1 Corinthians 10:12 Why let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. It is a very affecting truth, that of all the thousands who left Egypt, there were none, only Joshua and Caleb, entered the promised land. And there is something peculiarly solemn in the thought that the apostle has brought them forward as a warning to the Church. Note — I. THOSE FALLS TO WHICH A CHILD OF GOD IS EXPOSED. A child of God may fall — 1. In doctrine. 2. In his own personal religion. Hen may get into a cold and heartless state. 3. In the outward conduct. Low principles lead to low practice. II. THAT THERE MAY BE THE STATE OF MIND IN WHICH A MAN MAY THINK THAT HE STANDS, i.e., that he is secure. He sees others fall, and he reasons, "I am not exposed to the same falls as they were." What does it arise from? An overweening confidence in his own strength, wisdom, experience. And how does self-confidence evince itself? In the Church of old it showed itself by a state of sleep; in boasting expressions, in the case of Peter. Distinguish, however, between self-confidence and confidence in Christ. Paul was very confident in the latter sense (2 Corinthians 5:6; Philippians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 1:13, 31). III. THE NEED FOR CAUTION IS GIVEN US IN THE TEXT. 1. There is in you a perpetual proneness to fall. It is well for a man, when he rises in the morning, to have this in his soul as a certain principle, "I have in me the seed of all evil, and my prayer through this day must be, 'Hold Thou me up and I shall be safe.'" 2. Any of our outward circumstances, even the most prosperous, may prove occasions for falling (cf. Hezekiah). So with adversity (Psalm 73). 3. Our very lawful occupations — things that are positively commanded by God — yea, our very spiritual exercises, may have something in them which takes our heart from God. IV. HOW TO BE PRESERVED FROM FALLING. 1. Keep ever in mind your perpetual tendency to depart from the living God. 2. Watch over the first declensions. 3. When the Holy Ghost unfolds to your souls where, in what, and from what you have fallen, take it to Jesus — to the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. (J.H. Evans, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.WEB: Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall. |
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