Division at Corinth Church

1 Corinthians 3

We are continuing to follow along in Paul’s letter to Corinth dealing with problems within the Corinthian church. Paul is still dealing with division.....

Preference

Human Wisdom vs. Spiritual Wisdom

Those are the main focus of Paul’s writing so far......

Some prefer a certain preacher....

Maybe because of style or speech

Philosophy or human wisdom had infiltrated the church.

Paul continues this teaching/exhortation in chapter 3.......dealing with both wordly wisdom and preference.

A writer wrote in a book called “New Life”......... ““It is rather like a cyclist who when he has climbed a long hill, feels he should be able to freewheel down the other side. It is not until he reaches the top that he sees his task has only just started, and that the road winds on with even steeper hills than the one he has just climbed. When people accept Christ, they tend to think it is freewheeling from that point, but then they discover it is only the beginning.”

Another writer wrote this about that statement: “There are two reasons, and really everything can be reduced to these two. Two things make the Christian life difficult.

Number one: You are going against the grain of the world.

Secondly, the internal. You are also going against the grain of the flesh, your own humanness. Paul put it this way in Romans 7: “I love to do God’s will so far as my new self is concerned. But there is something deep within me in my flesh that is at war with my mind, and wins the fight, making me a slave to the sin that still is in me.” That’s the internal.

So, we could boil down this division, maybe even all division, to this.......

Worldliness

Paul says to them from 1:18 through 2:16, the end of the first chapter and the whole second chapter, “Your problem is you’re divided because you are buying the world’s philosophy. Everybody brings into the church philosophies of the world. You can’t agree, because you all have your own different worldly philosophies, and you’ve got discord.” That was their first problem.

Flesh

The second reason that they were divided was because instead of functioning in the Spirit, they were functioning in the flesh; and whenever the flesh functions – watch this – one word will characterize it inevitably. It starts with “s” and it ends with “ish”: selfish

Vs. 1-4… Paul calls them “brethren”, which seems to point out that they are true brothers in Christ......However......

He could not talk to them in spiritual terms, he spoke to them carnally or fleshly.

As babes in Christ.......this is not so much that they were new Christians it was more so that carnality had stunted their growth.

These weren’t new Christians, they had been taught by Paul for 18 months in the beginning and Apollos taught them after that for about 5 years.

Paul had to treat them as if they were new Christians, speaking something more easily digestible truths of doctrine.

Milk

Paul is telling them: “You are brethren, you are Christians, but I can’t talk to you that way.”

It is like they are living out their Christian lives in the flesh and not in the Spirit....

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

You cannot even bear the meat.....

You are of the flesh....Paul says.......They were controlled by the flesh.......

Have you ever been that way????

It seems as though this was daily living for this church.......go back to verse 1 “as unto carnal”

By that points to these folks being Christians positionally not practically.

One preacher said that they show up on Sunday morning and they want the preacher/teacher to stick the bottle in.

Babies are beautiful when they are babies but when they get 20 yrs. old and still act like a baby that is not beautiful.

They were of the flesh, because divisions and jealousy and strife were all present amongst the folks at this church.

What caused it?? There were some separating themselves from others and vice versa, because of the particular preacher/teacher they liked.......Really???

A preacher said this about that: “Carnality manifests itself in selfishness, and selfishness is the mother of division. “I want it the way I want it. We believe this way. This is our group.” See? Division. You’re babies. Babies are like that. When you just give milk, milk, milk, milk, you get a whole church full of babies, and you got a whole church fighting over their little ball and their blocks. Havoc. You get mature people; and you know what mature people are doing? They’re too busy concentrating on God to be worried about everybody’s little group.”

One would rather have Paul than Apollos.......isn’t that of the flesh????

Some have it translated: “Are you not mere men?”

Verse 5-9......has the answer......

Verse 5.....”the Lord gave”

Verse 6 “God gave”

Verse 7 “God gives the increase”

Paul states that him and Apollos are one, they preach the same Jesus Christ, the same Gospel....

But they are not anything, it is only God that gives the increase and that is what they preach!

