1 Corinthians 3:1

1 Corinthians 3:1 says, And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  Paul had led these believers to salvation through Christ, but he had to speak to them as baby Christians.  They were still allowing carnal, or worldly, thoughts and ideas to influence them.  After we accept Christ as our Savior, then we must start to grow under the Lordship of the Holy Spirit.  If we have truly accepted salvation through faith in Christ, we are a new creature.  We are then expected to grow in our knowledge of spiritual things, and not still be guided by the carnal thoughts of the world.  Verse two adds, 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.  Paul said he had fed them with milk, making the analogy of the way newborn babies are fed.  We do not expect newborn babies to eat solid food, but they must be fed milk as they grow and develop.  Paul said that he had fed them, or taught them, the simple truth of salvation, and then they were expected to begin growing so they could start to understand greater truths about God.  Paul said they were still unable to understand the meatier things of God.  Verse three continues, For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  Those who follow God through faith in Christ are no longer carnal, but have entered into a everlasting spiritual relationship with God.  Paul declared that many of these born-again believers were still allowing worldly ideas influence their actions.  Verse four states, For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  Paul said that proof of the fact that they were still not growing in Christ was the fact that they were still divided over the question of who had led them to Christ.  We today, as we grow in our relationship with God, must never let the things of this world divide us.  We are all saved by the same grace of God and need to continue to grow in our faith and understanding of how God would have us live in the world.  We are to be united in Christ, and not divided by any worldly ideas.  Verse five adds, Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  Paul reminded the believers at Corinth that he and Apollos were simply ministers who preached the gospel to them.  Who had presented the gospel was not important, but their belief in the gospel was what brought them salvation.  This will always be the case.  If we received salvation while listening to some famous preacher or while sitting home alone, it doesn't matter.  All are equally saved if they accept Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse six continues, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  Christians work together to reach the lost.  Paul said he planted the seed of the gospel, Apollos watered or nurtured it, but only God could save, or give the increase.  If we witness to someone for years, and they suddenly accept Christ when someone else is witnessing to them, we should only feel joy, and never feel cheated or resentful. We all work together for God's glory and not our own.  Verse seven says, So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  Paul again reminds those who were arguing because of who led them to Christ that it did not matter.  Paul and Apollos were nothing but messengers, and God was to receive the glory, because He alone could bring salvation to anyone.  Verse eight adds, Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  Paul reminded the Christians at Corinth that they were to be united as one in Christ.  There was no room for pride or envy in the body of believers.  All had a purpose to fill in order that the gospel could be effectively presented.  That still holds true today. As individuals and as a group of believers, we must do all for the glory of God.