The Unlimited Christian
1 Corinthians 3:1–23
The limited Christian
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?
The Labouring Christian
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 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.
The Tried Christian
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.
The Nominal Christian
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The Untangled Christian
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.
The Unrestricted Christian
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.
INTRODUCTION
I have determined to preach an introductory sermon to this third chapter of 1st Corinthians. It is intended as a summary of the passage to enable us to glean the context lest we go astray and move ourselves too far from its theme.
Or, rather, lest THE PREACHER tend to go outside the bounds set before him.
It may seem strange that I have titled the sermon the way I have, given the first four verses of the chapter. But it is certain as we move on that the first four verses demonstrate a LIMITATION Christians unwittingly place upon themselves in their refusal to read the word of God, to pray and to grow.
The theme of the chapter however, is Paul encouraging the brethren to an UNLIMITED LIFE.
Therefore, while each of us can be addressed as limiting ourselves through carnality in life, and that there are those who would destroy the Temple of God, we all have both the potential and the actuality of being THE UNLIMITED CHRISTIAN.
First however we ought to see how it is that we LIMIT ourselves.
Learn what it is that we build upon as we LABOUR.
Recognise that we are all to be TRIED. That there is a reward appointed to all who are saved that shall remain for eternity, the other to be burnt up as having had no value whatever for matters infinate.
Identifying also that there is the NOMINAL Christian, who sets himself or herself against the temple of God to destroy it, but will themselves be destroyed.
Learn how it is we can become unrestricted as we untangle ourselves from the ways and thoughts of this world
And lastly we can find all that pertains to the UNLIMITED Christian.
Each point today intended as the headings of the sermons that may follow, but for today a consideration of the overall theme.
1 Corinthians 3:1–4
The limited Christian
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?
Chapter 2 concludes with explanation as to the distinction between the wisdom of the world which profits no man and the wisdom of God which profits to eternity.
The temporal vapour of man is pitted against the infinite substance of Christ.
But now we see the apostle look back to those he addresses and calls them out as LIMITING themselves to the former, acting as fools by turning to the world, living carnal or fleshly lives in-spite of the infinite transformation that has been worked within them by Christ.
We see this identified firstly in DIVISION: it is schism that Paul first sees developing as the outward manifestation of carnality;
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?
There they are following after men and not after Christ, as if men have any value in them other than pointing them to Christ.
Reluctant to search their own hearts and motives, they pick and choose preferential leadership in accord with their own carnal lusts.
In typical last days fashion, they reject sound doctrine to follow preferentially those they believe would grant unto them licence to live as they would;
Turn to;
2 Timothy 4:2–4
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Paul here charges Timothy to faithfully discharge his duty to the Church in-spite of the times that will come.
Many shall turn in their hearts against the truth and be turned to fables, they will gather to themselves a cycle of men who are palatable to the ears, and they will change them as the years change the fashions.
“PREACH THE WORD” wrote Paul, for this alone is to the profitable nourishment of the people!
But what if they WILL NOT HEAR?
They spit out the solid food needed to develop bone and marrow, muscle and stamina.
Then, when trouble comes, they cannot stand. Limited Christians cannot endure trials in life, they become much like the world and blame everyone but themselves for the troubles of life.
“If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?” (Jer 12:5)
Christians are wilting today more than ever.
They cannot handle being corrected, they behave like small children when truth is presented that contradicts preference, and their anxiety peaks to extremities when the preacher even comes close to touching on convicting truths during sermons.
Pastors get emails and text messages from disgruntled babes who did not like the flavour of the formula, let alone enduring solid food.
HOW can the PREACHER nourish a people WHO WILFULLY LIMIT THEMSELVES to the diet of a baby?
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.
If your FINAL AUTHORITY for matters of life and living is NOT the Bible, you are a babe.
Malnourishment is identified by the outflow of your choices in life, Paul testifies to the Church as Babes by their actions not by their words.
The final manifestation of carnality is division, they either attempt to cast away from their sight the preacher of righteousness, or remove themselves to the blissful ignorance of comfort in carnality.
This beloved is the LIMITED CHRISTIAN. And they shall sadly wax worse and worse.
