In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered, and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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What is the meaning of Paul's message when he says:
1 Cor 3:1-3 And I, brothers, could not speak to you [he couldn't - they weren't ready yet] as to Spiritual men, but as to men of flesh [carnal minded], as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food [meat]; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now [after Paul (of all teachers) had been teaching them] you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly [carnal minded Christians]. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
Before I even get started... let's take a second and review what Paul is trying to tell those of Corinth.
It goes back to the age-old adage: "You must learn to walk before you can run".
Paul starts by saying "And I, brothers...". He's referring to Christians. His brothers in Christ. That's you - that's me.
Where do we start?
By recognizing that we need a Saviour. That Saviour is the first-born among many brethren... Jesus, the Christ. We are NOT "mere men" any longer!
Paul could not speak to them, as of yet concerning the heavier things of God (the Spiritual things). Why? Because they hadn't even learned, and accepted, the lighter things of God.
They couldn't possibly understand the meat (the Spiritual meat)... just like you can't feed a newborn baby... meat! They must start on their mother's milk!
He says, "even now"... I underlined Paul above, because imagine... learning from Paul himself?! If Paul can't explain these things to them, imagine me, or anyone else trying ---> !!!
No way.
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What is carnal?
Simply put, carnal is the opposite of Spiritual.
Carnal represents our fleshly desires... those created desires, and attitude, of mankind apart from the Spiritual (Godly) things we're here in this life to learn.
Our goal is to replace the carnal things with Spiritual things. WHY?
Rom 8:7-8 Because the carnal mind [versus the Spiritual mind] is enmity [G2189 - hostility, opposition] against God: for it is not subject [G5293 - hupotasso, subordintate, obedient] to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh [carnal minded] CANNOT please God.
Are we supposed to take a lifetime to learn these milky things? Yes - and no...
"Yes" as in... if we ever stop learning, from the Living Word of God, we may as well hang it up... His Word never stops teaching us... the more you learn, you'll soon find that you didn't know as much as you once thought you knew! It's crazy...
"No" as in... notice Paul's (probable author of the Book of Hebrews) response to the Hebrews:
Heb 5:12-14 For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you AGAIN which be the first principles of the oracles [utterance, God's spoken Word] of God; and are become such as have need of milk [again!], and not of strong meat. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised [they've worked at it!] to discern both good and evil.
So here - Paul is telling them... you should've have been teachers by now! But you're not - you have reverted to your old ways ("have become"), and are in need of milk AGAIN! Why aren't you teachers by now? You should be chewing on the meat, not sipping on the milk!
Why is this important?
Because - others are in need of the milk, but only those who are eating the meat can provide reliable help!
Those that are "full of age" - those who are able "to discern both good and evil". Babes can't do that... they can't digest meat... they need milk for nourishment, to grow strong, to grow teeth, to prepare themselves for the meat!
Babes cannot always get their Spiritual nutrition directly from God's Word (Scripture) - they have to live on what others (meat eaters, like Paul) have passed on to us. But, first things first! Milk! Paul, also, was a babe who needed milk!
Here's a favorite quote from F.B. Meyer:
"So long as men continue to tread the love of God under foot, they cannot repent and be restored. The failure, as with unproductive soil, is not on account of a failure of heaven, but because the soil is hard and obdurate [stubbornly refusing!]. If we are unproductive, it is due to our own hard-heartedness."
1 Pet 2:2-3 As newborn babes, desire [G1971 - intensely crave possession] the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow [G837 - enlarge, increase] thereby: If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Has God been gracious to us?... then grow! Get off the milk! Desire it, intensely crave it!
He has been more than gracious to me...
If you find yourself needing help understanding Scripture, ask God (He is Faithful!), and/or find a meat-eater that you trust!
Just make sure he's chewing filet mignon and not bologna!
Paul dined on filet mignon -
I could spend all day on this topic, but won't... just "chew" on this a little bit until you're able to digest it!
