Sermon: Take Heed, Lest You Fall
Base Text: 1 Corinthians 10:12
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Introduction
The Apostle Paul issues a sober warning to believers in this verse, a warning about the great peril of spiritual self-confidence.
-- Ads --
If you think you are standing firm, Paul says, be careful, lest you fall. This passage comes after Paul recounts the history of the Israelites, who, despite experiencing God’s saving power, fell away due to sin, lust, and idolatry. Their experience serves as an example for us.
No one is exempt from the danger of falling. We are all exposed to spiritual attack and the subtle creep of sin, and we must be vigilant.
It is remarkably easy to observe the failures and flaws of others while neglecting our own spiritual lives. Many Christians spend their time criticizing and condemning others, without ever examining their own condition. But the prudent Christian watches their own life closely and works out their salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).
Let us heed Paul’s warning today: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
I. Take Heed, Lest We Fall
1. Our Salvation is Paramount.
Our salvation is the most important matter in our lives, and we cannot neglect it or trust in our own strength (Heb. 2:1). Self-confidence is often the very thing that leads to a fall, as it did with the Apostle Peter. Peter confidently declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you!” (Mark 14:31). Yet, hours later, he denied Christ three times. Self-confidence sets us up for a fall; trust in God keeps us steady.
2. It is Easy to See the Sins of Others and Forget Our Own.
King David is a powerful example. After committing adultery and arranging a murder, the prophet Nathan told him a parable about a rich man who selfishly stole a poor man’s only lamb. David, in righteous indignation, judged the sin of this "other man" severely, pronouncing him worthy of death—only to have Nathan declare, “You are the man!” (2 Sam. 12:7). Jesus taught us to live by the principle, “The measure with which you measure will be measured back to you” (Matt. 7:2). We must check our vision before we check others.
3. No One Can Say, "I Will Never Fall."
Even the great Apostle Paul, recognizing his own vulnerability, declared, “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). He continually pressed on toward the goal (Phil. 3:13-14). As long as we are in this life, the danger of falling exists.
4. Examples of Believers Who Neglected Their Vigilance.
We see churches that lost their grip. The Ephesians had lost their "first love" (Rev. 2:5). The Galatians were so distracted by false teaching that they were "severed from Christ" and "fallen away from grace" (Gal. 5:4). Complacency and distraction are dangerous enemies.
5. It is Not Enough to Guard Our Doctrine; We Must Guard Our Heart.
Many Christians do not fall into public sins like adultery or theft, but they fall into the silent sins of the heart: pride, arrogance, self-righteousness, or deceit (Rom. 11:20-22). The enemy does not care how you fall, only that you fall.
6. We Must Examine Ourselves.
The Scripture commands, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5). Only the one who has properly examined and removed the log from their own eye can safely help a brother with the speck in his (Matt. 7:1-5).
Lesson: Guarding our salvation is a personal and constant responsibility.
II. Factors That Can Cause Us to Fall
We must not only be vigilant but also identify the specific dangers.
1. Unbelief.
The Israelites in Romans 11:20 were broken off "because of their unbelief." Only a firm and living faith in Christ keeps us standing. When we stop believing God's promises, we stop obeying His commands.
2. A Weak Foundation.
Jesus warned that the one who hears His words and does not act on them is like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand. When the storms come, "it fell, and great was the fall of it" (Matt. 7:24-27). Christ alone must be the solid foundation of our life.
3. Following Wrong Leaders.
Jesus said, “If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matt. 15:14). Many fall because they follow charismatic, popular, or powerful men instead of following Christ and His clear Word. Our loyalty must be to the Shepherd, not merely the sheep.
4. Unremoved Stumbling Blocks.
Jesus' teaching is stark: “If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out... If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off” (Matt. 5:29-30). This is hyperbole to emphasize the necessity of radical action. Anything that causes you to stumble—a persistent sin, a toxic friendship, a dangerous habit, a specific place—must be identified and eliminated.
Lesson: Identifying and removing stumbling blocks is an essential part of spiritual self-care.
III. Only in God Can We Stand Firm
The good news is that we are not left to stand on our own shaky feet.
1. God Sustains Those Who Trust in Him.
The Psalmist declares, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (Ps. 37:24). The righteous may fall seven times, but they will rise again (Prov. 24:16). Our strength to stand is not in ourselves but in His sustaining power.
2. God Always Provides a Way of Escape.
The very next verse after our base text is a beautiful promise: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13). He knows how to deliver the godly from temptation (2 Pet. 2:9).
3. True Security is Only in God.
Faith in oneself brings about a fall; faith in God brings firmness. It is God’s grace alone that raises us up and keeps us secure until the very end.
Lesson: Our firmness does not depend on our own strength, but on the power of God that sustains us.
See also
Conclusion
No one is so firm that they cannot fall. Spiritual vigilance is a vital necessity for every believer.
Let us stop looking at the faults of others and instead look to our own personal salvation. Let us discard every stumbling block and remain in Christ, “who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).
Final Call:
I urge you to examine yourself today.
• Are you primarily trusting in yourself or in God?
• Are you diligently guarding your own salvation or are you distracted by watching and criticizing others?
Remember the warning: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” May we all walk humbly, watchful, and upheld by the mighty hand of God. Amen.
