I Corinthians – Rebuking the Carnal Man
I Corinthians 2:12-3:3
Historical Context
Paul had spent 1 year and 6 months ministering in Corinth
Corinth was a very world, rich city. It was placed on an isthmus and could carry ships and cargo around the isthmus to the seas on either side.
It was so identified with drunkenness and defiling sexual sins that it was a common phrase in the Greek language “to do the Corinthian” meaning to be drunken and sin sexually.
Paul is now in Ephesus when we received word of what is going on in the Corinthian church.
People had come and gave him a verbal record and the Corinthians church had written asking Paul how to deal with several of the problems within the church.
Three Classifications of Man
Natural man – the unsaved man
They cannot understand spiritual things
Spiritual man – the saved man who is dead to self
They have the mind of Christ and are spiritually discerning
Carnal man – the saved man who lives by his flesh
Because he is not obedient to the “basic” things in the Christian life, he cannot understand the meatier things in God’s word.
The Rebuking of the Church
The members of the church were saved, born again, however they were living from the flesh. This was causing all the problems in the church.
They had divisions
Failed to separate from sin,
Failed to exercise church discipline
Failed to take care of their pastor,
They were disorderly in the Lord’s Supper,
Disorderly in the spiritual gifts
Reproof is always for correcting behavior and should always be done from love
What Can Be Done About A Carnal Church?
Remind them of the gospel 15:1-4
Remind them there is a resurrection day 15:10-20
Remind them to die to self 15:31
Remind them to guard their tongues 15:33
Remind them souls need to be won 15:34
Remind them there is victory in Jesus
15:57-58
Encourage them to keep giving 16:1-2
Get addicted to the ministry 16:15
Beware of those that don’t love the Lord 16:22