____________________________
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
____________________________
What is the meaning of Paul's message when he says:
1 Cor 3:1-3 And I, brothers, could not speak to you [he couldn't - they weren't ready yet] as to Spiritual men, but as to men of flesh [carnal minded], as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food [meat]; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now [after Paul (of all teachers) had been teaching them] you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly [carnal minded Christians]. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
Before I even get started... let's take a second and review what Paul is trying to tell those of Corinth.
It goes back to the age-old adage: "You must learn to walk before you can run".
Paul starts by saying "And I, brothers...". He's referring to Christians. His brothers in Christ. That's you - that's me.
Where do we start?
By recognizing that we need a Saviour. That Saviour is the first-born among many brethren... Jesus, the Christ. We are NOT "mere men" any longer!
Paul could not speak to them, as of yet concerning the heavier things of God (the Spiritual things). Why? Because they hadn't even learned, and accepted, the lighter things of God.
They couldn't possibly understand the meat (the Spiritual meat)... just like you can't feed a newborn baby... meat! They must start on their mother's milk!
He says, "even now"... I underlined Paul above, because imagine... learning from Paul himself?! If Paul can't explain these things to them, imagine me, or anyone else trying ---> !!!
No way.
____________________________
What is carnal?
Simply put, carnal is the opposite of Spiritual.
Carnal represents our fleshly desires... those created desires, and attitude, of mankind apart from the Spiritual (Godly) things we're here in this life to learn.
Our goal is to replace the carnal things with Spiritual things. WHY?
Rom 8:7-8 Because the carnal mind [versus the Spiritual mind] is enmity [G2189 - hostility, opposition] against God: for it is not subject [G5293 - hupotasso, subordintate, obedient] to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh [carnal minded] CANNOT please God.
Are we supposed to take a lifetime to learn these milky things? Yes - and no...
"Yes" as in... if we ever stop learning, from the Living Word of God, we may as well hang it up... His Word never stops teaching us... the more you learn, you'll soon find that you didn't know as much as you once thought you knew! It's crazy...
"No" as in... notice Paul's (probable author of the Book of Hebrews) response to the Hebrews:
Heb 5:12-14 For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you AGAIN which be the first principles of the oracles [utterance, God's spoken Word] of God; and are become such as have need of milk [again!], and not of strong meat. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised [they've worked at it!] to discern both good and evil.
So here - Paul is telling them... you should've have been teachers by now! But you're not - you have reverted to your old ways ("have become"), and are in need of milk AGAIN! Why aren't you teachers by now? You should be chewing on the meat, not sipping on the milk!
Why is this important?
Because - others are in need of the milk, but only those who are eating the meat can provide reliable help!
Those that are "full of age" - those who are able "to discern both good and evil". Babes can't do that... they can't digest meat... they need milk for nourishment, to grow strong, to grow teeth, to prepare themselves for the meat!
Babes cannot always get their Spiritual nutrition directly from God's Word (Scripture) - they have to live on what others (meat eaters, like Paul) have passed on to us. But, first things first! Milk! Paul, also, was a babe who needed milk!
Here's a favorite quote from F.B. Meyer:
"So long as men continue to tread the love of God under foot, they cannot repent and be restored. The failure, as with unproductive soil, is not on account of a failure of heaven, but because the soil is hard and obdurate [stubbornly refusing!]. If we are unproductive, it is due to our own hard-heartedness."
1 Pet 2:2-3 As newborn babes, desire [G1971 - intensely crave possession] the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow [G837 - enlarge, increase] thereby: If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Has God been gracious to us?... then grow! Get off the milk! Desire it, intensely crave it!
He has been more than gracious to me...
If you find yourself needing help understanding Scripture, ask God (He is Faithful!), and/or find a meat-eater that you trust!
Just make sure he's chewing filet mignon and not bologna!
Paul dined on filet mignon -
I could spend all day on this topic, but won't... just "chew" on this a little bit until you're able to digest it!
____________________________
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
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