09-05-2020 What Happens When the Kids Don't Grow Up?

1 Corinthians 1:10–17 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

There are many ways to be divided in a local church:

Giving Improper Focus to Spiritual Mentors

Having Different Opinions on Material Things

Believing that Traditions must be followed

Social and/or Status Matters

Political Matters

Piety (Divorce, Alcohol, Child-Rearing, Education)

Paul gives us a clear wrap on the spiritual knuckles to help re-focus our attention on Christ,

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Growth Comes to Those who LOVE CHRIST (1 Cor 2:6-9)

1 Corinthians 2:6–9 ESV

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Growth Comes to Those who LOVE CHRIST (1 Cor 2:6-9)

Among the Mature We DO impart Wisdom - Maybe you aren’t receiving because you are in the Spiritually Immature Category - Sometimes People mistake their age/status in life with spiritual maturity

This Wisdom was HIDDEN in previous ages, but clearly DECLARED in them (Christ being revealed in progressive revelation)

God has CHOSEN to glorify us - We are certainly undeserving since once we learn to fulfil our own lusts we are already glory hounds…

The rulers of previous ages did not UNDERSTAND or they would have PREVENTED Christ’s crucifixion.

v. 9 - Key “what God has prepared for those who LOVE HIM” - Once we BELIEVE it is a CHOICE on our Part to LOVE GOD FIRST (quote from Isaiah 64:4; then see Matthew 25:34 - inherit kingdom prepared for you From the Foundation of the world; James 1:12 - persevere - Crown of LiFe promised for those who love Him)

BTW - what is the “wisdom?” - 1:30 “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom of God”

Only in Christ Can We Understand The Difference Between Spiritual and Natural

1 Corinthians 2:10–16 ESV

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Only in Christ Can We Understand The Difference Between Spiritual and Natural..

Notice the DEPTH of the Holy Spirit (vv. 10-11)

Notice the DELIVERY of the Holy Spirit (vv. 12-13) - WHY? so that we might UNDERSTAND THINGS FREELY GIVEN US BY GOD.. and you NEED HIM to understand Paul’s Teaching

Notice the DIFFERENCE between the Natural (unsaved - psuchikos) and the Spiritual (saved)

Natural Man Does NOT Receive and Considers this Foolish and Cannot understand because what Paul has preached is Spiritually Discerned...

Spiritual Person closely examines all things (capable of REALLY SEEING AND UNDERSTANDING…) but cannot be closely examined

Now, back to the DEPTH - We have the mind of Christ!!!

And, Back to the PROBLEM - What Happens when the kids do NOT GROW UP - DIVISION

When Christians Act Like Babies by Staying Rooted in the Flesh

1 Corinthians 3:1–4 ESV

1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

When Christians Act Like Babies by Staying Rooted in the Flesh

Paul’s CONCERN - v. 1 - Could not speak to you as Spiritual people...

Paul’s CLAIM - YOU ARE CARNAL (sarkinos) = Fleshly and YOU ARE BABIES (nepios) In other words you are infantile and self-centered

Paul’s CHARGE - v. 2 “and even know you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh - YOU ARE ACTING LIKE the NATURAL/UNSAVED PEOPLE…

Can Christians Behave Like the Unsaved Natural Person? YES BUT IT IS ALWAYS SELF INFLICTED!!!

What do I do?

1 Corinthians 3:18–23 ESV

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.