The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10: 12, so if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. This was a warning against conceitedness and complacency that was creeping into the church at Corinth. Paul quoted Isaiah and said in Romans 15: 12, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.” Just as the Jews, they believed that salvation was permanent and forever or eternal.
Is salvation eternal?
Paul knew that the Corinthians’ notion that salvation was misconceived. Salvation is guaranteed only by grace in righteousness and not by sinful works. Paul wrote in Philippians 2: 12-13, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Paul did not want them to lose their salvation. We are thus cautioned in Proverbs 14: 12; 16: 25 that there is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.
As further caution, it is found in 1 Peter 5: 8-9 discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. Satan’s bait for us is complacency and Paul was worried that the Corinthians could lose their crowns of life even after attaining salvation.
Paul referred to his own circumstances and challenges of the faith to which he had been called and said in 1 Corinthians 9: 27, I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified. Disqualification from heaven is sure if we lose sight of the grace of God. Paul cautioned other converts in Ephesians 2: 8-9, for by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
Did Jesus caution the world?
John quoted Jesus in Revelation 3: 11, I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Jesus says he will soon come and will give crowns to only those who have maintained their salvation. We must therefore be weary of the thieves of our souls. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3: 5-6, trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. We will fall if we take crooked paths of life.
We keep falling each and every moment if and when we get captivated by worldly pleasures. God is worshipped based on obedience to his word of life. 1 John 4: 1 says beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. Ephesians 4: 14 states, we must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.
Why do people fall?
Pharaoh perished when he trusted his military might above God, Exodus 14: 23-28. King Saul fell when he disobeyed God’s but trusted his own wisdom, 1 Samuel 15: 18-35; 16: 1, 14. Goliath fell when he trusted his stature and historical conquests so blasphemed God, 1 Samuel 17: 4-54. Nebuchadnezzar mocked God when he drank from God’s vessels taken from his temple, Daniel 4: 4-6, 23-28, 31-33.
In the New Testament, Herod equated himself to God and refused to give him glory so was eaten by worms, Acts 12: 22-23. Judas fell when he gave in to bribe money rather than righteousness, Matthew 27: 5. These are few biblical examples of those who thought were invincible but fell from grace.
Isaiah 14: 13-14 said of Lucifer, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.” For this inordinate pride and ambition and in spite of being God’s foremost angel as Day Star, son of Dawn, he fell and became the prince of darkness.
How can we escape falling?
Whatever we are, God made us so. 1 Samuel 2: 7 says the LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. It is not by our own making but God’s grace. God said in Isaiah 66: 2, all these things my hand has made, they are mine. God said in Proverbs 8: 15-16, by me kings reign, and rulers decree what I just; by me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly. Our enablement is from only God.
The devil does not and will not give up until he succeeds. Jesus said in Matthew 12: 43-45, “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came,’ When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of the person is worse than the first. Be vigilant.
Only God’s grace can save us from falling. We must avoid complacency, self-righteousness or self-indulgence. Ecclesiastes 10: 14 says, no one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what the future holds? God’s warning may sound foolish to us but Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1: 18, for the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Let us be careful to appreciate God so we may stand and not fall.
Who is in charge of tomorrow?
We read from Proverbs 27: 1, do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth — a stranger, and not your own lips. We must not be deceived into accepting any contrary doctrine. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4: 4 says for the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears…, they will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.
Are we standing in Christ Jesus? Are we careful about how we are standing in Christ Jesus? May the Lord Jesus Christ, hold us to stand firm in him by his grace so we may not fall from his presence!
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, please help us to stand and not fall. Take away our pride and humble us by your Spirit. Keep reminding us every moment that you are in charge and without you, we can do nothing. Like the leaf we may fall anytime and like mist, our strength is weak. Help us to lay our foundation in you so that we may withstand the storms and tempest when they strike. We pray in your blessed name, Amen!!
