(A) BACKGROUND
One of the famous bible interpretations knows as “SEE JESUS FULFILLED” on every page of the Bible.” (Hereafter called “See Jesus”). And the basic “See Jesus” bible interpretation concept is that should any of the scripture:-
– demand for work,
– call for repentance, or
– the punishment of the believers, etc,
it has to be read as:-
– Jesus fulfilled it all for the believers.
– It is not about self. It is all about Him. In short, Jesus has already forgiven and paid it all for believers’ sins, past, present, and future,
(B) OBJECTIVE
Armed with this understanding of “SEE JESUS”, let’s unveil how Paul “See Jesus” in interpreting the Old Testament scripture to the New Covenant believers.
Let’s consider 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 with “YouVersion, AMPC translation” below. The reason this version is adopted is that it gives cross-reference pointers at the end of most of the verses.
1 Corinthians 10:1-12 (YouVersion, AMPC):-
| 1 FOR I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under and protected by the cloud [in which God’s Presence went before them], and every one of them passed safely through the [Red] Sea, [Exod. 13:21; 14:22, 29.]
2 And each one of them [allowed himself also] to be baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea [they were thus brought under obligation to the Law, to Moses, and to the covenant, consecrated and set apart to the service of God]; 3 And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food, [Exod. 16:4, 35.] 4 And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the ROCK WAS CHRIST. [Exod. 17:6; Num. 20:11.] 5 Nevertheless, GOD WAS NOT PLEASED with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn down along [the ground] in the wilderness. [Num. 14:29, 30.] 6 Now these things are EXAMPLES (warnings and admonitions) FOR US not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did. [Num. 11:4, 34.] 7 Do not be worshipers of false gods as some of them were, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink [the sacrifices offered to the golden calf at Horeb] and rose to sport (to dance and give way to jesting and hilarity). [Exod. 32:4, 6.] 8 WE MUST NOT gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality as some of them did–and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell dead in a single day! [Num. 25:1-18.] 9 WE SHOULD NOT tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did–and were killed by poisonous serpents; [Num. 21:5, 6.] 10 Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did–and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death). [Num. 16:41, 49.] 11 Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example AND WARNING TO US]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period). 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. (1 Corinthians 10:1-12) |
(C) MY EXPOSITION
Briefly, Paul was using the old covenant scripture to warn the New Testament believers in 1 Corinthians 10.
He was saying that their ancestors went through the providential cloud, enjoyed spiritual food, miraculously crossed the red sea, went through baptism, led from enslaving death to salvation, and partook the living water from the rock (that rock which was Christ), but they were mostly defeated from temptation.
The above-unwanted events serve as examples of warnings and admonitions for New Covenant believers, as cautioned by Paul. Those punishments that fall on Old Covenant believers, will be the same punishment cast unto the new covenant believers who are overcome by those temptations.
Furthermore, Paul persisted in quoting Numbers 25:1-18 in urging Christians to avoid sexual promiscuity as some were, and in one day, 23,000 of them fall dead.
Next, Paul cited Numbers 21:5-6 in 1 Corinthians 10:9 that new covenant believers should not tempt God and tests His patience as the old Israelites did and were killed by poisonous serpents.
Similarly, Paul stressed Numbers 16:41, 49 in telling Christians not to complain as some did and were destroyed by the Angel of Death (verse 10).
In verse 11, Paul was saying that all the above past incidents serve as examples; that caution Christians from repeating old Israelites’ mistakes. More so as the end is coming soon.
In a way, Paul in verse 12, reminded Christians not to think too highly of themselves. Should the old Israelites fall on those temptations, it can happen to the new either.
Wow! This was how Paul quoted the Old Testament scriptures to the new.
Certainly, Paul did not advocate when believers fall:-
– they shall fall in the ark;
– they are still being saved.
Based on the context of 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, I don’t think those 23,000 people struck to death and those destroyed by the Angel of Death were being saved.
Undeniably, Paul did not teach believers to “SEE JESUS IN EVERY PAGE OF THE BIBLE”, and tell them:-
– See Jesus as being justified for believers’ wrongdoing
– That they need not face the similar wrath of God like the old.
– See Jesus that all believers’ sins, past, present, and future are all being forgiven, and fully paid for at the cross.
Rather, Paul preached and quoted the Old Testament straightforwardly, without paraphrasing.
And Paul was saying Christians who are similarly going through the same baptism, partaking of living water and spiritual food like the old, but defeated by temptations, trails, shall not spare from falling into God’s judgment.
(D) QUESTIONS AND REFLECTIONS
Since I chanced upon 1 Corinthians 10, I have been asking myself whether should I follow the “SEE JESUS bible interpretation”, or should I follow Paul’s teaching on 1 Corinthians 10.
Of course, it is easier to live a life by seeing Jesus being judged for all my sins. i.e that all my sins have already been forgiven past, present, and future, then following Paul’s hard teaching.
Somehow, it leads me to these questions:-
1) “Is once saved, always saved”?
2) Does God not count sins on believers who are under grace, for they are not under law now?
3) Next, is the law being abolished, since Paul was still using law-based jargon like idolatry, sexual immorality, worshipers of false gods, etc?
4) And, Paul did not avoid using the Old Covenant’s lingo of “Destroying Angel” in verse 10? To me, it means, not all devastation is from Satan in this era. Some destroying power is from the Lord, right?
(E) HOW ABOUT VERSE 13?
Lastly, how about 1 Corinthians 10:13 which read:-
|
After reading verse 1-13 as a whole; in context, I would interpret verse 13 as all those hardships, and temptations that old Israelites faced, that was permitted by God with a purpose.
Verse 13 is saying “When you tempted”. It means new covenant believers will be tempted like the old Israelis. God is using those temptations to mold and equip His people for His glory. Those old Israelites were supposed to pass the tests. Notice that verse 5 is saying “Majority” of them fall. That means it was possible to pass those temptations. Indeed, not all of them fall. A small group of them had passed the test. And verse 13 is saying these temptations are common to mankind. Hence, it is very common for Christians to face those tests.
There are many verses on hardships, temptations, and trials for believers as suggested by St Paul, Peter, James, and John. Indeed, should we recall the life of Paul, Peter, James, and John, they never lived a life free from trials. Let’s visit those verses in a separate discussion.
Certainly, 1 Corinthians 10 is a wake-up call for me. Yes, there are many more teaching on the internet, and on YouTube, that suggests:-
– See Jesus, away from self,
– See His love for the believers,
– See all believers’ sins are already fully paid for by Jesus at the cross,
– See Christ as the believers’ identity” etc
But the “See Jesus fulfilled on every page” kind of bible interpretation is not what was being taught by Paul. At least not in 1 Corinthians 10. Nevertheless, I shall dig for more supporting scriptures, to ensure my walk with him is appropriate. Thank God for 1 Corinthians 10. Amenbible
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