Steps Of Spiritual Growth

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-28-2025

1 Corinthians 3:1-12

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  I preached through 1 Corinthians years ago, but for the most part, it was topical.  This time, it is more expositional.  This is good as it shows positive growth in your pastor and begets spiritual growth in the church. 

 

B.  When preaching on these verses, all the messages I have heard focus on soul-winning. Though soul-winning plays a role in the text, it is just the first step for the child of God.  After the first step comes the second and third steps.

 

1 John 3:1-3  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (3)  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

 

1.  The sons of God.

 

2.  We shall be like Him.

 

3.  We shall see Him as He is.

 

C.  A biblical principle requires a biblical interpretation before making a practical application.  Dr. Harold B. Sightler would say, “A text taken out of context becomes a pretext.” 

 

D.  The context has nothing to do with soul winning.  Nothing in the first three chapters speak of being a soul winner.  The context is carnality that brings envy, strife, and division!

 

E.  Verse 4.  Carnality made them followers of men, not God.  Thus, dividing the flock.  Paul was trying to unite them while Satan was dividing them.  Division within a local church is always satanic.

 

1 Corinthians 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 

 

1.  Paul planted the seed that brought the Corinthians to Christ, thus establishing a local church there.

 

2.  Apollos, a great orator with extensive knowledge of the Bible became their teacher.

 

3.  In chapter one, some had followed Cephas, or Peter, because they were a part of the “strangers scattered” because of the persecution in Jerusalem.  Here, in chapter three, Cephas was no longer mentioned because he was the Apostle to the Jews and remained in Jerusalem.

 

4.  The local church suffers the same division in our day as, instead of following the pastor that God gave, TV and Radio preachers along with parachurch schools of higher learning become the leadership, though they teach contrary to the doctrine they were taught.

 

F.  Verse 5.  These ministers, Paul and Apollos, were just instruments that God used.  The word “minister” means servant: one who executes the commands of another.

 

1 Corinthians 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

 

1.  Paul reminds the Corinthians that he and Apollos were not the basis of their salvation, but only the instruments God chose to use. 

 

2.  All of God’s children had people who were instrumental in bringing them the gospel of salvation and teachers to teach them God’s Word.

 

3. Paul and Apollo were not men to be praised.  Their eyes were not to be upon their ministers, their eyes were to be upon their Master!

 

a)  The Lord said, “Follow me!”  He is the Great Shepherd, and to be like Him is our great goal.

 

b)  Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 11:1) 

 

G.  Verse 6.  Three essential steps of the believer.

 

1 Corinthians 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

 

1.  Planting.  Paul was the Missionary. “one planted”  Paul planted a seed that brought about salvation.  Without salvation, spiritual growth would not be possible.

 

1 Corinthians 3:10-11  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.

 

Romans 15:20  Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

 

2.  Teaching.  Apollos was the Teacher.  “one watered” Apollos was the Teacher. Building up the saints through teaching God’s Word.  Without the Word of God, there would be no freedom to serve.

 

Matthew 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Acts 18:24-26  And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.  (25)  This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.  (26)  And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

 

3.  Increasing.  God was The Sovereign.  “One gave the increase” 

 

a)  Salvation through Grace.  Neither is there salvation in any other!

 

b)  Sanctification through Growth.  Spiritual growth requires God’s Word.

 

H.  Verse 7.  God is to be glorified and He alone!  We can plant all we can, water all we see, and sinners still die without Christ. 

 

1 Corinthians 1:30-31  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  (31)  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

Galatians 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

 

J.  Verses 8-9.  A Work of Unity. 

 

1 Corinthians 3:8-9  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.

 

1.  We may never see the harvest come in, but our reward is sure if we plant and water.

 

2.  Our reward is sure, as God is not unrighteous to forget our labor of love for Him.  (Hebrews 6:10)

 

3.  We are labourers together with God.  Not ahead of Him and not behind Him, WITH Him.

A Psalm of Forgiveness

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-25-2025

Psalm 130

 

Introduction:

 

A. Psalm 130 is another of the Songs of Degrees, also known as the Upward Psalms, which are intended to be sung by the Jewish people on their journey to Jerusalem during the Feast Days.

