1 Corinthians 3:1-4:21 - There is jealousy and strife among you. There is Carnality among you and when this is so disciples do not grow up to the fullness of Christ.
3:1-4 1 And
I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual ones, but as to fleshly, as
to babes in Christ. 2
I have fed you with milk and not with solid food, for you were not yet able to
bear it; nor are you able even now. 3
For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envying’s and strife and
divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men? 4 For while one says, I am
of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal?
·
Are
you not carnal? Worldliness seen in pride, selfishness, lust and disobedience. Phil 2:3-4, Gal 5:19-21
· The simplest truths of the gospel, as to man's sinfulness and God's mercy, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, stated in the plainest language are better than deeper mysteries. We may have a lot of doctrinal knowledge, yet be babies in the life of faith and experience. Contentions and quarrels about religion are sad evidences of carnality. True religion makes men peaceable, not contentious. Walk as Christians, and do not despise and speak evil of others.
3: 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he who plants anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 So His planting, and His watering, are one, and each one shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For of God we are fellow-workers, a field of God, and you are a building of God.
· Because you do not understand the role of servants. The ministers about whom the Corinthians contended, were only instruments used by God. We should not put ministers into the place of God. He that plants and he that waters are one, employed by one Master, trusted with the same revelation, the same work, and engaged in one design. They have their different gifts from one and the same Spirit, for the very same purposes; and should carry on the same design heartily. Those who work hardest shall fare best. Those who are most faithful shall have the greatest reward. They work together with God, in promoting the purposes of his glory, and the salvation of precious souls; their labour is not in vain.
3:10
According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I
have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let every man be
careful how he builds on it. 11 For any other foundation can no one lay than
the one being laid, who is Jesus Christ.12 And if anyone builds on this
foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, 13 each one's
work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it
is.14 If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward. 15 If
anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved,
yet so as by fire.
· The responsibility of all to build. The apostle was a wise master-builder; it is the grace of God that made this way. Spiritual pride is abominable, disrespectful; it is using the greatest favours of God, to feed our own vanity, and make idols of ourselves. But let every man take heed; there may be a bad building on a good foundation. Let us not dare to join a merely human or a carnal life with a Divine faith, the corruption of sin with the profession of Christianity. Christ is a firm, abiding, and immovable Rock of ages, able to bear all the weight that God himself or the sinner can lay upon Him; neither is there salvation in any other. Leave out the doctrine of his atonement, and there is no foundation for our hopes. Rest on this foundation and hold nothing but the truth as it is in Jesus, and preach nothing else. There is a day coming that will show our actions in the true light, without covering or disguise. Those who spread true and pure religion in all its branches, and whose work will abide in the great day, shall receive a reward. There are others, whose corrupt opinions and doctrines, or vain inventions and usages in the worship of God, shall be made known, disowned, and rejected, in that day. Let us consider what we do, compare this with God's word, and judge ourselves, that we be not judged and fail the Lord.
3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God shall destroy him.
For the temple of God is holy, which you are
· Let us look at the seriousness of their (our) behaviour v16-17. From other parts of the epistle, it appears some intended to corrupt, to pollute, and destroy the building, which should be kept pure and holy for God. Those who spread loose principles, which render the church of God unholy, bring destruction upon themselves. Christ by his Spirit lives in all true believers. Christians are to be holy and should be pure and clean, both in heart and conversation. He is deceived who deems himself the temple of the Holy Ghost, yet is unconcerned about personal holiness, or the peace and purity of the church. The bride of Christ is to be pure and holy.
3:18. let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool so that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, "He takes the wise in their own craftiness." 20 And again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." 21 Therefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether it is Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
· To have a high opinion of our own wisdom, is but to flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to self-deceit. The wisdom that the world upholds is foolishness with God. The thoughts of the wisest men in the world is foolishness with God. All this should teach us to be humble, and make us willing to be taught of God, so as not to be led away by human wisdom from the simple truths revealed by Christ. Mankind are very apt to oppose the design of the mercies of God. The riches of a believer is that life is yours that you may have a season and opportunity to prepare for the life of heaven that you may go to the possession of it. If we belong to Christ, and are true to him, all good belongs to us. Believers are the subjects of his kingdom. He is Lord over us, we are in His dominion, and cheerfully submit to his command. God in Christ, reconciling a sinful world to himself, and pouring the riches of his grace on a reconciled people, is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ died for the whole world – all have the opportunity to be saved and know the truth.
4:1-13 Leaders are servants of Christ. There is a day coming, that will bring men's secret sins into the open light, and discover the secrets of their hearts. Then every slandered believer will be justified, and every faithful servant approved and rewarded. The word of God is the best rule by which to judge as men. Pride commonly is at the bottom of all quarrels. Self-conceit contributes to produce undue esteem of our teachers, as well as of ourselves. Self-centredness causes great trouble – not only for you but also for those around you.
“We are weak, but ye are strong.” Some Christians suffer greater hardships than others. Whatever the Disciples of Christ suffer from men, they must follow the example, and fulfil the will and precepts of their Lord. They must be content, with him and for him, to be despised and abused. Realise your responsibility to follow the example of your Saviour and humble yourself to learn correctly and live in His Salvation and grace. Jealousy and strife are not an option to be among us. They point to carnality among the church.
There
is no space for division in God’s Kingdom, only space for salvation and the
grace of God. Titus 3:8-11.
Comments
Post a Comment