1 Corinthians 3:1-9

In his letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul expressed deep concern for the spiritual development of the believers there. Unlike many other churches Paul planted, where he would spend a short time establishing the church and then move on, Paul invested 18 months pouring into the Corinthian church every single day. Despite this investment, Paul found himself frustrated as he received reports of ongoing immaturity among the believers.

Paul’s desire for the Corinthians was akin to the hopes we have for our children—not that they would remain infants, but that they would grow, mature, and develop. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul opens by saying, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.”

Here, Paul introduces the concept of carnal Christians—believers who, although saved, still live as though they are in their natural, fleshly state. They have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, but their lives show little evidence of spiritual growth. They are still stuck on the basics, unable to digest the “solid food” of deeper spiritual truths. Paul uses the analogy of feeding an infant milk instead of solid food to illustrate the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthian believers.

The Tragic Case of the Carnal Christian

Paul’s heart is heavy as he observes the condition of the Corinthian church. He sees the same potential in them that we see in a young man who is fully capable but still living at home, jobless, and directionless. This, Paul implies, is a tragic waste of potential. It’s as if these believers, despite having access to the resurrection power of Christ, are choosing to live in spiritual infancy, helpless, hopeless, and fear-driven.

Carnal Christians, Paul suggests, are those whose hearts, desires, and passions are still rooted in this world. They may understand their position in Christ intellectually, but their hearts remain attached to worldly concerns. Their vision is nearsighted, focused on the temporal rather than the eternal.

The Need for Spiritual Maturity

In the church at Corinth, this immaturity manifested in jealousy, strife, and divisions—believers quarreling over which leader they followed, whether Paul or Apollos. Paul addresses this by emphasizing that he and Apollos are merely servants through whom the Corinthians believed, but it is God who gives the growth. Just as a waiter brings food to the table but does not prepare it, Paul and Apollos were simply delivering what God had prepared.

Paul’s point is clear: spiritual maturity is not about following human leaders but about growing deeper in Christ. It’s about moving from self-centeredness to Kingdom-centeredness, from self-reliance to God-dependence, and from temporal concerns to an eternal perspective.

A Call to Action

For the modern church, Paul’s message is as relevant as ever. We live in a time when it’s easy to get caught up in the distractions of the world, to focus on programs, personalities, and preferences rather than on deep, spiritual growth. Yet, just as Paul urged the Corinthians, we too must grow deeper in our faith to experience the fullness of life in Christ.

At Kingston Alliance Church, we are committed to both growing deep and growing wide. Like a tree with deep roots that can support wide branches, we believe that a deep, mature faith is essential for effective ministry and outreach. As we continue to study 1 Corinthians, we’ll see that whatever we build must be able to withstand the test of time and trial. Only a deep, mature faith will stand.

Let’s not settle for spiritual infancy. Let’s press on toward maturity, growing deeper in our relationship with Christ, so that we can grow wider in our impact for His Kingdom.