 

B.  This is a Penitent Psalm.  The spiritual time of this Psalm is one of honesty with God.  It is a time of despair, deep sorrow, and brokenness. It is a prayer of complete honesty before God during sinful despair. 

 

C.  The Psalm guides us to three places when we find ourselves in a state of sin.

 

1.  It guides the believer to repentance, which brings about mercy, to a confident hope.

 

2.  The Psalm does not lead the believer to a place of utter despair.

 

D.  At this point, we need to refresh our memories concerning the two types of repentance.

 

1.  Repentance unto Salvation.  This is not making a list of sins and asking God to forgive each of them.  We could not even remember all our sins because they would be too extensive.  Also, there are sins of ignorance and presumption, and all must be under Christ's blood.

 

Repentance unto salvation is repentance from “dead works.”  Hebrews 6:1.

 

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

 

This repentance involves understanding and acknowledging that we cannot save ourselves due to our sinful state. I call it “Bringing a bankrupt sinner to Christ.” Positional Repentance is a one-time event that covers all sin: past, present, and future.

 

2. Repentance unto Restoration to Fellowship. After salvation, we remain sinners. This is not a license to sin; it is the truth that our sinful flesh is still alive and our old nature intact. Thus, Romans 7:7-25 and 1 John 1:9! There will never be an eradication of our sinful nature until either death or the rapture of God’s church.

 

Romans 7:18-21  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  (19)  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  (20)  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  (21)  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

 

1 John 1:8-10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

E.  In Psalm 130, we find some important things:

 

1.  The Realization of Sinfulness.  “Out of the depths.”  Not literal water, but emotional, spiritual despair. This is the cry of someone drowning in guilt, fear, or shame.  The image of drowning, of being submerged in guilt or sorrow. The “depths” in biblical language often represent chaos, judgment, or despair (Jonah 2, Lamentations 3:55).

 

a.  Darkness is not like turning a light switch on or off.  There, you immediately transition from light to darkness or darkness to light.  I fear that many of God’s children have, to some degree, seared their consciousness of sinfulness.  I call this “getting used to the dark!” 

 

b.  We will never get right with God until we come face to face with who we are and what we have done.  There are no “little sins” as Christ Jesus had to die to pay for each of them. 

 

c.  Little sins ultimately transition into what we call large sins.  Evidently, the psalmist had drifted along for some time, which produced “the depths” in which he now resided.

 

2.  The Personalization of sinfulness.  “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” 

 

a.  We need to realize that personal sinfulness rests wholly upon self.  No victimization.  I am the problem, and the fault or sin is mine alone.  Victims can always find someone or something to blame for their predicament.

 

b.  We need to realize that we have a sinful nature and wicked flesh, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God!”  This is not an excuse for sinfulness, but a statement of sinfulness. 

 

c.  Because of this, we must stand guard 24/7!  Do not trust the flesh to make decisions regarding spiritual matters, as the flesh is in opposition to God and our primary enemy.

 

d.  This is a profound acknowledgment of human guilt. None of us could stand if God kept a strict account of our sins. But verse 4 brings the gospel note:

 

“But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”

 

Here is the good news in the middle of a psalm of lament. God forgives! Not cheaply, not casually—but thoroughly. And this forgiveness doesn’t lead to laxity—it leads to reverent fear. The more we grasp God’s mercy, the more we reverence Him.

