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.
English=‘Two standings.’
From—div—Twice—&—stasiv—A standing (properly, the act), i.e. by analogy--Position(existence); by implication--A popular uprising; figuratively--Controversy.
Argumentation:
Mat. 12:24-28—“Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, & said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, & every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
1Cor. 11:18-19—“For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, & in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”
Titus 3:9-11—“But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, & strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable & useless. Reject a divisive man after the first & second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped & sinning, being self-condemned.”
Gal. 5:14-17, 19-26—“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite & devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, & you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, & the Spirit against the flesh; & these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”.....“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, & the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions & desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Jude 17-23—“But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”
Amos 3:3—“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”
Illustration:
Recaps in the highway/Tell-tale signs of failed tires!/They ‘divided’ causing a total loss of purpose & ability!/Bringing danger to others/Only a unified tire can support the weight it is designed(by its maker) to carry/DIVISIVENESS
Again...Have you noticed in pet stores, those 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 that enters it/Forcing each other to live separately/DIVISIVENESS
Went to say “Hey!” to Nathan Joslin at Subway on St. George Island on Memorial Day(2014)—bad mistake!—They were swamped, with at least 15 people in line/I waited around to catch him between customers which was nearly impossible/I could have broken in line assuming & claiming my business was ‘more important’ than the others/A fight may have broken out had I done that/More than that, ?Why would I want to make my preference-business-desire more important than everyone else’s?/DIVISIVENESS
Application:
?You a Mere Man?
?You Overcome DIVISIVENESS or has it overcome you?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
No mere men can Overcome...
4. STRIFE(:3bii)
5. DIVISIVENESS(:3biii)
1. IMMATURITY(:1)
2. DIET(:2-3a) Sustenance
3. ENVY(:3bi)
Presented 06/22/2014pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE
Carrabelle, FL 32322
