NO MERE MEN-IX—1Corinthians 3:1-23
—SECTION 3(:18-23)—Their BOAST—
Attention:
When it comes down to it, without tools, Mere Men’s abilities are severely limited, accomplishing only a very small amount of the work they desire.
All mankind realizes that their world is in need of a savior. Realizing that No Mere Men can accomplish the world’s greatest need…dealing with sin.
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...
As we have discovered previously—No mere men can Overcome...
—SECTION 1(3:1-9)—
Their NATURE:
1. IMMATURITY(:1)
2. DIET(:2-3a)Sustenance
3. ENVY(:3bi)
4. STRIFE(:3bii)
5. DIVISIVENESS(:3biii)
6. BEHAVIORS(:3b)
7. MINISTRY(:4-5)
8. SIGNIFICANCE(:6-7)
9. LABOR(:8-9)
—SECTION 2(3:9-17)—
Their BUILDING:
10. FOUNDATION(:9-11)
11. EDIFICE(:10b)
12. QUALITY(:12-15)
13. PURPOSE(3:16-17)
—SECTION 3(3:18-23)—
Their BOAST:
No mere men can Overcome…
Their BOAST(:18-23)
14. DECEPTION(:18-20)
Explanation:(:18-20)
:18—“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.”
Jer. 17:9-10—““The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”
Thru these pictures(3:1-17). Paul is encouraging the Church to ‘wake up’ so that we will not be fooled(“deceived”).
It is possible for Christian individuals to consider themselves “wise.” In this age man cannot be “wise” in his flesh(1:18-31) but “wisdom” can only be had/found divinely in Christ.
We are told that individuals must become “fools” in order to become “wise.” This direction is taken because worldly wisdom is actually foolishness since it is not God’s wisdom(1:20-21).
“Deceive”—exapataw—1) To deceive. Strong—To seduce wholly. Used 5X.
From—ex—a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), From, out(of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote)—&—apataw—of uncertain derivation; To cheat, i.e. Delude.
“Among”—en—Prep.—1) In, by, with etc. Strong—a primary preposition denoting (fixed)position (in place, time or state), & (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between eiv[into] & ek(from)); “In,” at, (up-)on, by, etc..
“Seems”—dokew—1) To be of opinion, think, suppose; 2) To seem, to be accounted, reputed; 3) It seems to me—3a) I think, judge: thus in question, 3b) It seems good to, pleased me, I determined. Dokew refers to the subjective judgment, which may or may not conform to the fact. Dokew & oiomai describe a subjective judgment growing out of inclination or a view of facts in their relation to us. Oiomai is a subjective judgment which has feeling rather than thought (dokew) for its ground. Strong—To think; by implication--To seem (truthfully or uncertainly).
“Wise”2X(See :10)—sofov—
“Age”—aiwn—1) For ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity; 2) The worlds, Universe; 3) period of time--Age. Aiwn is usually better expressed by age, it is the world at a given time, a particular period in the world's history. Aiwn, may also mean the spirit of the age, often in an unfavorable sense. Strong—properly--An age; by extension--Perpetuity(also past); by implication--The world; specially(Jewish)--A Messianic period(present or future).
“Become”—ginomai—1) To become, i.e. To come into existence, begin to be, receive being; 2) To become, i.e. to come to pass, happen—2a) Of events; 3) To arise, appear in history, come upon the stage—3a) Of men appearing in public; 4) To be made, finished—4a) Of miracles, to be performed, wrought; 5) To become, be made. Strong—a prolongation & middle voice form of a primary verb; To cause to be("gen"-erate), i.e. reflexively--To become(come into being), used with great latitude(literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).
“Fool”—mwrov—Adj.—1) Foolish; 2) Impious, godless. Strong—probably from the base of musthrion; Dull or stupid(as if shut up), i.e. Heedless, morally--Blockhead, apparently--Absurd. Used 13X.
:19—“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;”
The OT declares that God is the One who catches the wise in their craftiness. The wise seem shrewd to themselves & others but the Lord stops them short to expose it’s selfish nature.
The quote is from Job 5:13 at the instruction of Eliphaz the Temanite. “Job is quoted in the N.T. only here & in Rom. 11:35 & both times with variations from the LXX.”—RWP
Job 5:13—“He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them.”
Job 5:12-14— “"He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success. He captures the wise by their own shrewdness And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted. By day they meet with darkness, And grope at noon as in the night.”
