1 Corinthians 3:1-4 – Paul criticizes them for being “merely human”, calling them above that to be “spiritual people”. As followers of Jesus we should rise above the petty, human disputes of who to follow or jealousy or strife. To our shame, those who identify as Christians are just as bad, if not worse, as those in Corinth. Paul would rebuke us harshly I bet for the way we behave just like “mere humans”.
Think about the implication of that for a minute. In Christ we are no longer “mere humans”, we have been elevated above that. Not by some Darwinian process of natural selection, but by something that could possibly be called unnatural selection. Jesus chose us and called us above mere humanity not based on our superiority but based on His. We are no longer mere humans, we are Gods own chosen ones, chosen not for our fitness or superiority, but out of His love and grace. We are no mere humans, we are His. Should we act like it?
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 – I traditionally looked at this passage as referring to the end, judgment day. That day will test what we’ve built on the foundation of Christ. But, now that I’m in my 40’s with teenagers and whatnot, it seems to me that life tests what we’ve built. As we go on, things are thrown our way and how we’ve built on the foundation of Christ given us determines if we will be able to stand or simply escape the flames. Sometimes I don’t know which camp I’m in, frankly.
1 Corinthians 3:17 – God’s temple is holy and we are His temple. That means that we are holy, that I am holy, according to God. Wow, God has decreed me holy.