1Corinthians chapter3 and verse 1 reads.
1Cor.3:1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
Paul is speaking to those in Corinth about the flesh because he cannot speak in the spirit yet, they have not received the meat, they are still in the milk.
1Cor.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.
Milk is Salvation and Baptism. The only way to bring a non-believer or a gentile into Christianity. Meat is the depth of Gods Word. The law, the prophets, the understanding that the “Old and the New Testaments” are what makes up the plan of God.
1Cor.3:3] 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?
Divisions among the churches brings separation not only man from man, but man from God.
1Cor.3:5] Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
They are but flesh, though ministers of Christ. Remember last chapter we went to Jeremiah 17:5-7? “Cursed is he that trusts in man,” and “blessed is he that trust in God.”
1Cor.3:6] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
We all work together for the works of God.
1Cor.3:7] So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Only God can open eyes and ears to his word. Only God can make the seed that we plant grow. No one can take credit for the works of God. But we get rewarded for our works. They are the only thing we take with us to heaven.
1Cor.3:8] 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.
We start with milk but we build them in the word of God. His children must learn prophesy so they know what is to come. Remember what Jesus said to Peter? He said “feed my lambs” that with the milk. Then he said “feed my sheep” that was for the meat.
1Cor.3:11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Christ is the foundation. We are to build his church on. Not a bunch of different denominations. That separates us from God and each other. I wish we had a Peter, or a John or a Paul that would come church to church and straighten the mess that man has caused. But I digress, back to our studies.
1Cor.3:12] 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.
Gold and silver are purified by fire. And our works are made known. Wood, hay and stubble go up in smoke. Let’s go to Hebrews and read 12:29.
Heb.12:29] For our God is a consuming fire.
Back to 1Cor.3 and verse 14 reads.
1Cor.3:14] If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Judgement Day is not to be feared, for it is the day of our rewards.
1Cor.3:15] If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Even wood and the stubble have a chance for Salvation upon repentance, this is the lovingkindness of the LORD.
1Cor.3:16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
The Holy Spirit dwells in us, never forget that.
1Cor.3:17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
We are the temple of God. A heavy saying but true.
1Cor.3:18] 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.
We are not of this world and the LORD hates this world. But where is this written? Job 5:13 and it reads.
Job 5:12] He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
[13] He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
But what is this crafty? It is H6193 in the Strongs’ and means subtlety, shrewdness, craftiness and G3834 Panourgia in the Greek and means; a specious or false wisdom. Always important to check out the Word when studying. Back to 1Cor.3 and verse 20 reads.
1Cor.3:20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
[21] Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
Let go of the flesh and put your spirit in charge of your direction.
1Cor.3:22] Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
Our doings in the flesh are temporal but the spirit is eternal.
1Cor.3:23] And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
We belong to Christ. Christ belongs to God why? Because Christ is LORD. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible