1 Corinthians 3:1-17, Called to Spirituality

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Theological Proposition/Focus: The Call of the Christian is a call to live after the Spirit

Homiletical Proposition/Application: Christians need to take stock of their spiritual growth and make sure they are living after the Spirit and not after the world. Ultimately, christians need to ensure they are in a place where they can grow spiritually.

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Introduction:

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Preview:In 1 Cor. 3:1-17 we are going to see that the Christian is called to more than a mere human existence but life in the Spirit, that God brings about this life as christian leaders wisely build into the life of an individual as they participate in the local church.

Text:.

Setting the Stage:

Body

The Christian call is more than just fire insurance (1-4).

There is such a thing as spiritual infancy (1-2).

Justification is the theological word that is used to describe the judicial act whereby God pardons sins. Specifically, it is the act whereby God declares one to possess the righteousness of Christ.

At the moment of salvation justification takes place and an individual is given assurance of eternal life with God and freedom from the punishment of eternal damnation in Hell. God declares that the demands of the law have been fulfilled through Christ and the individual is able to enjoy peace with God.

A key text on justification is Romans 5:1-10.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

A spiritual infant sees the call of Christ as a call to justification.
In developmental psychology a key step in the maturity from what is called preoperational to the concrete operational stage is the maturity beyond egocentrism.
Similarly, a key step in the development of a Christian is the move from a focus on justification to progressive sanctification.

Progressive Sanctification is the theological word that is used to describe the process whereby an individual becomes more like Christ.

Milk vs. Solid Food is not a matter of easy vs. hard theology! it is a move from fire insurance toiling by the Spirit.
Living by the Spirit is really another way of saying Christ-likeness!.

Jealousy and quarreling are symptoms of spiritual infancy (3).

Worldly - self-centered, divisive, self-exaltation
Jealousy and quarreling - come from self-centeredness.

A strong diagnostic question "with whom is your identity?" (4).

Remember, salvation is about more than just justification, it is also about progressive sanctification. We are to move beyond just fire insurance and into Christ-likeness!

Image: Caleb "I'm not a baby anymore, I'm a big boy."

Several years ago I took my nephew Caleb to the Omaha zoo and we went climbing in their playground. Caleb was three years old and was having a great time but was also a little nervous. As we climbed around and where climbing through one of the tunnels a older child saw Caleb coming down the tunnel turned to his brother and set "just a second wait there, let's let the baby through." As I was thinking to myself "how considerate of these boys," I heard Caleb say "I'm not a baby anymore, I'm a big boy!" You see, as Caleb was beginning to grow his parents had begun to emphasize to him. There are certain things that a baby does that you need to stop doing. You are a big boy now and it is time to stop doing baby things.

There is nothing wrong with acting like a baby when you are a baby!

However, a key characteristic of babies is that they grow up!

MTR: Do a self check, are you acting like a spiritual infant or are you living by the Spirit?

The Christian is called to recognize God as the one who brings about spiritual growth (5-9).

Christians must be careful to recognize that every leader, mentor, role-model is merely a servant of God (5).

Christians must be careful to recognize that God is the person of significance (6-7).

Christians must be careful to work together in service of God (8-9).

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MTR: Evaluate your view of your leaders/mentors/role-models, are you holding them in the right regard?

The Christian leader is called to build wisely (10-15).

The Christian leader must be sure that they are building in a way consistent with the foundation (10-11).

The Christian leader must be sure that they are building with the proper materials (12).

The Christian leader must recognize that their work will be judged (13-15).

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MTR: If you are a leader, evaluate the work you are doing. If you are learning from someone ask yourself if they are building on the proper foundation.

Christians must understand the significance of God's church and their spiritual growth (16-17).

God's church is God's temple (16).

God's church is incredibly valuable to God (17).

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MTR: Ask, how can I better serve God in His temple?

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