“Excited partisans can easily excite themselves to a pious frenzy, hypnotize themselves with their own supposed devotion to truth.”—RWP
Man’s reasonings(apart from God) are useless when it comes to attaining truth, for God is the determiner of truth.
“World”(See :22)—kosmov—1) An apt & harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government; 2) Ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1Pe 3:3; 3) The world, the universe; 4) The circle of the earth, the earth; 5) The inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family; 6) The ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, & therefore hostile to the cause of Christ; 7) World affairs, the aggregate of things earthly—7a) The whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow & frail & fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God & are obstacles to the cause of Christ; 8) Any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort—8a) The Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom. 11:12 etc), 8b) Of believers only, Jn. 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47 1Cor. 4:9; 2Cor. 5:19. Kosmov has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, denoting the inhabitants of the world, mankind in general, as opposed to God. A similar meaning is often attached to aiwn, it means the spirit of the age, often in an unfavorable sense. Strong—probably from the base of komizw[properly--To provide for, i.e. by implication--To carry off]; Orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication--The world(in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]).
English= ‘Cosmetic(s)’
“Foolishness”—mwria—1) Foolishness. Strong—Silliness, i.e. Absurdity. Used 5X.
“Catches”—drassomai—1) To grasp with the hand, take. Strong—perhaps akin to the base of drakwn(through the idea of capturing); To grasp, i.e. figuratively--Entrap. Used 1X.
“Wise”(See :20)—sofov—Adj.—1) Wise—1a) Skilled, expert: of artificers, 1b) Wise, skilled in letters, cultivated, learned—1b1) Of the Greek philosophers & orators, 1b2) Of Jewish theologians, 1b3) Of Christian teachers, 1c) Forming the best plans & using the best means for their execution. Sofov denotes wise, skilled, an expert. Strong—akin to safhv(clear); Wise(in a most general application).
“Craftiness”—panourgia—1) Craftiness, cunning; 2) A specious or false wisdom; 3) in a good sense--Prudence, skill, in undertaking & carrying on affairs. Strong—Adroitness, i.e. (in a bad sense)--Trickery or sophistry. Used 5X.
From—pav—All, any, every, the whole.—&—ergon—1) Business, employment, that which any one is occupied; 2) Any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind; 3) An act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasized in opposition to that which is less than work.
:20—“& again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
Here, Paul adds to the proof statement of Job 5:13 recalled in 3:19.
Paul quotes here from Ps. 94:11.
Ps. 94:11[NKJV]—“The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.”
Ps. 94:11[NASB]— “The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath.”
This is further proof of the fact that humanly derived ‘wisdom’ is utter foolishness in God’s eyes(1:20-21). The very “thoughts” of these so-called “wise” people are in actuality, “futile.”
Thereby all such presentations(books, videos, counselings, corporate acceptance, governmental implementations, etc.) no matter their slickness/elegance/eloquence/compelling nature—built upon merely apparent dogmatic reasonabilities— are rendered nonsensical by God.
This is because the actual foolishness can be mis-perceived/interpreted as wisdom(1:18), depending upon one’s worldview.
“Knows”—ginwskw—1) To learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel; 2) To know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of; 3) Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man & a woman; 4) To become acquainted with, to know. Ginwskw is a knowledge grounded on personal experience. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary verb; To "know"(absolutely) in a great variety of applications & with many implications.
“Thoughts”—dialogismov—1) The thinking of a man deliberating with himself—1a) A thought, inward reasoning, 1b) Purpose, design; 2) A deliberating, questioning about what is true—2a) Hesitation, doubting, 2b) Disputing, arguing. Strong—Discussion, i.e. internal--Consideration (by implication--Purpose), or external--Debate.
English= ‘Dialogue’
“Wise”(See :19)—sofov—
“Futile/Vain/Useless/Meaningless”—mataiov—Adj.—1) Devoid of force, truth, success, result; 2) Useless, of no purpose. Strong—Empty, i.e. literally--Profitless, or specifically--An idol.
