1 Corinthians 3

I was reading 1 Corinthians 3 this morning and something really struck me. I have always understood that the letter to the Corinthians deals with division, but I have never seen how thoroughly it ties together. It has always seemed to ramble a bit, but then this morning it was like God was showing me how all of the pieces fit together. In chapter 3 when Paul is talking about human wisdom it is because our 'wisdom" is what causes us to become the source of division many times. We think we know better and so we divide the church.
Also, Paul says in verse 17 that "you TOGETHER are the temple." I have always heard this verse as "you are the temple" and don't do anything to hurt that temple. This is way different. This is saying we, the body of Christ and not just one individual, are the temple of God and if anyone divides that temple God will not be happy. Big difference from me being the temple and us being the temple.

3:1 - Infants in Christ still tend to be worldly in nature. This is important because it can increase our grace with them and it can also be used to teach others that they are acting like an infant in Christ when they live or reason by human standards. I would think it would be easier to help convict a person who has been a Christian a while that they need to change if you could help them see that they are an infant in Christ. The problem for most of us is we think we are so mature in Christ. Maybe helping people see what infant Christianity looks like will help them grow out of it.

3:3 - We should act different than mere human beings. I hear people saying things like, "It's only human nature." or "Everybody else does it too." We are not mere human beings. We have the Spirit of the LIVING God inside of us and so we do not do what mere human beings do. We live differently. We live victoriously. We live sacrificially.

3:6-7 - God alone makes the seed grow. Planting and watering are both good tasks.

3:13 - their work will be shown for what it is ... test the QUALITY of each person's work. - This verse is very interesting in light of how many of us believe. Many people believe that just loving Jesus is enough. This verse says that Christians will be judged in some way to test the quality of their work. I wonder if you are living in a way that will make this show and tell exciting for you or nerve racking. God is too God for us to just escape the flames. We should prove the depth of our gratitude by the quality of our Christian lives.

3:17 - ... you TOGETHER are that TEMPLE. - Makes a lot more sense in context than the idea that you individually are the temple of God.

3:18 - It is people thinking they are wise that leads to division. I can't tell you how many times I have seen churches struggle with division because someone thought they knew better. True humility follows its leaders when they are walking Biblically. If someone doesn't like a program or a direction or an idea, humility follows as long as it does not defy a salvation level teaching.

3:22-23 - ... all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Love, Michael