STILL CARNAL?

STILL CARNAL?

1 Corinthians 3:3-23 (KJV)

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

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.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

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.

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

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.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

One of the most startling details in the early pages of 1 Corinthians is that there is division in the church there, and what the division was over.

Our problem takes us back to 1 Corinthians 1:11-12 (KJV)

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

The church in Corinth was divided and it was over who had the “best pastor.”

I can’t imagine anything less godly than arguing over men of God.

I would think it is almost the height of a Laodicean spirit that thinks they are rich and increased but do not know they are poor and miserable and blind and naked.

Paul answers this terrible carnality and sets us on a correct path by giving us,

*I. THE VALUE OF THE PREACHER

1 Corinthians 3:5-7 (KJV)

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

He is nothing.

I want to be careful to explain that the preacher DOES have value.

·   He plants

·   He waters

·   He prays

·   He leads to green pasture

·   He protects

·   He equips 

·   He matures

*He is an authority in the life of the church and we do well to: 

·   Submit to that authority, 

·   Honor that authority and 

·   Obey that authority

*But we must never worship that authority.

*II. THE ROLE OF THE PREACHER

1 Corinthians 3:8-11 (KJV)

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

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.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I imagine that most of us think of these words as applying to all Christians.

We are all laborers together with God.

That is certainly a truth that is implied in this passage. But I would like you to consider that the context provides that the “we” is: 

·   Paul,

·   Apollos 

·   Cephas

In other words, the preachers.

·   They plant

·   They water

·   They build 

I gave you a summary of the functions of the preacher in the previous point. Let me here give you some Scripture to back them up.

Pray and Preach

Acts 6:2-4 (KJV)

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Feed and Protect

Acts 20:28-31 (KJV)

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Equip and Perfect

Ephesians 4:11-13 (KJV)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Lead and govern

Hebrews 13:7 (KJV)

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Hebrews 13:17 (KJV)

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

*III. THE TRIAL OF THE PREACHER

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (KJV)

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

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.

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

I am certain that this passage applies to all Christians but the context tells me that it especially applies to preachers.

Hebrews 13:17 (KJV)

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

If it is true that every man’s work will be tried, how much surer must that be of the preacher?

He is held to a higher standard than others,[1]

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (KJV)

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

From here the Apostle takes us to his

Conclusion

A. The warning to the church

The church is the Temple of God

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (KJV)

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The Temple of God is not your body but it is the local church. Don’t defile it through divisions.

B. The foolishness of worldly wisdom

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (KJV)

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.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

James addresses this same subject and writes,

James 3:14-16 (KJV)

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

It is a lie to claim spiritual wisdom but have 

·   Bitterness

·   Envy or

·   Strife

in your heart.

C. The conclusion for unity

1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (KJV)

Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Notice he is back to Paul Apollos and Cephas. This entire passage has been a message about preachers.

The conclusion is, “Therefore let no man glory in men….”

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[1]I am sure that every Christian ought to press to attain this standard. The preacher is required to meet it.