And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (I Corinthians 3:1-3)
Remember, when Paul first went to the church in Corinth, he ...entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:7-8, 11) We would think a year and six months would be enough time for him to teach them in such a way, that they would have completely understood the Word of God. But here he's referring to them as still not able to receive it; for you are still carnal.
Why was this church still immature, nearly six years after it was first established? Because of the issues they were still dealing with, For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? As we studied in a previous lesson, Corinth was an "immoral" society, so for anyone there to hear and believe the gospel, and be baptized was a blessing from God. But because they were still living there, it was still very difficult for them to leave their carnal ways of thinking and behaving behind.
Just because we're saved doesn't mean we also automatically become perfect. That's why in a previous lesson we studied the process of sanctification. But just as a baby should grow and wean from milk to solid food, so should we grow in spiritual maturity. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,... (Hebrews 6:1)
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. (I Corinthians 3:4-7) One of the issues in the church was that the people were getting caught up in disputes over who they were following. That's very similar to today, when people say, "Pastor Paul is my pastor;" "Well, Pastor Apollos is my pastor;" "Well, Pastor Somebody Else is my pastor." Who our pastor is doesn't matter, as long as they are anointed by the Lord to be ministers, through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 3:8-11) The leaders of the church, regardless of who they are, are God’s fellow workers, God's builders. All of us who believe, regardless of who we were taught by, are God’s field, are God’s building. But there is only ONE foundation, that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (I Corinthians 3:12-15)
Why become a Christian? Why go through all we go through in this life, whether good or bad, to try and be pleasing and acceptable to God? Because Jesus said, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12) Just like we work and expect to get paid what we've earned, we have been promised by God to receive a reward, based on the life we live and the choices we make now.
Once we are saved, we are saved! For the death that He [Christ] died, He died to sin once for all;... (Romans 6:10) His death was enough to cleanse us from all our sins and save us. There is no more sacrifice needed for sin. But we who have accepted God's free gift of salvation through faith in the resurrected Christ, we must ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;... (Philippians 2:12) Do we want to receive a reward worthy of gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw? The gold, silver, and precious stones can withstand the heat of the fire; but the hay and straw will burn up. Either way, if we are saved, we are saved, but one will receive a reward, and the other will suffer loss.
When it comes to this Christian life, Paul would say in a future lesson, "Run in such a way that you may obtain it [the prize]." (I Corinthians 9:24) We shouldn't do just enough to, as many people say, hopefully jokingly, "...just to make it in. I don't need a mansion. I'll be satisfied being a gate keeper." Why settle for less than God has for us. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:1-4)
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (I Corinthians 3:16-17) We must keep this in context. We who are saved are filled with the Spirit of God. Our bodies are the temple of God. We are to “Be holy, for I [the Lord your God] am holy.” (I Peter 1:16) As the apostles instructed the Gentile believers, we are to ... abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. (Acts 15:29) Wherever we fall short, we will suffer loss; but we will be saved, yet so as through fire. But for those who aren't saved, God will destroy him.
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;[Job 5:13] and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”[Psalm 94:11] Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (I Corinthians 3:18-23) AMEN!
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