Theological Point:
This is not mere leniency. It’s covenantal mercy. The Hebrew word used here suggests a forgiveness that is rooted in relationship. God's mercy flows out of His steadfast love

 

3. The Confession of Sinfulness. “I cried unto thee.” 

 

a.  We cannot forgive our sins; we must ask for forgiveness, as the power of forgiveness belongs to God alone.  The primary biblical example of this is familiar to both you and me.    King David’s sin of lust, adultery, murder, and concealment (he thought). 

 

b.  David thought that he had it covered, but “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” (2 Samuel 11:27 ) 

 

c.  Psalm 51 is David’s Penance Psalm.

 

Psalms 51:1-4  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  (2)  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  (3)  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  (4)  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 

d.  Though David certainly sinned against Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite, and Ahithophel (Bathsheba’s grandfather), he realized that his sin was “against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight!”

 

e.  Our sinfulness is against the Lord and needs to be dealt with before we can get right with others we may have offended.

 

4.  The Forgiver of sinfulness. “O LORD!”

 

a.  I am so glad that we do not have to go to Confession, my pastor, or the Church to find forgiveness of sin. Neither do we have to do penance for our sins.  Our Lord Jesus paid the full price for our sin, and no other sacrifice is needed.

 

b. Confessing and forsaking—this is the definition of repentance, which means not confessing while continuing in sin.

 

c.  Most people want a quick fix or a spiritual band-aid applied, but God requires complete honesty and godly sorrow.

 

2 Corinthians 7:10-11  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  (11)  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

 

d.  God's mercy is greater than our sin, and our hope rests in His unfailing love and redemption. 

 

Romans 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

 

5.  The Timing of Forgiveness. These Jews could receive forgiveness before they arrived at Jerusalem and the Temple. I have no problem with God’s people recognizing their sinfulness during a church service and addressing it right there, but I am thankful that I can reconcile with God before I go to church and then enjoy the service. 

 

In Jeremiah 33:3, the Lord said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

 

The proper timing for confession, repentance, and forgiveness is as immediate as possible!  Sin is much like physical sickness.  Ignoring it will not make it go away.

 

6.  The Faith of Forgiveness.  “let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” 

 

a.  This past Sunday morning, we saw that God said, in Exodus 34, that He was the God of forgiveness.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (I John 1:9) 

 

b.  Our faith is based upon God's Word.  God has promised forgiveness to all for everything.  So, ask!

 

c.  Our faith is based upon God’s love for His children.  God’s love and forbearance are incomprehensible to us as they have no limits.

 

d.  Take your burden to the Lord and LEAVE IT THERE. Now the psalmist shifts from plea to posture. He waits. He trusts. He looks to God’s Word, expecting Him to act.

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Memorial Day - Passing the Torch

Temple Baptist Church - 5-25-2025

2 Timothy 2:1-4; 4:6-7

 

Introduction: 

 

Genesis 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

 

The first war in the Bible was a spiritual one.  This set the foundation for every physical and spiritual war that would occur in the future. 

 

The first war in the Bible had a God hater, Cain, and a casualty, Abel.  Wars are fought because the ungodly hate God and the people of God.

 

Genesis 4:25-26  And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.  (26)  And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

 

2 Timothy 2:1-4  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.

 

2 Timothy 4:6-7  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 

Hebrews 11:13-14  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  (14)  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

 

Jude 1:3-4  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (4)  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

A.  In our texts for this morning, we find older men “passing on the torch” to younger men who will continue the fight. Throughout the Word of God, from Genesis chapter 4 (Adam to Seth), one generation passes away while another rises to carry on the struggle of perpetual war.  There are physical wars and there are spiritual wars.  And someone must stand in the gap and fight.

 

B.  War is an unfortunate reality, but also an absolute necessity.  Without wars, the world in general would be subjected to slavery.  War is also an art!  You win wars through training, strategy, and will.  “Fortune favors the brave” is a Latin proverb that dates back to ancient Rome.  