Argumentation:
**Isa. 44:10-20—“Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? Surely all his companions would be ashamed; And the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, Let them stand up; Yet they shall fear, They shall be ashamed together. The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, Fashions it with hammers, And works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, & his strength fails; He drinks no water & is faint. The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress & the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, & the rain nourishes it. Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it & warm himself; Yes, he kindles it & bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god & worships it; He makes it a carved image, & falls down to it. He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, & is satisfied. He even warms himself & says, “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it & worships it, Prays to it & says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat & eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” ”
**1Cor. 6:9-11—“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus & by the Spirit of our God.”
1Cor. 15:33-34—“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, & do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”
**2Tim. 2:19—“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” &, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
**Jn. 5:21-23—“For as the Father raises the dead & gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
**1Jn. 5:9-13—“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, & this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, & that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
Job 36:13—“But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.”
**Rom. 2:4-6—“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, & longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness & your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath & revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:”
Mat. 6:1-2, 5—“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues & in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”.....“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues & on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”.....“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”
**Rom. 1:18-2:2—“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness & unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power & Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, & their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, & changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--& birds & four-footed animals & creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, & worshiped & served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 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. Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.”
Job 12:16—[Job to Zophar]“With Him are strength & prudence. The deceived & the deceiver are His.”
Job 15:31—[Eliphaz to Job]“Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving himself, For futility will be his reward.”
**Gal. 6:3—“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
**Gal. 6:7, 8—“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
**Js. 1:22—“But be doers of the word, & not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
**1Jn. 1:8-10—“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, & the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful & just to forgive us our sins & to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, & His word is not in us.”
Illustration:
Sat. 11/07/2014pm—Football—I was going over my sermon that evening, I had the FSU game on to which I paid little attention/Next thing I knew, there was another game—Univ. of Oregon(Ducks) @ Univ. of Utah(Utes)/I remember one play in particular which turned the tide for Oregon(they were being beaten 14-0 in the first quarter!)/a beautiful pass, launched from their own ??yd line/Utah’s Kaolin Clay was wide open as he received it at the Oregon 40 yd. line/He faced only one Oregon defender whom he quickly outpaced as he poured on the speed in crossing the goal/Touchdown!/Clay excitedly jumped around in the endzone facing the crowd, raising his hands to fire them up & body slamming with his teammates!/BUT...while he & the other Utes were celebrating, one Oregon player knew something was amiss/He grabbed the supposedly dead ball and attempted to run with it but was stopped byone of Utah’s players/He handed it off to Joe Walker who with the aid of 6-7 Ducks, ran the ball 100 yds. the other direction for a touchdown for Oregon!/The Utah touchdown did not count!—You see, when Clay had approached the goal line, he was so excited & cocky that he started high-stepping, & just before he crossed the line he had intentionally thrown the ball down, thrilled that he had made the touchdown/It was not a touchdown because he had never crossed the line with the ball!/The ball was still live!/Oregon had wisely seen what had happened & took advantage of it for a touchdown!/Kaolin Clay was deceived & led others in his deception/DECEPTION
Someone recently asked me about Oral Roberts/He is the man who claimed that Jesus told Him he needed $8 million for medical missions by the end of 1986 & if he did not receive that amount then he would die. In Jan. of 1987 he needed 4.5 million if he were to survive till the end of March/He is credited with launching(into the spotlight) the ‘seed-faith’(as he called it) movement/Sending out anointed prayer cloths(at a cost)/Laid the foundations of the ‘prosperity(health-&-wealth) gospel’/Helped usher American Pentacostalism into the mainstream/DECEPTION
Application:
?You Overcome DECEPTION or has it overcome you?
?In what/whom is your BOAST?
?You a Mere Man/Woman?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
—SECTION 3(3:18-23)—
No mere men can Overcome their…
Their BOAST(:18-23)
14. DECEPTION(:18-20)
—SECTION 1(3:1-9)—
No mere men can Overcome their...
Their NATURE(3:1-9)
1. IMMATURITY(:1)
2. DIET(:2-3a)Sustenance
3. ENVY(:3bi)
4. STRIFE(:3bii)
5. DIVISIVENESS(:3biii)
6. BEHAVIORS(:3b)
7. MINISTRY(:4-5)
8. SIGNIFICANCE(:6-7)
9. LABOR(:8-9)
—SECTION 2(3:9-17)—
No mere men can Overcome...
Their BUILDING(:9-17)
10. FOUNDATION(:9-11)
11. EDIFICE(:10b)
12. QUALITY(:12-15)
13. PURPOSE(3:16-17)
Presented 11/09/2014pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE
Carrabelle, FL 32322
