This sermon deals with Paul’s strong warning against testing God found in these verses. This issue is grounded in the OT incidents of rebellion which happened under Moses which have been at the fore in this entire chapter of 1 Corin. Some in the Corinthian congregation where claiming to be strong and have knowledge so that they were at liberty to have table fellowship in the pagan temples of Corinth. Paul identifies this as drinking the cup and sharing in the table of demons.

This shocking claim is grounded in the OT where the wilderness generation tested Yahweh by rejecting His provision and failing to listen to His spokesman, Moses. The church in Corinth was in spiritual danger when some dined with demons and the Lord. They failed to see the serious incompatibility of the two. The Lord ’s Table is from a different spiritual source and cannot be compromised in this manner.

 We point out that testing God means to abuse God’s merciful and forgiving nature by blatantly daring Him to judge sinful action. We cite cases in the OT and NT where this happened. Eventually the judgment does come and we must take these warnings seriously. We also explain another of the Corinthian slogans which are often found in the book. This one is “everything is permissible.”

Paul’s rejoinder is, “not everything builds up.” How we treat one another in the body of Christ is important and will be dealt with in 1 Corinthians chapters 11-14. Moral guidance is found in Paul’s exhortation that “no one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person” (10:24).  The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the Last Supper, both of which are covenant meals.