Not I But Christ
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, "...I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 just as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7so that you are not lacking in any gift..." (1 Corinthians 1::4-7)
The Corinthian church was so gifted that they lacked nothing because they were in Christ and, as such, were enriched in all speech and all knowledge and testified to Christ. Therefore, like many churches today, they were very good at teaching the truths about Jesus Christ. However, as significant as it is to teach believers to observe all that Jesus commanded, it is no less essential to become a house of prayer.
When a church spends as much time in prayer as they do teaching, it puts Jesus first. He becomes the sole object of worship so that nothing else can take His place.
Unfortunately, that was not the case at Corinth. "And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:1). The people were well informed, but they were not mature. Why? Christianity rightly understood begins with rebirth. Unless a man is born again, said Jesus, he cannot see, let alone enter the kingdom of God.
We all enter this world physically through the process of procreation, and we all must enter this world spiritually through regeneration. After being given a new heart (Hebrews 10) and thereby new life, they are to grow from infanthood into a mature believer.
However, something stifled the growth at Corinth, and instead of becoming spiritual men, they remained fleshly or mere men and did not become godly adults. "For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people?" (1 Corinthians 3:3).
Furthermore, Paul gives us the reason for their stunted growth. "For when one person says, "I am with Paul," and another, "I am with Apollos," are you not ordinary people?" (1 Corinthians 3:4) Whenever Christian people place more trust in their earthly leaders (denominations) than Christ are they not carnal? Nothing stunts spiritual growth more than idolatry. The most often stated sins of Israel when wrecked as a nation were the sins of idolatry. Furthermore, it was always the kings that led the charge.
Give up your idolatry if you see your brand of Christianity overshadowing the Bible, it will destroy your intimacy with Christ during quiet times of reflection in God's word and prayer.
If you want to hear more on this subject click the link below.
Comentarios