For
All Things Are Your
–
First Corinthians Three –
One of the problems among the Christians
at
This chapter addresses the divisions that were separating these
brethren into groups that identified themselves with men. Paul rebuked them for
allowing the names of preachers to divide the Lord's church. They were carnal being guilty of envying, strife, and divisions.
"Strife" means fighting among themselves with words. No wonder Paul
called them "carnal!" They were acting like they were of the world.
Paul told them that the preachers they were dividing over were
actually in harmony and that they worked together. He wanted them to know that
the preachers were nothing more than ministers. These preachers all built upon
the same foundation, that of Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 3:11) He wanted it
understood that it is wrong to make divisions
in the body
of Christ. They were admonished to take
care not to divide and destroy the church because it is the temple of the Holy
Spirit. Later Paul will say that the body of each Christian is the temple of
the Holy Spirit.
The brethren were carnal
– I Corinthians 3:1-4: When Paul wrote this epistle the brethren were
acting like people of this world. They were acting like babies as far as their
faith is Christ was concerned. Division had caused them to be so weak
spiritually that they were unable to receive the meat of God's word. Paul had
to treat them like spiritual babies and give them milk and not strong spiritual
food.
The focus of these brethren was on their own desires instead of on
the spiritual plan of God for salvation and the church. The milk of the word is
beautiful, but we need the meat of the word in order to have our spiritual
armor. The carnal nature of these brethren led to envy, strife, and divisions,
instead of to spiritual strength. Envy is "a feeling of discontent and
resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or
qualities of another." Strife is "bitter conflict; heated often
violent dissension." Division is "the state of having been divided."
Some were saying they followed Paul. Others said they followed Apollos. The
people of the word divide themselves and quarrel with one another. Christians
should not act this way.
The preachers are servants – I Corinthians 3:5-10:
Apollos and Paul were merely servants or ministers that had helped these
brethren have faith. Paul had no desire for preachers to receive special honor.
He had planted the spiritual seeds, Apollos watered them, but God gave the
increase. Paul established the church in
The blessings that came to the brethren at
The church should just work together for God. We are God's garden
and God's building. We are co-workers together with God. Paul laid the
foundation at
The foundation is Christ – I Corinthians
3:11-15: Christ is the foundation, and we are to be careful that we
build in a scriptural and spiritual way on Him. He is the only foundation upon
which you can build for eternity. He is the chief corner stone for the church
and for our salvation. (Ephesians 2:20) Many attempt to build on such temporary
foundations as "gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or
stubble." "The church should be built of true Christians, the proper
material; and not of worldly-minded hypocrites, or of those who estimate the
oracles of God as on a par with the philosophies of men. The day of judgment
will reveal the true character of all who are in the church."
Those that build on Jesus must be genuine in their faith and
service. The foundation that we have built upon will be tested by fire on the
Day of Judgment. "The fire will try every man's work of what sort it
is." We must do the work of God and diligently seek to please Him in all
that we do. We must see that He gets the glory for all the increase. We will be
rewarded if our building is standing after being tested at the judgment. You
may put forth the effort to win a person to Christ only to have that person
turn from the Lord. Your reward would in some way have been greater if they had
remained faithful but what they do will not affect your salvation.
The
Paul reminded these brethren that "All things are
yours." (1) Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas are yours as servants that have
taught you the gospel. (2) The world is yours to live in, to conquer and to
enjoy. (3) Life is yours as a daily gift from God and as a proving ground for
eternity. (4) Death is yours to terminate the sorrows of this life and to usher
you into life's other side. (5) Things present are yours in that you can enjoy
all the benefits of the gospel. (6) The "things to come" that are
yours include judgment, eternity and heaven itself. True Christianity allows us
to rise above denominationalism because there is only one Savior, One Father
and One Holy Spirit.
Will you appreciate Jesus enough that you will receive Him as your
Lord and Savior NOW? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans