’s stuff, money, sexual immorality, or anything else that brings us the passing pleasures of a second-rate happiness.
But be encouraged. Your temptation is not unusual. Secondly:
2) My Temptation is not Unconquerable
Second part of verse 13:
but God is faithful,
You are not left alone in your temptation. God is with you. He is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way to escape. God is with you in your temptation!
See you may ask, “Well, why does God allow temptation anyway?” Or why is this world so messed-up with sin and evil and temptation to sin and evil. And of course the answer to these questions is found in Genesis chapter 3. We read there of what is called “the Fall of Humankind.” Sin entered the world through temptation, the Tempter in the Garden tempting Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve sinned and thus brought sin into the world.
I cannot say it any better than Eric Alexander who said, “This is not the world as God made it, but the world as sin spoiled it.”
We may wonder why God allowed temptation and sin into this world, but we know ultimately it is for His glory and our good. After all, what kind of god would it be in whom there was no mystery in his ways or works. No mystery! What kind of god would that be? Think of it. Our God is a God who permits question marks that they may lead to exclamation marks. He allows things to happen for good reason.
He works for our good and for His glory. And sometimes we don’t know what’s going on as we’re going through the trial or temptation.
I read recently from Tim Keller’s book, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, about something British shepherds do:
British shepherds often take sheep and rams, one by one, and throw them into a dipping trough, a huge vat filled with an antiseptic liquid. The shepherd must completely submerge each animal [it’s like a baptism!], holding its ears, eyes, and nose under the surface. It is of course horribly frightening for the sheep. And if any of the sheep try to climb out of the trough too soon, the sheepdogs bark and snap and force them back in.
But as terrifying an experience as it is for the sheep, without this periodic treatment, they would become the victims of parasites and disease. It is for their good.
You think about that. Sometimes God allows things to happen to us and we go through the waters of trial and temptation and we’re like, “Where is God in all of this?!” And we must remember He is there. God is faithful. He’s got you. He’s strengthening you in this trial. He’s making you more like Jesus through your temptation. He knows what He’s doing and He’s going to bring you up out of that water and you’re going to be okay. It’s for your good. He’s making you strong. God is doing that.
Our temptation is not unusual. And our temptation is not unconquerable.
3) My Temptation is not Unbearable
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.
Two truths here about our temptation:
a) I can endure it
b) I can escape it
I can endure it. See, God knows how much we can take. Think of how God works through your trials and temptations to strengthen you.
Athletes often use personal trainers. And a trainer or a coach pushes the athlete in order to become stronger. The trainer pushes and pushes and encourages and pushes—he doesn’t push the athlete beyond his or her ability and the trainer knows how much that athlete can take, but often that athlete himself doesn’t even realize his own ability to withstand and his or her own ability to stretch, to grow, and to strengthen—and so to become the person he or she can be.
God is making you to be like Jesus. God is pushing, encouraging, training—He is allowing temptation in your life to strengthen you, to make you like His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28-29).
God knows what He is doing and He knows how much you can take. Your temptation is not unbearable. You can endure it. Trust Him. You can endure it.
And you escape it. Now, by “escape” we don’t mean that you can avoid temptation altogether. It’s not like there’s this escape hatch that allows us to avoid all difficulties.
We will all be tempted and tried. But the point Paul makes here in verse 13 is that we can escape through the temptation. That is, our temptation does not have to lead to sin. My temptation does not have to lead to sin.
Say that with me, “My temptation does not have to lead to sin.”
Jerry Vines used to say, “Temptation is Satan looking in at you through the keyhole; sin is when you open the door and let him in.”
Your temptation does not have to lead to sin. Sin is not the unavoidable consequence of temptation. Jesus was tempted in all points as we are and yet He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). When Jesus tempted in the wilderness, He didn’t go, “Man, My temptation is unusual! I just can’t handle it!” He didn’t offer an excuse and give-in to temptation. His temptation did not lead to sin.
By the way, what did Jesus do when He was tempted those three times in the wilderness? What did Jesus do when the Tempter, when Satan tempted Him three different times to sin? What did Jesus quote? He quoted Scripture.
So in my study this week, in my notes, this is what I wrote down: “When I am tempted to excuse my sin by thinking my temptation to be unique, I will bring my excuse to the truth.” I will take my excuse to the truth of Scripture.
Whatever temptation you face, there is a truth to counter it.
You are tempted to think lustful thoughts and feel you can’t control yourself, take your excuse to the truth and hear the Word, “Take every thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).”
You are tempted to greed and feel overcome by the lure of stuff, take your excuse to the truth and hear the Word say you can learn to be content in all things (Philippians 4:11).
You’re tempted to find joy and satisfaction elsewhere, take your excuse to the truth and hear the Psalmist in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
You feel somehow you are not capable of overcoming temptation. Take that excuse to the truth. Christian, you are “in Christ.” John 8:36 says, “If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed.” Christ has broken the power of sin and you have freedom over that sin. You have been set free from sin’s enslavement. You don’t have to give-in. You have power over that sin—not your own power—but Holy Spirit power within you. Believe it. You are free. You can escape.
Walk in God’s power and overcome temptation.
•Stand for prayer.
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