1Cor3

Chapter three begins with Paul speaking to the Corinthians as if they were children. He does this because of the carnal nature of the people and the division that was within the body. Paul felt it necessary to address the issues of division, carnality, and worship of individuals. Stressing the necessity for the body to be one in Christ with Christ being the very foundation that we should build upon. Paul continues to tell the people that not only do they need to be cautious how we build on the foundation and how especially ministers of the Gospel should be aware of their building. Stressing also that no one should totally depend on their wisdom but seek out the wisdom of Christ, which never changes and is valid for all eternity.

Paul says in verse one that could not speak to the people as mature believers because they still did not have the full understanding of Christ. Until we mature in the Word we are unable to understand the inner deepest areas of God! Paul tells them they have not advanced in spiritual knowledge able to fully understand and be prepared to benefit from the fullness of Christ's gospel. He says they are still carnal which means to have little religious knowledge. In other words one that is still pretty much carnal is still susceptible to the pressure of the evils of this world more quickly than others. Christians that have not grown Spiritually do not have the discernment of the Holy Spirit abiding in them giving them instruction and wisdom to live.

You need to be fed just as a babe says Paul in verse two. Paul compares our physical and Spiritual lives saying that just as we needed milk in our infancy physically we also need milk in our spiritual infancy. It is the task of the pastor/teacher to be sure that new believers as well as all believers are fed Spiritually. Pastors and teachers need to be aware of the level of maturity within their congregation so as to teach at the level needed giving Spiritual growth to all instead of just a few. Father let me always be alert and receptive to Your leading so as to never miss the lesson You desire to be taught!

Verse three poses a question--a question for all believers to answer--are we walking after Christ or after man? Paul says that since within you and within the body there is the desire to follow the example of Christ within your words is found strife. Within the body is found actual divisions or cliques. These things are carnal not Spiritual. Instead of walking as godly men and women you walk still according to worldly men and women. In all things that you do what shows mostly is your egotistical and worldly behavior. As long as we continue to nit-pick, gossip, backbite, fight and bicker with one another we are carnal-minded not Christ-minded. There is truly no excuse for carnal-mindedness once we have been introduced to Christ.

Amongst true believers there should never be division. The division Paul speaks of here shows the lack of maturity in the Corinthian people. All that could be seen was division and immaturity, which is very misleading to young believers. When the body is torn with strive and division immature believers fall prey to the glory of men and follow after worldly teaching instead of godly teaching.

In verse five Paul assures the Corinthians that it makes no difference where they met the Lord the only thing that matters is that they met Him and are willing to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. Because it is only through the Lord that they have any knowledge! As believers and servants of God we should be in unity directed toward the common goal of spreading the Gospel of Christ to see souls won for the kingdom. Christ engaged in one common work, and not designed to be heads of different parties. Our purpose as disciples, stewards, servants, and ambassadors of Christ is to win souls to Him not to self.

The next two verses, six and seven talk about how one can plant another water and yet another reaps the harvest. Paul says, "I have planted;" which refers to Paul having first preached the gospel to the Corinthians and built the church. And then Apollos watered or fed the church after Paul went on doing that which he was called to do. But it was not because of either one of them that the increase or blessings came--it was only because of God! We the ministers and servants of the Lord water or teach but it is only through God that we see increase or growth! Without God there is neither watering or growth!

Paul says in eight and nine that all those that labor for Christ are one. He says the saving of souls and ministering to them should be a united work as one. All should be aimed towards the same ultimate goal, which is that of edifying God. We do not receive blessings and power from man! It is only through God that we receive power and blessings. If we labor towards the goal of Christ in our own efforts we will receive rewards for our efforts according to that labor. There should be no strive drawing towards division of the body. All the work for Christ should be the same no matter who is delivering the message. If it is truly from Christ it should rhyme true no matter who delivers the message. The Gospel of Christ does not change to suit denomination or tradition. We are all instruments in the plan of God and cannot succeed if we work against one another! We are the temple--the actual building for God's Word and power. Just as no building can stand without all the supporting walls and footings, no body of believers can stand without unification.

