Christian Foundations

Samson According to the New Testament

What happened to Samson in New Testament terms? To answer that, and as a warning to every one of us called to life long consecration to the Lord, here is a series of verses that explain to us that there are “sins unto death”. As believers we are:

1. CONSECRATED - ALL NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS ARE CONSECRATED TO THE LORD LIKE SAMSON WAS.  

• 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, -wow- If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.  
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple (naos the sacred chamber where God dwelt) of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.  

Don’t shave off the corners, don’t excuse, don’t justify, and don’t allow sin in because God says you and I are to be consecrated. 

2. ANSWERABLE - WE WILL ANSWER TO GOD FOR WHAT WE DID WITH OUR BODY.  

• 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.  

That’s why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body (hupopiazo- GK.) This means hit under the eye- Paul says I am hitting myself under the eye- not literally- he wasn’t some kind of nut that was trying to hurt his body and be a self sacrificing person physically- he’s saying I’m trying to knock out my flesh and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 

3. OWNED-GOD IS INVOLVED - GOD WILL NOT STAND BY AS WE SIN. We will answer to God for what we did in our body because we as believers are consecrated to God.  

• 1 Corinthians 11:30-31 For this reason many are weak –those are people who couldn’t control their appetites- God sent weakness in to their lives- and sick among you, and many sleep. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged (by God).

 What is sleep? Death of the body- and the spirit is with Christ. People get weak, sick and die not because they’re at that age when it’s time to for it to happen and it’s a glorious going home- it’s because they do not deal with their pride, lust and they live for the flesh. That’s exactly what he’s saying- meditate on that some time.  

4. LIABLE-GOD GIVE US WARNINGS - CHASTENING PROVES GOD’S LOVE.  

• Hebrews 12:5-6 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”  

Those who live by the lusts of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life- those who will not separate from the world, those who love the world, who make friends with the world, those who walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the path of sinners, and sit in the seat of the scornful; (Psalm 1:1) God says don’t be deceived I’m not mocked- you’ll reap what you’re sowing.  

• Hebrews 12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  

You say well I’m living it up and doing what I want and nothing is happening. Verse 8 should speak to you then-  

• Hebrews 12:8 But if you are without chastening, of which all –by the way all always means all- all the time in the Bible- have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.  

God says every single one of my sons and daughters I spank if they live in sin. God’s warning us. 

5. RESPONSIBLE-YOU CAN GO TOO FAR - GOING TOO FAR TOO OFTEN WITH SIN WILL BE DEADLY FOR BELIEVERS.  

• 1 John 5:16-17 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.  

You see what all that unusual language means is this: if you go too far, too long, God says that’s enough and takes you out of the world. Do you know what happened to Samson? He went too far, too long and God took him out. He sinned unto death. It’s a tragic thing. 

6. WARNED-GOD KILLS BELIEVERS WHO WON’T REPENT IN TIME. Revelation 2:22-23 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, -God has a time period and He waits, chastens, weakens, sickens and when that does not bring about Godly sorrow that leads to repentance then God kills believers who will not repent- and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 

Apparently during the grinding at the mill, Samson repented of his sin. Sightless, being made fun of- they made him trip over things, they hit him and all that and he was grinding in the mill and they had made him their center attraction- like an amusement park- but while that was going on- God offered him one more chance to act by faith. His hair had begun to grow and Samson remembered his calling. He asked God for strength to win one more victory over the enemy. God answered his prayer, but in defeating others, Samson lost his own life. 

Samson is a powerful illustration of friendship with the world through the lusts of the flesh—and those destructive powers that the lusts of the flesh wield.   

• Samson illustrates people who have power to conquer others, but who cannot conquer themselves.
• He could set the Philistine fields on fire, but was consumed by the fires of his own lust.
• He could kill an attacking lion, but was utterly defeated by the passions of his own flesh.
• He could easily break the bonds that men put on him, but the shackles of his own sin gradually grew stronger on his soul.
• He could have led the nation, he preferred to work independently, and as a result, left no permanent victory behind.
• He could have been remembered for what he built up, but instead everyone but God only remembers what he destroyed – lions, foxes, fields, gates, soldiers, women’s purity, and his own life and ministry.  

Samson is a powerful reminder of God’s grace. Though he descended into the depths of a lust filled life, wandering far from his calling and consecration – the Lord never let go of him. His soiled life is recorded. His defeats are unvarnished and clear for all to see. But against the backdrop of sin is the beauty of grace. God forgives, God restores, and God uses Samson one final time. 

The life of Samson is recorded in God's Word as a picture of the destructive power of sin, and the restoring power of grace. Samson often lived in the lust of the flesh; Samson often walked by the lust of the eyes; Samson often responded with the pride of life. Yet Samson in the final analysis, as God sees His life – is a man of faith. One moment of godly sorrow, leading to a repentant prayer of faith - at his darkest hour, brought him back to the place of blessing.

God’s grace tells us that even if we have lived like Samson- Samson made it– to testify—anyone can who will turn in faith and repent and look to God. As a lost person, turn while you hear His voice. As a believer, there is no one who has gone too far to miss God’s grace if you’ll respond while you hear His voice. But if you continue, you can go too far and there is a sin that leads to death. Samson- what a picture of sin that destroys and grace that restores and our God who give us a second chance. Let’s bow together and ask the Lord to speak to our hearts according to what His Spirit has laid upon us.