1 Corinthians 3:1-3 – “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”
I love Paul’s question in verse 3: “Are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” The mere men part leaps out at me. “Mere men” has the sound of commonality and average to me. We are called to be more than that as Christians. Mere men and women are subject to carnality and works of the flesh. Men and women of God through Christ are able to access a higher level of living than “mere men.” It is only through the power of Christ. There are several reasons for that listed in today’s reading. They are contained in chapter 2. Before I get to them, let me emphasize three hindrances to living at another level that Paul mentions in verse 3 in our text. Envy, strife, and divisions are marks of carnality, living like mere men. Now let’s move to what moves us to another level…
2:5 – “that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” This is simple and straightforward but needs to be reemphasized. Our faith needs to be in the power of God and not in men’s wisdom. Please stay focused on the power of God.
2:9 – “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” God has things prepared for you. That means they are ready, just waiting for you to walk in them and obtain them. This we do by faith and obedience. But know this, God has already prepared them. They are so wonderful and excellent you cannot fathom nor comprehend them.
2:16 – “For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” The mind, the mind, the mind. This is where we win or lose. Understand what God has given you and you can live on another level.