Carnal Christian

In the last part of 1 Corinthians 2, the apostle Paul proclaimed that in the world there are only two types of people: those who are still separated from God and those who have been reconciled to God. But now in chapter 3, Paul breaks down those who have been reconciled in to two different groups: believers whose lives are controlled by the flesh and those who whose lives are controlled by the Spirit of God.

As Paul addresses the Christians in the church he points out the problem in the church and then he gives them the solution. 

1. The Problem: Saved people were acting like LOST PEOPLE

 1 Corinthians 3:1–4 (ESV) -- But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. ² I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, ³ for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? ⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

When these believers looked at themselves, they saw themselves as being spiritual when in reality they were acting like spoiled little babies. It was Paul's desire to feed them with the deep truths of the Gospel, but they couldn't handle it. The reason: they were still living according to the selfish desires of the flesh. This was seen in how they related to one another. Like a bunch of babies they were filled with jealousy and fighting.

Galatians 5:16 (ESV) -- But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

2. The Solution: make much of GOD

1 Corinthians 3:5–9 (ESV) -- What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. ⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

As I read verses 5-9 the one thing that really stands out is that the solution to living a selfish life is to make much of God.

• Every believer has work to do, but it is God who assigns the task. We are simply servants who God has chosen to use as instruments to build His kingdom.
• As each of us accomplishes the task that God has assigned us, it is God who brings about the growth. 
• As God's servant we are to be united in our task with the understanding that it is God who will reward us according to the quality of our work.
• In the end, we must never forget that the church doesn't belong to us. Both the worker and the church belong to God. 

As I studied this text and I examined the culture in which I have lived my entire life I came to these conclusion:

1. There are some who have convinced themselves that they are Christians; when in reality they are not. They have put their trust in religion, baptism, the Sinner's Prayer, church membership, or being good. Unless there is a change one day they will stand before God in judgment and hear Him say, "I never knew you;depart from me." The only way that we can be saved is by putting our trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
2. There are others who have convinced themselves that they are spiritual; when in reality they are still living lives that are controlled by the flesh. They are Christians but everything in life and in the church is about them. They think of no one but themselves. 
3. It is God's desire that we surrender our lives and desires to Him, so that we can become spiritually mature. This doesn't mean that we are perfect or have it all together. What it means is that we walk in intimacy with Jesus, and we are more concerned with His will than with our own.