 

1.  The Lord is “a man of war.”  Exodus 15:3  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

 

2.  King David, a man after God’s own heart, was “a man of war.”  1 Samuel 16:18  Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

 

3.  The Lord trained King David in the art of war!  Psalms 144:1  A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

 

a)  In Basic Training, where you get into shape to fight and begin to learn weaponry, David killed a lion and a bear, but also honed his skill with a sling.  1 Samuel 17:34-36  And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:  (35)  And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.  (36)  Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

 

b)  In Advanced Infantry Training, where you learn to use weapons of war, David slew Goliath.  1 Samuel 17:50-51  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.  (51)  Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

 

c)  In Wars, David slew his ten thousands.  1 Samuel 18:7  And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

 

d)  In your Bible, we find mentioned:

 

War – 225 times.

Wars – 15 times.

Warfare – 5 times.

Battle or battles – 178 times.

Fight – 115 times.

Fightings – 2 times.

Fought – 64 times.

Soldier or Soldiers – 37 times.

Kill or killed – 232 times.

 

C.  Tomorrow is Memorial Day.  A day in which we remember our war dead.  Multitudes of young men and women have given up their futures to secure ours!  Often, we hear the words: “Freedom is not free!”  Our freedom here in the greatest nation on earth is founded on the shed blood of its patriots. 

 

D.  In war, there are wounds and casualties (deaths). Speaking of soldiers, someone said, “All gave some and some gave all.” Soldiers are necessary in both war and peace. They are essential in war to win and in peace to protect. Many young men and women gave up their futures to protect ours. 

 

Over 1,300,00 known deaths with almost as many wounded.  Close to 50,000,000 have served.  As I drive down one of our country roads, I always look to the right where a modest home sits on a little hill.  I remember visiting that home where a man and his wife lived years ago.  On the fireplace mantle was the picture of a young soldier, their only son, who died in Vietnam!  A horrendous price paid by just one family, and a sorrow that never died in this life.

 

E.  Not everyone is or has been a professional soldier, but we are all soldiers.  Our warfare is not with guns and knives; it is a spiritual one.  Paul, when writing to the Corinthian church said:

 

2 Corinthians 10:3-4  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

 

F.  Today, we are in a spiritual war as God's children. We must train for war, have a biblical strategy for war, and have a will to fight. As Paul continues instructing Pastor Timothy, he likens Timothy to a soldier at war.  We must recognize that we are in a perpetual state of war as God’s children. 

 

G.  Paul admonishes Timothy to be a “good soldier.” 

 

1.  A good soldier must take orders well.  We have our military instruction manual in our hands this morning.

 

2.  A good soldier must learn to use his weapons in a correct manner.  Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training are necessities.  We have the Sword of the Spirit so let us learn to use it rightly.

 

3.  A good soldier gets along with his brothers.  Their lives depend upon each other and there is no color, ethnicity, or division in a foxhole.

 

4.  A good soldier must learn to identify and neutralize his enemies.  You do this by holding the lines.  Everyone behind is a friend, and everyone in front is an enemy.

 

5.  A good soldier stays in good shape.  The Daily Dozen, the running while singing cadence.  The forced marches with full equipment.

 

6.  A good soldier must have a determination to finish the task before him.  To fight without compromise or quitting.

 

7.  A good soldier must learn to adjust to adverse circumstances and endure hardness.

 

8.  A good soldier is proud of who and what he is.

H.  We are soldiers: either good or bad; ready or not ready; dependable or not dependable!  I look back over my short stint in the military and see many likenesses to the Christian life and the pastorate.

 

J.  One day, there will be “war no more.”  But, until that time, we must continue to fight the good fight of the faith once delivered!

 

Jude 3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

 

1.  We must war for our nation - Psalms 9:17  The wicked shall be turned into hell, [and] all the nations that forget God. 

 

We must not give up on America because it is a good land, a God given land, and is under constant attack from both without and within.  We must fight our outside enemies!  We must fight our inside enemies!

