The Way of Escape (6/21/2026)

Second in a series of studies of 1 Corinthians 10:12-14

¹²“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.  ^13“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.  ¹⁴“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:12-14).

As a result of the teaching in verse thirteen of this passage, “The devil made me do it” can never be an excuse for straying from the path laid out for us in the New Testament. The devil does not have the kind of power to make us do anything, even though such an expression came into vogue many years ago, and unfortunately many believed it.

It is God who has the power to provide the strength we need, no matter the circumstance in which we find ourselves. God’s reason for giving us His word was to bolster our faith and to give us the strength to make it through the devil’s temptations.

Even Jesus uses THE WORD when He is tempted in the wilderness. His response to Satan is repeated after each of the three temptations: “It is written.” Jesus was and is THE WORD; and, if He knew the benefit of using it against Satan, we should not hesitate.

God has, thus, given us His word as our way of escape: it is up to us to be familiar enough with it to use it rather than giving in to Satan’s temptations. Paul tells the Ephesians (6:10): “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Only then can we be spiritually successful.