holbeck

Every human being knows the seducing power of temptation. Some temptations are more subtle in their approach and can be easily yielded to if their nature is not apparent. So how can we learn to overcome temptation? 

St Paul in this chapter, 1 Corinthians 10,  has already described how the Israelites, having been released from bondage in Egypt were faced with difficult circumstances. He reminds the Corinthians of some of the Israelites’ behaviour that led Yahweh to allow many of them to be overthrown in the wilderness. He instances their desire for evil [v.6], shown in their idolatry, their sexual immorality, and their putting Christ to the test. [vs.7-9]. Their grumbling brought their destruction. [v.10].

Corinth was a place where evil was rampant. In fact, there was a term at the time [“to corinthianize”], which meant doing evil. There would have been many temptations of various kinds to those who lived there. So St Paul wrote to encourage the believers to realise that temptation could be overcome. We look at what he wrote to them.

1Corinthians 10:13-14, “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. 14  Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” ESV.

We note four things in these verses.

1].       TEMPTATION IS UNIVERSAL, AFFECTING ALL PEOPLE. VERSE 13

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.”

 Every human ever born faces temptations. The reason we’re tempted is because of internal desires. Temptations in and of themselves are not evil. We know this because Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The problem comes when we give in to our desires. But being tempted is not sin. It is only as we yield to temptation that we sin. 

2].       GOD LIMITS THE POWER OF TEMPTATION. VERSE 13

“God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability”

The question that arises is this, ”Does God tempt us.” The answer is decidedly No! As James wrote in his epistle, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” 1:13-14.

However God may allow humans to be tempted in His permissive will when it helps to fulfil His purposes. For example, when one faces temptation and overcomes it, it strengthens that person and makes them realise that temptations can indeed be overcome.  God knows all about us. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. His promise to humans is that He is faithful and will not allow any temptation to come upon us that He knows is beyond our ability to deal with. 

3].       GOD MAKES PROVISION FOR US TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION. VERSE 13

“but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

 The Greek word for “way of escape” is [ekbasis]. It comes from [ek]  meaning “out of” and [basis] meaning the foot, or the step taken, that is, to walk out. The “way” is not described here but God knows what is the best method of rescuing His servants when they are faced with temptation.

One example from early in my time as Leader of the Healing Ministry in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney. I received a letter in the mail from a young fellow who said that a few weeks before he was walking down George Street [where the Cathedral is situated] to go to the Sydney Harbour bridge to jump over to commit suicide. However, as he passed the Cathedral, he heard some singing and entered the Cathedral to see what was going on. It was the Wednesday night Healing Service. When the singing stopped, he listened to the sermon and was convinced that there was still hope for him in life. He returned home vowing never to think about suicide again. The way of escape for him was to hear the music and the singing and wanting to know why people were singing joyfully in the heart of the city.

I am amazed as I read about people contemplating suicide who picked up a Gideon’s Bible they had received years earlier and began to read it. Their lives were transformed by doing so. Yet they had never read it before. Their noticing it, picking it up to read it, became the way of escape from temptations to suicide. God has many ways of capturing the attention of the people He has created.

4].       HUMANS MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOD’S PROVISION. VERSE 14

14  “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

God has done His part in providing all we need to live successful lives in this world. But we have to play our part in taking hold of those resources. Forgiveness for all our sins is available in Christ, but we have to receive Him to receive the forgiveness that is to be found in Him alone, as St Paul wrote, “ In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7.  God has given humans the opportunity to receive eternal life, but we have to receive it by receiving Christ into our lives. As St John wrote, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”1 John 5:11-12. Humans can choose to receive the grace of God or they can reject His love and His grace. But they are responsible for their choices.

The Corinthians were surrounded by idolatry and all the evil associated with it. But St Paul had shown them that there was no god but Yahweh and that worshiping other figures was idolatry. So his command to them was to “flee from idolatry.” They were to put some distance between themselves and any form of idolatry, both mentally and perhaps even geographically.

St Paul’s words apply to us today. We are to face temptation knowing we can overcome it by using the way of escape He has for us individually. And we need to flee from the temptation to place anything or anyone as being more important than Him.  For as he had written in the same chapter, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” Our focus must be on Him, on His grace and love and also upon His holiness. He gives us the grace to become different, to learn to overcome temptation, to become more holy is His sight if we surrender our lives to Him. That is the challenge that faces every human every day.

Blog No.570 posted on Friday 28 March 2025.