1 Corinthians 3 Commentary
Is acting like a mere human evil? What is Paul talking about? Verse 3.
It is easier to understand the term worldly and we can relate it to the acts of the flesh as explained in Galatians. But the expectation that a believer shouldn’t act like a ‘mere’ human is strange. How should we act?
It shouldn’t be difficult for any Bible student. A Christian is led by the Spirit of Jesus. They are possessed by the Holy Spirit. Of course, this possession is different from demonic possession as the possession by the Holy Spirit is freedom from death and everything that death represents. But who understands this freedom? Of course, not the brethren at Corinth. They entertain jealousy and are driven by pettiness.
It is clear: The Body of Christ is the temple of the LORD (the Holy Spirit). God’s Spirit dwells in their midst. In the same breath, you get the picture that Paul is talking about an individual as the temple of the Spirit of Jesus.
While jealousy and the like are corporate problems, we all know these evil elements spring from within individual hearts. They harm the church as a fellowship; they also harm individual members of the Body of Christ.
So, how should the believers at Corinth live? Of course, they shouldn’t live like mere humans. We know what living like mere humans has caused them – jealousy and consequently trouble. They must live as possessed men and women – possessed by the Spirit of Jesus. It is a reference to the rule of the Son through His Spirit.
It should be simple: while the rule of the Son says, “love and humility”, the rule of the flesh (mere human) and that of the devil say, “jealousy, arrogance, hatred, division…”.
Back in the day of the temple, the most important item in the temple was the Ark of the Covenant. It was housed in the inner room of the holy place – a room within a room. It was the holiest place and you never ventured there at will – not even the High Priest went in at will. Inside this gold-coated wooden box was the Law of God inscribed on stone tablets. These were the rules for Israel.
The picture above represents the saint’s realities under the Son’s rule through His Spirit – the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s instructions are housed deep within the saint’s life; no distractions are allowed. You don’t venture there for a debate or for a casual negotiation. The Spirit rules. You are no longer a “mere human”.
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