Ye are Chirst's

Whose are You? (1 Cor. 3:18-23)

 

First Corinthians 3:16-23 are the concluding remarks of Paul of the first section of his letter to the believers in Corinth. Paul had three points – all stated negatively – (1) Do not destroy the temple of God, (2) Do not deceive yourself, (3) Do not glory in man.

do Not Deceive yourself (3:18-20)

Many Christians are deceived by the wisdom of this world (age). Christians deceived themselves when they are led astray by the wisdom of this age. The reason we are led astray is that we are impressed by the men whom the world approves as being wise.

+        Lesson: God’s work must be done God’s way. There can be no mixing of worldly wisdom in the work of the church.

+        Lesson: Go to the Bible – read and study it. You cannot build your own spiritual life by using the wisdom of the world.

Paul’s prescription for this disease of self-deluded wisdom is to become “foolish.” A Christian who lives godlily will be thought of as a “fool” by the world. Our Lord Jesus asks, “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:24-26)

+        Lesson: Are you a “fool” in the eyes of the world?

do not glory in man (3:21-23)

Do not glory in yourself. The man who boasts about himself is self-conceited. The man who boasts about another man is misguided. The man who boasts in God is the man who is truly wise. The reason Christians should not boast in other men is that we possess all things (3:21-22). All things included:

·                     God’s servants – All the people who have been a spiritual encouragement to you, these are yours. Give thanks to God for them, but do not glory in them.

·                     The world – Man was created to have dominion over the world. With the fall, man’s dominion over the world was lost. But the dominion is restored to the redeemed so that we are afraid of how the world thinks and treats us.

·                     Life – The Christian is not controlled by circumstances because we know a God who is sovereign.

·                     Death – Death is the final tyranny of man. Death to the Christian is a prized possession because Christ had conquered death (1 Cor. 15:55).

+        Lesson: Do you live with the knowledge that all things are yours in Christ Jesus? If you do, why then glory in men?

  Conclusion: Live because you are christ’s

Live with that confidence that all things are yours. All things are yours because God loves His Son, and He loves you.

    Unbeliever:         The supreme benefit of believing in Christ is that He has redeemed us. He has paid the price – with His life and precious blood – to save us from our sins.

        Believer:         Ye are Christ’s.  It means that you are not your own; you are not the world’s, meaning that you neither conform to nor live for the world. You must live a Christ-centred, Christ-exalting life