I should get back to Corinthians! I have seen a lot that I haven’t written about yet. For example:

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. (1 Corinthians 10.1 – 4, ESV)

The metaphors are clear: the Israelites, when they left Egypt and were in the wilderness on their way to the promised land, were “baptized” and “took communion.” But “with most of them God was not pleased.” (See verse 5 below.)

Heavy language with a clear message. Participating in the ordinances or sacraments of the church is not enough. 

Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that 

• we might not desire evil as they did. (See Numbers 11)
• Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” (See Exodus 32) 
• We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. (See Numbers 25)
• We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, (See Numbers 21)
• nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. (See Numbers 14)

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (1 Corinthians 11.5 – 11, ESV, bulleted for clarity)

Then the warning:

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10.12, ESV)

There is always a “take heed”…”watch and pray” No participation in church or its sacraments is a guarantee. Walking with Jesus is daily.