Two Kinds Of Brethren Carnal And Spiritual 1

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 All Penitent, Baptized Believers Are Joined By God To The Body Of Christ: • Acts 2: 38, 41, 47 • The Corinthians Did The Same (Acts 18: 8; 1 Cor. 1: 14 -16) • This Placed Them In The Body of Christ, the Church (1 Cor. 1: 30; 12: 13; Eph. 5: 23) However, Their Being In The Body Did Not Automatically Shield Them From Carnality 1

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 1: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2: “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3: “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ” (1 2 Corinthians 3: 1 -3)

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 1: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2: I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: ØCapable Of Eating “Meat” for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither (Food For The Mature) yet now are ye able. Ø“Minds the things of the 3: For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is Spirit” (Romans 8: 5) among you envying, Øand strife, divisions, Is “Led By and The Spirit” are ye not carnal, and(Romans walk as 8: 14) men? 3

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 1: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2: I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: ØEats Only “Milk” for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither (Food For The Immature) yet now are ye able. Ø“Minds the things of the 3: Flesh” For ye(Romans are yet 8: 5) carnal: for whereas there is among and strife, and divisions, Ø Walksyou Afterenvying, The Flesh” are ye not 8: 4) carnal, and walk as men? 4 (Romans

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 “Carnal” Brethren Are Described As “Babies” (1 Cor. 3: 1) All Converts Start Out As “Babies, ” But They Are Not To Remain Such: Ø “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2: 2; 2 Pet. 3: 18) Ø Hebrews 5: 11 -6: 2; Ephesians 4: 14 5

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 Symptoms of Christian Babyhood: 1. Like Babies, They Don’t Work! 2. They Cry Like Babies: Ø They scream and squall when they don’t get their way. Ø They whine and complain when they are uncomfortable. Ø They sulk and pout when they are rebuked. 6

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 Symptoms of Christian Babyhood: 3. Like Babies, They Focus Mainly On The Wants & Needs Of The Flesh (3: 3; Gal. 5: 19 -21; 1 Jn. 2: 15 -17; Matt. 6: 24 -33). 4. Like Babies, They Are Attached To The Humans Who Nurtured Them (1 Cor. 1: 11 -16; 3: 21 -23; 4: 6) 5. Like Babies, They Lacked Insight Into The Workings Of God (1 Cor. 3: 6 -9). 7

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 Why Some Remain Babies: 1. They Are Perpetually Fed Like Babies: Ø Paul could not “speak to” the Corinthians as “spiritual” people (3: 1) Ø Many preachers preach fluff – no doctrine, never challenge people to objectively analyze passages Ø Many class teachers don’t study to be able to evoke thought & interest. 8

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 Why Some Remain Babies: 2. They Are Perpetually Treated Like Babies: Ø Spiritual brethren often get into the habit of continuing to handle carnal brethren with “kid gloves. ” Ø Yes, we are to “bear with the scruples of the weak” (Rom. 15: 1), and “uphold the weak” (1 Thess. 5: 14), but “weak” 9 is not “carnal!”

Two Kinds Of Brethren: “Carnal” And “Spiritual” 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -9 Spiritual Brethren: 1. Respect “What Is Written” (1 Cor. 4: 6; 1: 10) Above Who Is Speaking! 2. Are More Concerned With What GOD Thinks Of Them Than With What MEN Think Of Them! (1 Cor. 4: 3). 3. Glory In The Lord (1: 31), Not In Men (3: 21). 4. Know Their Place (1 Cor. 3: 9) 10