Perseverance and Apostasy (v3)

Article v3, because it's hard to exactly rightly say this.

Paul speaks of his own need to persevere previously to Chapter 10 of 1 Corinthians, and he continues his argument as follows, as he quotes the experience of Israel in the wilderness (my underlines and [square brackets]):

1 Corinthians 10:1-14 

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea [analogy to water baptism into Christ], all ate the same spiritual food,  and all drank the same spiritual drink [analogy to the Lord's Supper]. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ [their sacraments connected them with Christ].  But with most of them [church-members] God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 

They were apostates.  They had professed allegience to God, but proved themselves unreliable, due to their lack of faith.  Considerable material may be accumulated from Scripture to show that the apostates were regarded by the Israelite leadership as not possessing the "circumcision of the heart," that is, true spiritual rebirth.

Now let us see how Paul treats the Corinthians, as he draws the analogy between ancient Israelite apostasy and what can happen in the church (i.e., at Corinth):

Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.  And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."  Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;  nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;  nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 

We speak from the true, but hidden perspective of deity when we recognize that the ancient and the modern rebel church-members who give way unreservedly to sin are not regenerate.  But, Paul does not accuse the Corinthians of this.  Rather, he exhorts them to prevent their own apostasy!  In other words, rather than threatening the Corinthians' conversions to be false, Paul appeals to them as church members:

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 

The principle is enunciated:

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 

This is not just a warning against the consequences of falling into any kind of sin that Christians can commit and be disciplined.  It is best, and makes most sense, to refer this warning to the threat of apostasy.  Let all those who profess faith take heed to avoid falling into sin, because unreserved falling into sin may lead to apostasy.  By taking heed, apostasy will be prevented.

Furthermore:

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. 

In other words, God will not allow you to apostatize, because he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to withstand.  This is a promise to those who believe.

Put simply, there are two truths here:

1)  We must take heed not to fall into apostasy through the seductiveness of sin.

2)  God will not permit us to be tempted beyond our capacity to resist falling into apostasy through the seductiveness of sin.

Each of us who truly know the Lord must hold both sides of this exhortation in our minds:  I must take heed not to let the deceitfulness of sin lead me to apostasy; and, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will, by grace, never permit me to fall unreservedly into sin leading to apostasy!

The mystery of the divine sovereignty of grace and human responsibility in grace cannot be resolved by the mind of man.  We have to have both -- confidence always first in the free grace of Christ, because the outcome does not depend on us, but also God-given caution that causes us to flee to God (instead of away from God) when sin threatens, or when we are found in it.