1 Corinthians 3:1-17, Called to Spirituality

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.

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 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.

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).

Apollos and Paul were the means by which the Corinthians came to know Christ not the cause.

This subtle distinction is very important and we must always keep it in mind.

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

Both Paul and Apollos had individual jobs assigned to them by God but those jobs were insignificant. The person of significance was God. It was God who had taken the seek of spiritual life and caused it to grow.

As Christians, we must be careful because it is easy for us to put our focus on people. We can begin to see our leaders, our teachers as the most significant people with whom we interact. However, we need instead to focus on God himself. Only God can bring us to maturity.

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

A major result of all of this is the fact that Christians are not to be in competition with each other. It is interesting, there is a reward for those who serve God, but the God who is infinite can reward infinitely. We are so used to the idea of one winner, of finite resources, that we have it in our heads that reward comes at the expense of someone else. This is not the case.

Image: Physical therapy

Several years ago I injured my knee running. It was not a major injury but it hurt and in order to keep running I needed to do something about it. I visited the doctor and they diagnosed my problem as being muscular. The doctor prescribed that I visit a physical therapist. The physical therapist evaluated my condition and taught me some exercises. However, the problem did not go away, I needed to implement what I had been taught. I sometimes think we need to view our spiritual leaders as doctors and physical therapists. They diagnose problems and suggest treatment plans but they are not the ones who are going to heal you! No God is the one who gives the growth and he seems to work through individuals as he does so. In other words, as you practice Spiritual disciplines it seems God works to grow you.