“Babes In Christ” – 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
God’s desire for you is that you would grow in your relationship with Him to gain depth in the course of time.
I. God Wants for You Not from You
1 John 3:1a Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
God’s love for us and acceptance of us was settled at the cross.
1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal, for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
“Envy” deals with wanting something that is not yours to have.
“Strife,” or fighting, comes when you try to take if as your own.
“Division” happens when we force sides in a conflict.
A spiritually immature life will be unstable, often irrational, and prone to offense and conflict.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
1 Peter 2:1-2 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Peter 3:17-18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Growth is not something God wants from us to earn His love or acceptance. He wants growth for us because it enables us to live the life He intends.
II. God Provides Us with All We Need to
All of life is to be lived by His grace, and God provided grace for our growth.
1 Corinthians 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
Matthew 4:4b Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
We need to get in the Book until the Book gets in us, and when it does, growth will come.
Acts 20:32a And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up,
Psalm 92:13-14 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; They shall be fat and flourishing;
If you get planted in a good church, you will grow.
God in His grace will allow barriers for the purpose of helping us to overcome them and to grow.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
I know a foundation that can serve as the basis for any life that wants to grow spiritually. His name is Jesus.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:7a Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife.