1 Corinthians, Chapter 3
© Copyright 2002 Darroll Evans, all rights
reserved
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?
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?
Referring to the Corinthians as brothers,
Paul also said that he could not speak to them as spiritual people.
Paul spoke to them as children. But, though
they were immature children they were in Christ.
Paul did not give the Corinthians adult
spiritual food.
He gave the Corinthians a diet of spiritual
milk because they could not digest strong food.
Two thousand years later, spiritual pabulum
is still the main course at most Churches.
Even though they trusted Christ for
salvation, they were strongly attached the world.
Acts of envy and strife were daily
occurrences.
They lived as non-Christians. Look around, we
do that too.
Christianity has nothing to do with cars and
houses.
It is the content of our character that comes
from Christ.
Verse 4 sounds as if it were written today.
Far too many Christians are running around
saying, "I am a Pauline teacher", or "I am traditional
teacher", or "I teach the latest, newest, most involved theological
concept."
All that is nonsense!
All the great teachers of this or any
generation were merely men that responded to God’s call.
None came forth without His call and
anointing.
One may plant the seed of the word, another
may water the young Christian with more teaching, but only God can cause the
plant to blossom in due season.
All of God’s servants are workers in His
fields.
At this point in God’s plan we are not ruling
or reigning, we are working.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
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.
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.
Paul was a wise master builder.
His job was to lay the foundation, and plant
the seed.
He left it to others to build a strong
building upon the foundation he laid.
The only foundation Paul laid, and indeed,
the only foundation that can successfully be built upon is Christ Jesus.
There is none other!
If anyone attempts to build on anything other
than Christ, his efforts will not stand the test.
Works do not result in salvation they result
in rewards.
Many Church folks are trying to work their
way into God’s grace.
Some Churches actually teach works as a means
or gaining or maintaining salvation.
It will do neither!
All works shall be tested!
Those that were ordained of God shall remain.
Those that do not shall be destroyed!
Did you think that only the lost would endure
fire?
Think again!
1 Corinthians 3:15---If any man's (Gr. ei tinos-ei tinoV) work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but
he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Corinthians 3:15 is a difficult verse.
The word “man’s” does not appear in the Greek
text.
The Greek refers to any object or any man’s
work or deeds.
The English translation of verse 16 is
shallow, so let me put it into proper context.
"Don’t you all (corporately) know that
you all (corporately) are
The Holy Spirit lives in and with you all
(corporately)!"
The Church is not made up of independent
contractors.
We are called to act in unity as Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit act in unity.
The Holy Spirit dwells in us individually and
corporately!
Verse 17 contains a warning to all that would
come against Christ and His people.
God shall destroy (render ineffective) anyone
who comes against His anointed.
God is saying plainly, "Do not touch my
anointed, and do not harm my Prophets" (1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm105:15)!
Take it seriously!
Then, God turns to us (His chosen) and tells
us that we are
1 Corinthians 3:18-23
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in
this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or
things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
The fact that both Jesus (Matthew 24) and
Paul urged us to keep a close watch for the wicked trying to deceive us is
evidence that the attempted deception will happen.
Satan does not come to Christians wearing a
large neon sign.
Our human pride is Satan’s greatest weapon.
Paul reminds us that Satan takes the humanly
wise using their personal false wisdom.
Don’t be deceived, Satan knows the difference
between true wisdom from false.
Satan initiated false wisdom, so he knows it
quite well.
Paul also reminds us that The Lord knows that
the thoughts of the humanly wise are vain.
When we come face to face with our failings,
and learn to trust Christ alone we will be safe from Satan.
That being factual, we should never
"glory in" men.
The word translated "glory" (Gr.
kauchasthoo/kaucasqw) may also be translated boast or rejoice.
We should glory, boast, rejoice in what the
Father has done through the Son.
Then, Paul says something that seems out of
place in any letter to the wild Corinthians.
Paul says, "all things are yours."
What? All things belong to a bunch of wild
men?
That’s right!
We are heirs to the promise and joint heirs
with Christ (Romans 8:17).
Christ Jesus inherits all and we get a part
of the pie.
All things are ours because we are Christ’s.