1 Corinthians 10:1-5

                                                         1 Corinthians 10:1-5

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

 

The blessings of God are not necessarily proof that God is pleased with our lives.  God’s common grace bestows blessings on both the good and the evil.  Those who reject God and disobey Him will be judged by Him despite any temporary blessings they might experience.  At times God’s blessings will simply be used as witnesses to prove the guilt of those who experienced them, yet still refused to worship and obey Him.

 

THE BLESSINGS OF ISRAEL: The entire nation of Israel that was liberated from Egypt experienced common blessings from God.  They were all under divine guidance. They all experience divine and supernatural deliverance.  They were all under the leadership of Moses and identified as the chosen people of God.  They all experienced abundant provision of food and water and were given clear evidence of Christ.  These were common blessings that all of Israel experienced.  There are many in the church who experience common blessings from God through the preaching of the Gospel.  The know the truth and hear the Word of God but they do not receive Christ and do not live in obedience to the Gospel.  Salvation is by faith in Christ, not by experiencing the blessings of Christ.

 

THE JUDGMENT OF ISRAEL: Paul points to the fact that thought all of Israel experienced these common blessings, that God was not pleased with most of them and exercised His judgment on them.  Their disobedience and unbelief ended up costing them their lives and they never reached the Promised Land.  God continues to judge all who reject Christ.  No matter how blessed a person seems to be, if they have not trusted Christ alone for salvation, they will experience the wrath and judgment of God.  Present prosperity should never be confused with salvation.  Christ alone is the source of salvation and faith alone is the condition for salvation.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t rest or trust in the blessings of God that are experienced by many due to God’s common grace.  Recognize that God is willing to judge the large majority of people who refuse to trust Christ.  Place your faith in Christ alone to save and don’t trust in the blessings that all men receive from God’s hand.

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