1 Corinthians 3:1-9 / Brian Boyles / Church on Main

We are in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, starting in verse 1, and what we’re stepping into is Paul confronting a group of people who call themselves Christians, but their lives don’t reflect it. Paul’s very direct. He’s calling it what it is; spiritual immaturity, disobedience, and flesh-driven behavior in the church.

Paul opens with a pretty heavy line: “I couldn’t even talk to you like spiritual people. I had to talk to you like infants in Christ.” That’s a strong word. He’s saying, “You’re babies. I had to feed you milk because you weren’t ready for solid food. And now, years later, you’re still not ready.”

This is a church that’s been around a while. Just like some of you’ve been in church for years. And yet Paul’s saying, “You’re still not growing. You’re still fleshly.” And he’s not saying they don’t know Jesus. He calls them “in Christ.” He’s not questioning their salvation. He’s questioning their spiritual maturity. That’s key. You can be a believer and still act like you don’t belong to Jesus. That’s what Paul’s getting at.

He’s not rebuking them for their theology. He’s not telling them to go study more Greek or attend more classes. He’s saying, “Your behavior needs to grow up.” Because real maturity isn’t about how much you know. It’s about how much your life reflects Jesus. Greater depth in the faith doesn’t mean more knowledge. It means better behavior.

We’ve created this idea that maturity means deeper Bible studies, more theological books, longer prayer journals. And those are good things. But if all that learning doesn’t lead to a changed life, then it’s just making you a smarter sinner. Paul’s not impressed with how much they know. He’s grieved by how little they live it out.

He even invents a word here, “flesh people.” He says, “You’re not spiritual people. You’re fleshly. You’re acting like the world.” There’s jealousy among you. Strife. Division. That’s proof you’re still immature. You’re walking like “mere men”, people who don’t know God at all.

And I see this in the church today. People come to faith and start strong. They’re in the Word. They’re in prayer. They’re serious about obedience. But over time, they get comfortable. Complacent. Like that employee who starts a new job and is early every day, but a few years in, they’re clocking in late, cutting corners, losing the passion. That happens in our faith too. And Paul is saying, “That’s not okay.”

He says, “When I first came to you, I gave you milk. That made sense—you were new to the faith. But now you’re older in the faith, and you still can’t handle solid food.” He’s saying there’s been no progress. And that should be a warning. Because the gospel message, the message of Jesus crucified for our sins, starts as milk, it’s simple enough for a new believer. But it should grow deeper and deeper for the mature. The same message becomes solid food as we mature. Not because the message changes, but because our hearts and minds are growing.

This isn’t a call for more head knowledge. It’s a call for godly behavior. Paul says your actions, your habits, the way you treat people, that’s what reveals your maturity. And what grieves the Spirit is when believers who should know better still live like they just got saved last week.

Then Paul shifts to talk about their division. Some in the church are saying, “I follow Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos.” And Paul shuts that down. He says, “What is Paul? What is Apollos?” Not “who”, but “what.” He’s stripping away the personality cult and reminding them that he and Apollos are just servants. Just workers in God’s field. He says, “I planted. Apollos watered. But God gives the growth.”

This is a strong rebuke against putting people in the place of God. Paul’s saying, “We’re not the point. Jesus is.” You start following a preacher or teacher instead of Christ, and your behavior’s going to follow suit. That’s why they’re fighting and dividing. Your behavior always follows your allegiance. If your life doesn’t reflect Jesus, it’s because your loyalty is somewhere else.

Paul goes on to say that each of us will receive a reward according to our labor, not according to our knowledge, reputation, or how many podcasts we’ve listened to. It’s not about what you know; it’s about what you do. This reward isn’t salvation. Salvation is a gift of grace. This is something different. This is God saying, “What did you do with what I gave you?”

And Paul’s clear, you don’t claim this reward. You receive it. That’s a big difference. Because too many people treat God like He owes them something. Like if they tithe, He’s obligated to make them rich. If they pray the right prayer, He has to give them what they want. But that’s not how it works. That’s not who He is. You’ve got preachers out there saying, “Give and God will give you more. Sow a seed and you’ll reap a blessing.” But Paul isn’t saying any of that. He’s saying the reward comes according to your labor, not according to your declarations or demands. You don’t claim blessings. You don’t speak them into existence. You don’t tell God what He’s going to do. You serve, and if there’s a reward, it’s because God, in His grace, chose to give it.

So don’t call it legalism when the Bible calls you to holiness. Don’t hide behind grace as an excuse to ignore the work of sanctification. Grace isn’t your excuse for disobedience. It’s your power for obedience. If you really belong to Jesus, you’ll start to look like Him. And if that’s not happening, something’s wrong.

Finally, Paul wraps up this section with a powerful reminder: “We are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field. God’s building.” Three times; “God’s.” It’s all His. The work. The growth. The glory. It all belongs to Him.

And that’s the question Paul is really pressing: not “Who are you?” but “Who do you belong to?” That’s what matters. Your behavior, your attitude, the way you interact with others—that reveals your true allegiance.

So if your life doesn’t reflect the character of Christ, you’ve got to ask yourself: am I growing? Am I maturing in the faith? Because Paul is clear, spiritual maturity isn’t about getting smarter. It’s about becoming more like Jesus. And that starts with repentance, humility, and obedience.