June 15, 2008
Morning Service

ICor. 3

Review:

·        Paul is answering a letter full of problems in the church at Corinth.  Since Paul established this church on his first missionary journey, they look to him as their spiritual mentor, or advisor, or authority.

·        Even in troublesome times Paul begins his letter with thanksgiving.  And, in really good times, there will still be unpleasant issues that must be dealt with.

·        The first issue that Paul deals with is that of division.  People with preacher religion.  He lets them know that the preacher is not important, but that we have unity in Jesus Christ.  Christ is all in all.

·        Then he begins dealing with earthly wisdom, and heavenly wisdom.

·        The gospel is not earthly wisdom, but heavenly wisdom.

·        In chapter two Paul quotes scripture from Isaiah, “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, the things that God has prepared for them that love Him.”  We use this scripture from time to time, like we don’t know what lies ahead!!  When really we do.  Listen to Paul.

·        Then Paul says, 1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.    God has chosen to reveal these things, that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, to us, by His Spirit.  We know many things that are going to be, such as heavenly Jerusalem, streets of Gold, walls of Jasper, gates of pearl. 

·        Two things;  1.  Jesus said, Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  2.  Then Paul makes this statement, 1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  So you see we do know some of the things that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, because God has chosen to give it to us freely.

·        Do you see, we have received His Word, which is Spirit, and life.  It is this Word, or Spirit that reveals all the things that are freely given of God to us.  This brings to mind what Peter said, “all things that pertain to life, and Godliness have been given to us.”  We could say, by His Spirit, or Word.

 

AS WE BEGIN CHAPTER THREE PAUL IS COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL, AND NATURAL ( carnal ) THINGS WITH NATURAL.  LET’S BEGIN, CHAPTER THREE.

 

1Co 3:1-23 KJVR  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 

• Remember, there is a spiritual man, and there is a natural, or carnal man.

 (2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 

• Paul is saying that there are different levels of being able to understand the teachings of God.
• A babe in Christ is one who has just become a Christian. He starts out by understanding only the plan of salvation, then as he matures, God will allow him to understand the deeper things of God.  Milk, is used to describe the first things of God’s teachings, meat, refers to the deeper things of God’s teachings.
• Paul says, you all are still in the first stages of learning.  NOW NOTICE: 

(3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 

• Being carnal is not a pleasing description of someone.  CARNAL = Carnal, Carnally  (a) "having the nature of flesh," i.e., sensual, controlled by animal appetites, governed by human nature, instead of by the Spirit of God,  “ FOR ARE YOU YET CARNAL”  how does he know?
• They are envious, contentious, and divided.  They walk as men, not as Spirit filled children of God.     

(4)  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 

• Today we might say, I am a Baptist, or Methodist, or Pentecostal,  I would say to you, is Christ divided? 
• What would this tell me?  That we are still carnal, and think like men.
• Hoping, and trusting God, we will grow through this stage in our walk with God.  When I was a child, I spoke as a child, “I’m a Nazarene”, but now I’ve put away childish things, ( denominational titles ), and realize that we are all members of the Body of Christ, and Christ is all in all.

(5)  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 

• As the Lord gave to every man?   UNDERSTANDING.  THE ABILITY TO BELIEVE.

(6)  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  (7)  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 

• You received your introduction to the gospel, from me.  Then Apollos came along, and taught you some more, but it was God who allowed you to understand what you understand.

(8)  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. 

• We all are one in Christ, there are no big I’s , and little you’s, we are all one in God’s eyes, fulfilling His calling in our lives.
• And you will receive your own reward, according to your labor.

(9)  For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 

• This is one of Paul’s chief building ideas.  You are God’s building.  God lives in you.  This what Jesus taught all along.  “My Father and I will come, and make our abode with you.”
• Remember this is the mystery, hidden from the ages, to the gentiles, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” 
• You have chosen to ask God to come, and live in your heart, and life.  To help you to grow up into the full stature of Christ.  You want to be just like God’s Son, Jesus.

(10)  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.  (11)  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  (12)  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  (13)  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  (14)  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  (15)  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

• This is why early in Jesus’ ministry He said this:  Mat 6:19-21 KJVR  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  (20)  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  (21)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
• WHERE IS YOUR HEART TODAY?  IS IT THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD, OR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD? 

(16)  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 

• Remember?  “CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.”  THIS IS A MYSTERY HIDDEN FROM AGES, REVEALED TO US, THE CHURCH.

(17)  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 

• This thought, ( that we are the temple of God ) is what motivates Christians to do their best, to look their best, to be ever cautious of what they allow to happen to their bodies.  This is good.

(18)  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  (19)  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.  (20)  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 

(21)  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;  (22)  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;  (23)  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

 

CHRISTIAN, ALL ARE YOUR’S, AND YOU ARE CHRIST’S, AND CHRIST IS GOD’S.  HOW COMFORTING IS THAT?