Third Sunday in Lent

Sunday March 15, 2009

1 Corinthians 3

Today's reading in the 3rd chapter of 1 Corinthians has much going on.  As is my custom let me first comment on what was read today before we learn how we are to apply it to our daily lives. 

First Paul talks as one talking to a child.  He explains that he cannot talk to them as spiritual for they are still carnal.  Carnal means of this world.  You may hear me refer to it as the desires of the flesh.  Paul is very good at using analogies to get his point across and today's chapter is no exception.    He tells the Christians in the Church of Corinth that they are like babies that cannot be fed meat, but must start off on milk.  Like a baby you could not stuff food down its throat and expect it to live very long.  It must first suckle its mother’s breast, then given soft food, and then the baby must be fed slowly, and in stages.  Same goes for the Christian.  We are born again in Christ, and we must be fed first with the milk then we are fed the steak and potatoes.  Many churches today like to throw the baby out with the bathwater by making claims that the Old Testament is no longer important.  But how would we know that Jesus was promised by the Father unless we first read about it in the O/T.  For many years it confused me that God would require animal sacrifice.  As my learning progressed I learned that it was done as a prefigure of Christ’s broken body and shed blood.  Let me ask a question.  Would you know it was a sin to covet if no-one told you so?  Of course not.  How then could we understand when Jesus talked about the 10 Commandments if we never heard of them?  Same idea applies in Paul's teaching today.  As I have mentioned in past sermons Paul wrote these Epistles or letters to help with issues happening within the churches he started, and today seems to be one of those days for Paul.  Continuing in verse 3 Paul starts to rebuke them for the way they are acting towards each other.  It is as if Paul can hear the people saying “we are not carnal,” and Paul says to them "Yes you are carnal: as long as you have envying, strife, and divisions you are in fact carnal and walk as all unbelievers do?"  It seems some of the arguments came about because of Paul and Apollos.  Tradition holds that Apollos was the bishop of Caesarea.  In verse 5 Paul says "some of you say I am of Paul, and others I am of Apollos.  Who then is Paul, and who Apollos?"  He wants it firmly understood that both he and Apollos are nothing but planter and the waterier, but God is the one who does the growing.  It is God that gives the increase the blessings.  Paul and Apollos are no different from them, but God who increases and does the growing is different from all.  Paul then switches from the plant analogy to the building analogy.  Paul says we have laid the foundation that is Christ Jesus, but it is what you build on this foundation that matters.  If any use precious stone or rocks, gold, silver, wood, hay, and stubble their work will be tested in the fire and this fire will test every man's work to see what it is made of.  If the work survives then he will receive his just rewards.  In verse 16 Paul hits a cord in every person's heart.  "Do you not know that you are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells 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.”  Paul is giving very specific teaching here because he wants them to know that they damn themselves if they allow themselves to be spoiled by the evil of this world.  Do not deceive yourselves, Paul continues, if any man seems wise in this world, let him become a fool so he will truly be wise for the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.  Paul was one man, and he knew many would come into the churches teaching false doctrine to the people.  Much like is happening today, and like today Paul wanted them to understand that all though those of this world find themselves wise beyong measure their teachings are nothing but foolishness before the truth that is in Christ.

Brothers and sisters I ask you today do you still seek milk?  Are you still carnal in your lives that you are not ready for the meat?  The AOC has planted and I water, but it is the Lord that gives you increase and understanding.  Do you remember in Matthew chapter 16 13-17 the time when the Lord Jesus asked the Apostles who is was the people said He was.  “Some say you are John the Baptist, others Elijah, or Jeremiah, and others still some other great prophet.”  Who do you say I am?  Peter answered and said “Thou art the Christ.”  What was the Lord Jesus’ response to this? “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”  It is not I that gives you understanding, but the Lord.  Not until you are ready to rid yourself of your fleshly life will you be ready and willing to accept what it is the Lord has to give.  Yes, we can build upon the foundation that is Christ, but what is it you intend to build that foundation with?  What good is a foundation built with gold, silver, hay, straw, or stubble if when the day of fire and trial come they cannot stand?  In the early 90s there was a hurricane that went through Florida destroying thousands of homes.  There was certain neighborhood that every home was leveled, but one.  There was not a mark on this home  not even a shingle out of place, and it looked strange standing there amongst all the carnage. 

When the owner of the home was interviewed they asked him how it was that his home still stood while all the others in a 10 block radius did not.  He told them that he built this house himself and he built it strictly to Florida State hurricane codes.  He said that those who implemented the Florida State hurricane codes guaranteed that if the house was built to these exact specifications it could withstand category 6 hurricanes, and that is exactly the hurricane that went through Florida and his house stood tall.  Can we say the same today?   Yes, there is a good chance that we may be burned with this fire, but if we can withstand and come out on top our reward will be much greater.  But here is the most important of all; now that your building has been built do you realize that it is a Temple that belongs to God?  There are no more excuses, no more lies, no more sexual perversion; you are no longer in charge of your body because it now belongs to Him who created you.  We live in a world today were we are told to live life to its fullest.  TV, radio, newspaper ads tell us to “just do it.”  Do whatever it takes to get ahead of the game lie, cheat, steal to get rich and live beyond your wildest dreams.  This is the wisdom of this world and God tells us the world’s wisdom is nothing but foolishness to Him. 

AMEN