No Mere Men-3--Sec. 1, Part 3 Series

NO MERE MEN-III—1Corinthians 3:1-9

Paul reveals the traits of unspiritual men.

Unspiritual men are unable to exist in harmony.

Why are the unspiritual unable to live in harmony?

Because...No mere men can Overcome...

And as we discovered previously—No mere men can Overcome...

1. IMMATURITY(:1)

2. DIET(:2-3a)Sustenance

3. ENVY(:3bi)

4—No mere men can Overcome

STRIFE(:3bii)

Explanation:(:3bii)Conflict

:3b—“...For where there are envy, strife, & divisions among you, are you not carnal & behaving like mere men?”

“Strife” is an example of the church’s “carnality.” He does this because they would, no doubt, deny their own immaturity. Churches/people that continue in chosen immaturity generally see themselves as having arrived & thus find chastisement to be personally insultive/insulting.

“Strife”—Heated, often violent dissension(strong disagreement); bitter conflict.

Contention or competition between rivals.’

“Strife/Quarrelling”—eriv—1) Contention, strife, wrangling. Strong—of uncertain affinity; A quarrel, i.e. (by implication)--Wrangling. Used 9X.

Argumentation:

Prov. 10:12—“Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.”

Prov. 17:19—“He who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction.”

Prov. 28:25—“An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.”

Titus 3:9—“But shun foolish controversies & genealogies & strife & disputes about the Law; for they are unprofitable & worthless.”

Rom. 1:27-32—“Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, & receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Js. 4:1—“What is the source of quarrels & conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?”

Jn. 13:35—““By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” Illustration:

Have you noticed in pet stores, that Siamese Fighting Fish are always kept in separate containers/That is because they are so intent on holding what they consider their territory, that they will spar with any other male who gets in the way, even if there is only a small aquarium which they must share/STRIFE

Some animals fight to the death over right to a female, over territory they deem ‘theirs’/STRIFE

I saw recently(2014) on a news program claiming that ~80% of tenants have trouble getting their deposit back from the landlord/Matthew’s battle with ex-landlord over the deposit money/Landlord would not surrender it, even though Matthew left the place better than he found it/Matthew being the better man, had to ‘forget it’ but he also had to ‘get over it!’/STRIFE

1 person opposed to new Sunday School Rooms/But also 1st one on the job site/Willing to aid others even though not their preference/Absence of STRIFE

“They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love”

(Peter Scholtes, 1968)

We are one in the Spirit

We are one in the Lord

We are one in the Spirit

We are one in the Lord

And we pray that all unity

May one day be restored

And they’ll know we are Christians

By our love, By our love

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians

By our love

We will walk with each other

We will walk hand in hand

We will walk with each other

We will walk hand in hand

And together we’ll spread the news

That God is in our land

We will work with each other

We will work side by side

We will work with each other

We will work side by side

And we’ll guard each man’s dignity

And save each man’s pride

All praise to the Father

From whom all things come

And all praise to Christ Jesus His only Son

And all praise to the Spirit

Who makes us one

Application:

?You a Mere Man?

?You Overcome STRIFE or has it overcome you?

5—No mere men can Overcome...

DIVISIVENESS(:3biii)

:3b—“...For where there are envy, strife, & divisions among you, are you not carnal & behaving like mere men?”

“Divisiveness” is an example of the church’s “carnality.” He does this because they would, no doubt, deny their own immaturity. Churches/people that continue in chosen immaturity generally see themselves as having arrived & thus find chastisement to be personally insultive/insulting.

In the TR only! The Maj.T has “envy & strife among you...”

“Divisions”(TR & Byz.)—dicostasia—1) Dissension, division. Strong—Disunion, i.e. figuratively--Dissension. Used 3X.