The carnal Christian LIMITS himself as he works to limit the preacher, and thereby limit the Church.
Paul was thus LIMITED
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.
Paul had wonderful things to share to the “Spiritual“, but the Corinthian Church was carnal.
Even in “his own country” Jesus “did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt 13:53-58);
So it is with THE LIMITED CHRISTIAN.
Beloved, if you are not reading your Bible daily and spending time with the Lord in prayer daily, if you are not making ALL your decisions in life consciously subject to that which you read in the scriptures, YOU ARE now, or soon becoming, THE LIMITED CHRISTIAN this passage refers to.
If your desire is to be an UNLIMITED CHRISTIAN, move on to solid food, “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Ps 34:8)
1 Corinthians 3:5-11
The Labouring Christian
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 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.
Paul addresses the immediate matter of the Church directly by placing value where it ought to have been, understanding that we are all simply labourers in the field ready to harvest.
What is man? What value does he have in and of himself?
The Church ought never to follow simply after men.
Man is only of value inasmuch as they draw you more to Christ.
If they plant the word of God faithfully, if they water the word faithfully, and if you are receiving gladly, God will bring the increase.
Consider the parable of the sower from where this consideration of Paul comes. It is a wonderful passage in Mark’s gospel and we will employ it to fulfill this point.
Turn to;
Mark 4:14–20
The parable begins in verse 1, but here we have Jesus explains the parable to his enquiring disciples.
14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Beloved, the work of the preacher is simply to sow or to water the word, they themselves are not to be vainly held in high regard.
There are men who may have led you to the Lord, they preached the gospel and you have believed it, wonderful, do not hold too tightly to them but turn to the word of God and allow yourselves to be fed on it directly.
The men themselves are not anything, do not carnally hold to them.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Each of you, as members of the Body of Christ, have value in equal portion one to another.
Each of you are labourers in the vineyard of God as a part of the Body of Christ IF you are faithful in the work of the Lord.
All works of all men in Christ will be tried of what sort it is, do not RESTRICT YOURSELF to carnally follow after men, but follow after Christ through HIS words. Then and ONLY then will you truly become The UNLIMITED Christian.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
The Tried Christian
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.
We all are attending to a work in the Lord while we are here in the Body, this is the case whether we recognise it or not, whether we think we are called or not, whether we realise we have a gift to that calling or not.
Mothers, you are ministers to your children and the ministry that you minister will have a value associated with it, ‘gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble” and as such the work shall be tried of what sort it is.
Fathers, you are responsible, both for the oversight of the mother and for instructing your children.
Both good and bad undertakings of our responsibility will be judged and rewarded in kind.
That which endures for eternity, gold, silver, precious stones. That which is temporal, wood, hay, stubble.
Which are you sowing?
Paul here makes mention of the foundation that is laid which is Jesus Christ, everything we do in accord with Christ is going to be that which will endure for all eternity, anything we build on that foundation that is NOT of Christ, will be burned up.
How can we know?
The answer to this question brings us back to the beginning of the chapter and the purpose for the writing of this passage.
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:
The “Carnal” Christian cannot build that which is in accordance with the foundation of Jesus Christ because he does not know WHAT is in accordance with Christ!
Turn to Hebrews 5
In this passage the writer again desires to bring a full understanding of the subject matter to the readers of his letter, but AGAIN he is LIMITED for their lack of maturity. BUT, in this parallel passage we come to learn WHAT IT IS THAT GAINS that maturity that is necessary to discern that which is good.
Hebrews 5:10–14
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Beloved, it is knowledge in the “WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” that brings you to KNOW what it is to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.
It is your desire to both learn and OBEY God’s words that will remove ALL limitation in your Christian life, and make you an UNLIMITED CHRISTIAN.
Paul wrote again to Timothy saying;
2 Timothy 2:19–21
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
The ONLY fulfilment you will have in life is to become that for which you were created to be.
Happiness in life, UNLIMITED happiness, will only come when you are “meet for the masters use“, when you work to fulfil the purpose for which you are here.
