Spiritual Immaturity, vv. 1-7
A. Three categories of man:
- Natural man (sarkinos) rejects the things of the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:14.
- Spiritual man knows the things of God, 1 Corinthians 2:15.
- Carnal man (sarkikos) knows the things of God, but still acts and thinks like the natural man, verse 3 and Romans 7.
“The carnal Christian is a child of God, born again and on his way to heaven, but he is traveling third class.” (Redpath) Romans 7 is a portrait of the carnal Christian; indwelt by the Spirit, but mastered by the flesh.
B. Carnal Christians are immature Christians (sarkikos).
- Paul calls them “brethren.”
- Paul calls them “babes in Christ.”
C. Immature Christians are not mature enough for solid food. They were addicted to spiritual “junk food,” based on man’s wisdom and eloquence.
D. Evidence of Immaturity: “envying, strife, and division,” v. 3.
- Following preachers instead of Christ.
- Preachers works together, but God gives the increase, v. 7.
Spiritual Works, vv. 8-15
A. God rewards each laborer according to their own work, v. 8.
B. Paul laid the foundation of the Corinthian church (Acts 18)–>the person and work of Jesus Christ, v. 11.
C. Other laborers build on the foundation, and time will reveal the value of their work:
- Gold, silver, precious stones (stone materials like marble and granite).
a. Gold = deity of Triune God.
b. Silver = the Word of God, Psalm 12:6.
c. Precious Stones = the People of God, 1 Peter 2:2-10.
2. Wood, hay, stubble = worldly programs, methods, fleshly attractions. These are unworthy building materials.
3. The Fire of Judgment, 2 Corinthians 5:10, refines eternal materials, but destroys unworthy materials, vv. 13-15.
Spiritual Temple, vv. 16-23
A. You, the Church, are the Temple of God and His Spirit dwells within you, v. 16.
- The Temple is Holy because of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- If we defile the Temple/Church, God will destroy you. It matters to God how we treat His holy Temple.
B. How to Glorify God, vv. 18-21
- Renounce worldly wisdom: humanism, man-centered philosophy.
- Become wise spiritually: what the world considers foolishness/useless.
- “Let no one glory in men,” v. 21.
C. “All things are yours,” vv. 21-23
- Following human leaders is too restrictive. They are only servants.
- “Even death is “ours”; it is our servant, not our master! Death may be to us as the angel who touched Peter in Acts 12, causing his chains to fall off, and leading him through a gate that opens by itself, into real freedom.
- “All are yours”: = Christian Liberty
- “You are Christ’s”: = Christian Responsibility.