1 Corinthians 3:1-3, “Childish Carnality”

[hmp_player playlist=’1Cor3:1-3′]

Sermon Notes Below:

January 5, 2014,

“Childish Carnality”

1Corinthians 3:1-3, “Childish Carnality”

The Corinthian church was suffering disunity and conflict, caused by worldly influence and sinful behavior. They had given in to the temptations of their own childish wants, becoming victims of their own lusts, hurting one another and the reputation of the Church by their sins.

Paul addresses them as brothers and sisters in Christ; this is a term of affection, love, connectedness, equality among the family of God. He then admonishes them, rebuking them for their carnality, warning them of sins consequences; for they are acting like immature children, like babies who are ignorant of God’s existence and will.

Paul says (1Corinthians 3:1), he cannot speak to them as spiritual people; although they had been born into God’s family, they did not grow up and have not matured.

Instead of acting like God’s children, they act as if they do not have the Spirit of God (John 1:12-13; 3:6-8; 14:15-17, 26; 1Corinthians 12:13-14; Ephesians 1:13); without God’s Spirit there is no understanding, no wisdom, no discernment (1Corinthians 2:12-13).

See 1Corinthians 2:14–16. Here Paul contrasts believers with unbelievers, those who are “spiritual”
[saved], with those who are “natural” i.e., unsaved. The word spiritual is a synonym for possessing life from God, and having “the mind of Christ.”

These Corinthians are acting like unsaved people, like unbelievers who do not possess life from God or the Spirit of God, for they are allowing their flesh to control them; for although believers are indwelled by God’s Spirit, they can live in a manner that dishonors God.

When you repent of your sins, believing in God’s Son for salvation, God’s Spirit lives in you, teaching and encouraging you to submit to God’s Word and will. Romans 8:9, 14, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”

Paul reminds them (1Corinthians 3:2), that he had given them “milk,” i.e., that which is necessary for new believers, for infants in the faith, because they couldn’t receive solid food (for the more mature).

However, these believers are not “infants” anymore, and they should have matured by now, understanding the deeper truths [solid food, meat] of God’s Word, but it seems they have not grown up (Hebrews 5:12-14).

When we disobey God’s Word and resist the Spirit’s leading in our life, we will experience many unnecessary detours, delays, troubles and tribulations; but we will also experience malnutrition and stunted growth.

God will accomplish His work in us, as Paul writes (Philippians 1:6), “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

However, believers such as those in Corinth or even those of us here in Waldport, are totally capable of acting unspiritual (Ephesians 4:22-32).

It is no wonder that Paul is speaking to the Corinthians as worldly people, people of flesh (sarkinos, literally meaning “fleshy ones”), referring to our fallen or carnal nature, our humanness that seeks to please self and so rebells against God.

We are changed forever in our heart/mind/spirit when we confess Christ as Lord and Savior (2Corinthians 5:17). The Bible often presents the “mind,” “heart,” and “spirit” as being the same. Think about this – Romans 8:9 says anyone without the Spirit of Christ, does not belong to Christ. Romans 10:9 says when you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 1Corinthians 2:16 says we have been given the “mind of Christ.”

And yet, our flesh remains corruptible influencing us to do wrong (Romans 7:22-25); even so, the “members” or parts of our body, our flesh, should no longer control us as we have been born from above by God’s Spirit. God has (2Peter 1:4), “given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Read Romans 8:28-30. God’s Word says, all whom God calls He will justify, and He will also glorify.
Justification is the transformation of our inner self, our spirit, conforming us into the character of Christ, as we live out our lives in obedience to the Word of God, bringing honor, praise, and glory to God.

Glorification will eventually happen to our earth suit, the corruptible body in which our spirit lives on earth. This body now bears Adam’s image and the curse of sin; but this body will be made new, it will be raised incorruptible, a spiritual body, our heaven suit, and it will bear Christ’s image (1Corinthians 15:42-50).

Carnality (flesh centered belief & behavior) causes division in the church. When members of the body of Christ don’t grow up or mature spiritually, they continue to want what they want, when they want it, the way they want it, and this is both a nuisance and a hindrance to the work of the Church.

Mature believers, however, are trained by God’s truth, and they will seek to know and do what pleases God, serving others, while being led by God’s Spirit not by the fleshly cravings of the natural man.

Human infants and children are self-centered, they cry, throw tantrums, demanding to be the center of attention; everything is seconded to their own comfort and the gratification of their own lusts. Mine! No!

Spiritual infants/children can cause problems, hardships, and even divisions in the church, by their immature and self-centered focus and behavior. 1Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”

Let us begin this new year by putting away our childish ways and seeking to do that which brings honor and glory to God, serving as members of one body, one church. For this is good and pleases our Father in heaven.

Ephesians 4:3-6, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called– one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”