1 Corinthians 3,1-9
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
December 16, 2001
Intro: The Brea foothills, (My desire, My disappointment)
A- In our Spiritual lives there are always new hillsides to climb and ridges to overcome.
1- The 1st one is the biggest OUR FLESH
a- Dying to self and repenting SAYING I’M SORRY.
- We don’t like to say that we are sorry
· If I say to wife (kiss)
· Friend (better relationship)
· W/God (1st step in salvation)
b- IT boils do to a pride issue (we always want to be right).
- To say I was sorry is to say I was wrong.
· Over coming our carnal nature.
Turn to Proverbs 6:16-19
2- Through out this life there is an continuos battle between spiritual me and this UN-HOLY trinity that exists in this life.
- My flesh, This world, The devil
· Continuos ridges in our lives.
· These 3 are the instigators of every un-holy thing.
Ø A small but growing number of people in strife-torn Pakistan deal with their woes by smoking scorpions, according to a November Reuters dispatch. Users dry the scorpion's stingers, grind them up, light the powder, and suck the smoke. "When I smoke scorpion," said Ghulam Raza, "then the heroin is like nothing to me." Quetta addicts tend to hang out at a local cemetery, where outsiders will not bother them (though there is an occasional problem with enstupored persons falling into partially dug graves).
Ø South Africa Baby rape.
B- We’ve see the main problems of the flesh that exist in the Corinthians Church.
1- Respecters of person’s (Their message over the message of the cross).
2- Respecters of the wisdom of the world.
a- Paul’s basic response is that “This is not what changed your lives”.
- Me and Communion.
Read Verses 1-3
A- Paul is rebuking the church here.
1- Rebuke = a necessary correction for the benefit of all.
1 Timothy 5:20-21, Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
2- The most important thing that we need to see in this portion of our verses is the mindset of the rebuker.
a- He starts our with a simple reminder…
- Brethren = Association & Love
1 Corinthians 1:10, Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (come alone side).
3- To properly rebuke someone they should leave feeling.
a- Convicted but loved.
- The result will be an effective servant.
b- OR do they feel beat-up
- Did you get in the flesh (beat the sheep)
- Take it personally (pride)
4- A word fitly spoken will produce fruit
a- Those in submission to us (child, work, ministry)
- The fire incident
Job 5:17-19, “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.
He shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. (7 = Spiritual perfection)
Read verse 1
A- The basic problem was that they were not spiritual people.
1- NOW, positionaly they were saved & spiritual from the standpoint of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
a- Unspiritual in this sense would be the man in 2:14.
Romans 8:9, But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
B- Spiritual positionaly but for practical purposes they are not.
Read Verses 1-3
1- Christian con-carne
a- The lowest level of Christian existence.
- The person who walks (lives) according to his own desires. (Take up your cross)
· The flesh always being contrary to the spiritual.
- Chemistry class and the 2 chemicals
· Explosion; “don’t mix”
C- It’s the one who is spiritual both possistionaly and practically, Paul, who lovingly rebukes.
1- “Babes in Christ “ Spiritually immature.
Galatians 6:1, Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Read verses 2-3
A- There is no shame in being a spiritual babe.
1- The shame is in not seeking to grow.
Read Ephesians 4:11-16
a- What kind of body would I have if I had the leg of a 2 year old, No schooling, No Christian experiences.
Hebrews 5:12-14, For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
B- Paul had taught in Corinth for 1 ½ years (5 years later), Apollos for a time, some sat under Peter, Maybe some had personally heard Jesus teach.
Read verses 3-4
A- They got to the crest of that 1st hill and never moved on in their walks.
1- The result is envy and strife
John MacArthur: Jealousy is the attitude, and strife is the action that results from it. One is the inner emotional condition, the other the outward expression of selfishness.
2- Milk = The basics of salvation
3- Solid food = The whole counsel of God.
1 Peter 2:1-3, Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Read Acts 20:26-32
Ø In Verses 5-9 we see 3 things to overcome this type of carnal situation.
#1- Verse 5, It’s never about man but God.
A- If God planted CCO HE is the one who will maintain it.
1- We are stewards (your property at home)
2- These men are instruments
a- Paul says, If your looking to them than you are looking in the wrong direction.
#2- Verse 6-7, We are all integral parts.
A- Paul was a church planter
1- Apollos an eloquent teacher.
a- Pastor??
b- And they are the church
2- None of these will cause the church to grow (what farmer can).
Ezekiel 11:19-20, “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,20 “that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
#3- Verses 8-9, Bottom line, a person has reached maturity when in
all he does GOD GETS THE GLORY.
Luke 19:39-40, And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
1 Corinthians 10: 31, Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Turn to 2Peter 1:5-15