Working Together (1 Cor. 3:1-9)

Posted on by

 

Beware the cult of personality.

  1. Christians should grow.
    • 3:1-4. If it is your considered view that Jesus is your Saviour but not your Lord, then He is neither – Matt.7:21-23. The gospel message is ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus [Christ], and you will be saved’ (Acts 16:31).
    • these Corinthian Christians were living as if they were not Christians.
    • Christians ought to grow – 3:1-2. Paul calls them ‘infants in Christ’. See Heb.5:12-14. We ought to be growing – Ps.1:3; John 15:5; 2 Pet.1:5-7; 3:18; Phil.1:9-11.
  2. We each have tasks.
    • 3:5-9. Each has a role.
    • Christians are servants, not rivals – 3:5; like farm labourers – 3:6; they are nothing – 3:7; and united as one, as fellow workers under God, or even, in a sense, fellow workers with God – 3:8-9 (as in 2 Cor.6:1).
  3. But God gives the increase.
    • 3:6-7; see Mark 4:26-27.
    • Acts 2:47 – Peter did not add to the number who were being saved.
    • Acts 16:14 – Paul did not open Lydia’s heart.