Coming up we will talk about the reward for the labor but Paul is just saying the rewards will come and they will come from God, it is the message that is important and the teaching of that message......the whole counsel of God through the Scriptures is what is important!

They are all equal workers in the field, but the spiritual life from that field is entirely by God’s grace and power.

Paul is shifting the discussion in verse 9 from agriculture to construction.

You are God’s field, God’s building.

Basically, this is all about God, not man!

Verse 10-15.......Paul starts off the construction talk by stating that the only way he is a “masterbuilder” is by the grace of God!

Our function/spiritual gift is not of us, it is God’s favor on undeserving humans.

Paul is a master builder because he lays the foundation.....

Paul did not design the foundation, he only laid IT.

Matthew 16:15–18 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste.”

Be careful how you lay that foundation......there is no other foundation than Jesus Christ

This is to state that the foundation is of Jesus Christ and nothing else

Preference of man nor worldly wisdom does not play a role in the truth of Jesus Christ as the foundation of Spiritual life!

John 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.”

1 Peter 2:6–8 “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”

Let’s talk a moment about building on that foundation......

Building the church on that foundation

Building the individual life on that foundation.

Again, the world system has nothing of value in the Spiritual life.

We are not speaking against practical knowledge such as fixing something or building a house, etc.

The world system is a way of life, living out this life in worldly or carnal fashion.

Now, Paul deals with the believer’s works......works meaning how we build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Some have done it with:

Gold

Silver

precious stones

wood

hay

stubble

Paul is speaking about the “judgement seat of Christ” Which is called the “Bema” judgement:

“The judgment seat of Christ: “This is the bema seat, equivalent to the judge’s seat in the Olympic Games. After each game, the winners came before the judge’s seat to receive crowns for first, second, and third places. Likewise, the Christian’s works will be tested by fire, and he’ll be rewarded for those which remain... The judgment seat of Christ is only concerned with a Christian’s rewards and position in the kingdom, not with his salvation.” (Smith)

Let’s deal with this a moment or 2, because it is important.....2 Corinthians 5:9-17......

This is about our works.....

We are not saved by works, but we will receive rewards because of our works!

Our sins are paid for on the cross........Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

This where the rewards are handed out, everyone will be saved.

There are several judgments of God........

White throne judgement.....judgement of sinners Rev. 20

Judgement of Israel Ezekiel 20

Judgement of the nations Matt. 25

Judgement of satan and demons Jude 6......

Then the judgement of our works whether good or bad.......

Our works whichever materials that have been used will be judged by fire and those that are burned up are bad or worthless.

Although they can be used for things, bricks, roofing, etc.....they will be burned in the fire.

As they are tried.......seen the fruits of.

And here again the point is that God will do the judging......you will not.....1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”

I want to deal real quickly with our works......it has most to do with motivation.....

Let’s look at Paul’s motivation......

Christ is coming........ 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

Christ’s love compels him.....2 Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.....2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Those are powerful motivations that should drive us to the “good” works.....

What is good works?......Building on the foundation of Jesus Christ with materials that last, that stay when tried.

I want to offer up one more theory on this....it is somewhat debated but it is a good discussion...

Ligonier........on email of phone......

Jesus will judge based on motivation, conduct, and use of Spiritual gifts.....

All stem from what is within......the motivation!

Verses 16-17.......

Powerful truth that should all make us fall on our faces.......the Spirit of God lives within us

We are the temple, you yourself is the place of worship, where God meets His people through Christ and His Spirit!

This is a warning that if anyone messes or interferes with that building on the foundation, God will destroy that one.

Matthew 18:6–7 “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”

In any way, false teaching, threats, persecution, etc. etc.

Verse 18-23.......Do not boast in men, because all things are yours and you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s!!!

If worldly wisdom starts to dominate you to the point that it is interfering with the spiritual.....then become a fool/moron, then you will be wise in the spirit.

A fool to the world

wise unto salvation

Job 5:13 “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: And the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.”

Psalm 94:11 “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity.”

Do not boast in men......all things belong to God and therefore all things are yours......

Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”