Spiritual or carnal

1 Corinthians 3:1–3 KJV 1900

1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 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. 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?

What is spiritual - religiously, divinely.

What is carnal - animal, temporal.

He tried feeding them with meat but they were not ready for it. They only desired to have the milk of scripture. Just enough for a new born to survive. He was telling them, spiritually they are babies. And he is saying now as he is talking to them that they still are babies.

How can he tell that they are babies?

Because they have : Envying, strife, divisions.

Envying - Jealously

Strive - contention and debate

Division - disunion

He than says that they are carnal and they are walking as men. This is the direct opposite of how the are instructed to live.

They are instructed to live in the spirit, and judge things spiritual

1 Corinthians 2:15 KJV 1900

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

We are to lay off this mortal mind set and put on the immortal mind set.

Let go of the things that are not going to be here.

Remember the iPad message? How many of you have your shoes from 2 years ago. How many of your phones are 3 years old. It is high time we take up what Jim Elliot said and truly understand the value of temporal things in our life.

Jim Elliot “He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Now examine what is the next thing the apostle is saying here

1 Corinthians 3:4–11 KJV 1900

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 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. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 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.

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 KJV 1900

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.

cross refrence verse 12 to

1 Peter 1:7–9 KJV 1900

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.