Not doing so, is gathering “wood, hay and stubble” to be tried by fire, 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
The Nominal Christian
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The verse here speaks of you and I, those who are truly born again, as “the temple of God“, qualified in the knowledge “that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you“.
Romans 8 speaks of the Carnal mind and warns that there are those who do not have the Spirit of God in them and certainly cannot be sure to have such if their minds DO NOT have its default position in doing that which God has said, these are what is called “Nominal Christians”, that is, Christian in NAME only.
Turn to
Romans 8:5–9
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Our text in 1 Cor 3 speaks first in the second person plural in verse 16 saying, 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
But then in the third person singular in the next verse; 7 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy;
Then qualifies the reasoning for why God shall destroy such a person, for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Turn to 1 Cor 5
Corruption occurred within the Corinthian Church, for that was the nature of the culture surrounding the city.
Consider verses 1-2
So vile it was that the people in the Church would not deal with the sinner doing that which Paul wrote; such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. (1 Cor 5:1-2),
Testifying to an accepted spreading of pollution in the Body of Christ that would defile the Temple of God, which they were.
NOMINAL Christians, that is, those who call themselves Christian but have not the Spirit of God in them, are set for destruction through their wilful defilement of the Body of Christ.
Please note, this is not the LIMITED Christian, who is a babe, this is the NOMINAL Christian, who is not saved.
Such men, or women, are manifest in the Church by the divisions occurring therein, and they will make themselves more and more apparent as time goes on.
Meanwhile, the natural tendency is to give members the benefit of the doubt even while the leaven in the Church threatens the whole lump.
Speaking of such Paul continued;
1 Corinthians 5:4–6
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
None of us like to think that any in the Church are NOMINAL lost people, none want to believe that such people can become MEMBERS of a Church, yet it is EVIDENT they can and often do.
Nominal Christians will always manifest themselves in time, Paul warns that those within the Church who defile it, will be destroyed.
Please understand again, Nominal Christians are NOT Christian, they are what Jesus referred to as “tares among the wheat” (Mt 13:25), ‘goats that shall be divided from the sheep‘ (Mt 25:32-33), they are they who “entereth no by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way” (Jn 10:1) and their leaders come Wolves in Sheep clothing (Matthew 7:15).
We don’t like it, nevertheless, Satan has his ministers and plants the tares to destroy the Church. But God will destroy them.
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 3:18-20
The Untangled Christian
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.
We have spoken much respecting the distinction between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God, and so will not belabour the point but for this one thing;
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.
When the choice is made to determine we know nothing in and of ourselves, but submit all we are and all we do to the wisdom of God, then and ONLY then can we be confident of wise choices.
If you do not know that you don’t know, you will never learn anything, but when you know you dont know, then you open yourself up to learning. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
The wisest man of the secular world was quoted by Plato as saying, “For I was conscious that I knew practically nothing“, or “I know that I know nothing” from the Latin, “Scio me nescire“.
Vance Havner spoke of his own ignorance when he became a boy preacher, he said, “not only did I not know anything, but I didn’t even suspect anything“.
Our own wisdom is notoriously untrustworthy. Become a fool that you may be wise.
Do not be entangled with the affairs of this life!
Turn to
2 Timothy 2:1–7
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Read your Bible, seek the Lord and Trust him for every decision.
1 Corinthians 3:21-23
The Unlimited Christian
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.
Everything is open to those who will not limit themselves to the foolish wisdom and pursuits in this life.
When we landlock ourselves to vainly persuing after that which will not endure the fire, we limit ourselves and do no eternal service to any.
“All things are yours…“
We have but this ONE life to bring hope to the world, do not waste it by persuing only that for yourself. ONE LIFE to bring joy to many.
The length of your days ought to be YOUR ONLY LIMIT, while you bring hope to every shore.
An illustration I may gives involves the merchant ship captain;
He comes to a foreign shore and settles for a meal in a local eatery. The waitress hears of her guest and sets the curious question related to his travels.
“Where have you been sir? What lands have you seen”
He replied simply stating, “Madam, I am limited to the Ocean”.
You have ONE life, Dont LIMIT yourself by being LANDLOCKED to yourself, The Unlimited Christian learns from an infinite source.
0 Comments