Lesson 2042

(Lesson 2042)(06-05-17) 1 Corinthians 3:1-7

"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? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."

In today's lesson Paul left the impression that there were many in Corinth who had not yet received the power of the Holy Ghost and therefore could not fully understand the gospel of Jesus Christ causing the need for him to preach to them as children, "babes", in Christ.

Paul went on the affirm that it is not necessarily just the teacher that is responsible for the understanding of those who follow them, but rather, it is a collection of input that eventually leads to one's full understanding and eternal salvation.

Sadly, still today, there are many so-called preachers, who, out of their own selfishness and pride, and in an attempt to increase the numbers of their followers, try to hand out the power of the Holy Ghost as if it were a free toaster.

It is the duty of the elders of the church to keep preachers in line with the perfect gospel of Jesus Christ and to make sure that every prospective child of God understands that we are just the planters. It is God the Father who will reap the great harvest when His day comes.~