 

2.  We must war for the Faith - Jude 3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 

 

The Word of God is under constant attack, but we stand and fight for it.  It is a good fight!  It is a right fight!

 

3.  We must war for the Old Paths - Jeremiah 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 

 

The old ways of holiness and separation are under constant attack, but we stand and fight for them.  It is a good fight!  It is a right fight!

 

4.  We must war for our Families - Psalms 78:5 -8 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6  That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8  And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

 

Our families and children are under constant attack, and we must stand and fight for them. It is a good fight! It is a righteous fight!

Carnality in the Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-21-2025

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

 

Introduction:

 

A.  We have read these four verses tonight and need to realize that they are first, corporate, and second, individual. 

 

1.  Paul, through the Holy Ghost, is writing to the church corporately. 

 

1 Corinthians 1:2  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

 

1 Corinthians 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

 

In verse 1, we find Paul’s gentleness with a newly born church full of newly born-again believers. These Corinthians were certainly carnal, but I find it interesting that Paul did not label them as such until chapter three.

 

In verse two, we find that Paul fed them accordingly.  Babes in Christ need the “milk of the word” to “grow thereby.”

 

1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

Notice the wording.  “desire the SINCERE (Un-deceitful) milk of the word”  Paul spoke of this in his Epistle to the Hebrews.

 

Hebrews 5:11-14  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.

 

This willful failure to hear and heed the Word of God causes those who are “dull of hearing” to eventually walk into the destruction of the flesh. Another good example is found in Chapter 5.

 

1 Corinthians 5:5  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.

 

2.  Paul, through the Holy Ghost, is also writing to the church members individually.

 

1 Corinthians 3:1-3  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?

 

In chapter one, they were unaware of their carnality, but in chapter three, Paul must address this issue because they continually resist the meat of the Word. 

 

In verse 3, Paul speaks of the same division that he admonished in chapter one, verses ten through thirteen.  To quote the Book of James:

 

James 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

 

B.  In verse two, we also find an indictment. 1 Corinthians 3:2  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.

 

1.  The carnality of the Corinthians caused them to continue in division, which I call the Pastor’s Nightmare!  As long as the local church is united, it can withstand any and all outside attacks.

 

2.  Unfortunately, Satan uses the division of the local church to destroy its effectiveness. 

 

Mark 3:24-27  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  (25)  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  (26)  And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.  (27)  No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

 

2 Corinthians 2:10-11  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;  (11)  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

C.  Now, back to the root of the problem of division, carnality!

 

Romans 8:6-7  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

 

Enmity – to oppose, an enemy.  Carnality is enmity AGAINST God!

 

D.  The results of carnality are found in our text.

 

1.  Their Carnality – vs. 1  Believers who remain just like the world.

 

a.  The Devilishness Of The Flesh - Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

 

b.  The Devastation Of The Flesh - Romans 8:12-13  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

 

2.  Their Continuance – vs. 2  Believers refuse to grow in spite of biblical preaching.

 

2 Timothy 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

 

a.  It is a disappointment to the Pastor as he must constantly try to “unruffle feathers!”

 

b.  It is a discouragement to the people of the church as some may just leave the church. 

 

c.  It is detrimental to the purpose of the local church as it seeks the souls of men and supports missions. 

 

3.  Their Contentions – vs. 3  Believers who always have issues.

 

a.  Envying  (Jealous of others) - Galatians 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

b.  Strife  (Cannot get along with others) - James 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

 

                    Feelings are always getting hurt regardless of Psalms 119:165.

 

c.  Divisions  (I disagree with others!) - 2 Timothy 4:14-15  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

 

4. their Censure – vs. 4 Believers Who Are Self-Centered.

 

    a. They need to realize their faults instead of focusing on the faults of others.

 

    b. They need to consider the well-being of the local church.

 

    c. They need to become a blessing rather than a liability.

 

    d. They need to lift up their eyes and look upon God’s harvest that is perishing.