Paul preached Christ crucified as an atoning sacrifice for sin, which is the only foundation for mankind. And Paul says in verse 10 that it is only according to the grace of God given to him that he is able to do this and that it is not upon him that any should build. They should build upon what he has given them but not upon "him." Paul declares they need be cautious how they build so as to not transfer glory from God to man. We must be careful to keep our doctrines in line with the foundation we build upon. Paul gave the instruction on how we should care for others and how we should preach and teach the Gospel and then another will come behind or alongside Paul and begin to build from that foundation keeping the principles in line with the foundation so that God and His power and grace are always revealed and that the cross of Christ and His crucifixion does not become forgotten. For He, Christ was the atonement for the sin of all mankind!

In verse 11 we see Paul declaring that there is only one foundation that we can safely build upon and that foundation is Christ Jesus! Jesus is the only true foundation for our hope of eternal life. No one else has the saving power of Christ. And as we see in verses 12 to 15 if we build on the foundation that will withstand all things we will be ready for anything the world can put against us. There will come a time when we will all have to stand up and profess who we believe in and trust in and if we have built upon the true foundation we will stand with power and boldness fearing nothing for Christ is with us. There is no greater reward than to receive the gift of eternal life our reward for following the Son of God--Jesus Christ! We can build upon any foundation and still receive salvation, forgiveness, and sanctification but when we build upon weak foundations we suffer loss and pain--if we would build upon the true solid foundation and remain steadfast in Christ we gain joy, fulfillment, and security! It matters not if we build our house with the most precious building materials in the world or the worst materials in the world if what we build is not built upon the ONLY FOUNDATION strong enough to withstand all tests our building will crumble and decay. The test of fire--that which comes upon us will reveal the true stature of our building--will reveal the true foundation we stand upon! It will be the test of which we have built upon--Paul or Peter, Baptist or Methodist, Assembly or Lutheran, MAN or CHRIST! Father, keep me tightly within Your loving arms of strength and power so no force can come against me and destroy my house that is built upon the solid rock--Christ Jesus!

Verses 16 and 17 tell us that we are the temple of God and should keep our temple clean and holy. As believers we are holy to God and no one should come against God's children less they receive His wrath against them for harming His temple. We are the dwelling place that God has desired to place His Spirit and we need to clean that dwelling place out so it is habitable to God!

Paul goes on to say in the next verse that we must not attempt to teach or instruct from our own wisdom or understanding. We must instead teach from the wisdom of God given to us through the Holy Spirit. God's Word will become real to us through the Holy Spirit, if as we read and hear His Word, we ask Him to make it known to us. And in verses 19 to 20 Paul says that all we gain from worldly wisdom is useless in the house of God and meant to remove God instead of inviting God. Our worldly wisdom just deceives and defeats the natural spirit but the divine Spirit cannot be defeated in our life if we do not want it to be defeated. God knows if our pleas and our talk are of Him for truth or if it is only for glory to us. He knows the reasoning we come to Him with whether they are true or just an escape goat for us out of trouble we got into and not seriously making a decision to accept Him as our true Lord and Savior.

Paul closes this chapter summarizing what he had just written. He says, so then let no one boast in themselves saying something is because of their doing because all things come from God and belong to God. It was not because of YOU it was because of GOD in you! It makes no difference if it is Paul, or Apollos, or Peter or John, or Thomas Miles giving you the Word of God or if it is Joyce Meyers, or Billy Graham, Kenneth Hagin, or Marilyn Hickey each of these servants of God belong to each other and belong to you! The common message of each person is Christ! All are for God and God is for you! Our common goal should be to serve you the people of God. And in doing so we serve God! Even Christ gave all glory to the Father! We should do no less than Christ!

Father, let us never become boastful seeking and claiming the glory for that which You have done instead let us always see that it is only through You that we are able to do anything. Keep me as Your servant ever humble and dedicated to the common goal of spreading the Gospel of Christ to bring souls unto Your Kingdom. Thank You Father for loving me and giving Your best to me, in Jesus name Amen!

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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