• I Corinthians 3:4 “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?”
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We’ve noticed in the “According to Thy Word” series the importance of living all of God’s Word and only God’s Word. It seems everything around us tempts us to, for some reason or another, turn from living only “according to” God’s Word. Here in I Cor. 3 we see the temptation of living according to personalities instead of God’s principles. As laymen in the pew, we are tempted to just do whatever we are counseled without being noble Bereans (Acts 17:11) and searching the scriptures daily. As preachers, we are tempted to preach and counsel our words instead of God’s Word. Preachers are also tempted to follow a big ministry’s words instead of God’s Word. The church winds up having people looking at other people to see how we should run our church and live our lives! My brethren, this ought not to be.

We must remember that we are not Paulines and Apollosites. If you are a believer in Jesus, you are supposed to be a “Christian.” Christian means “Christ-follower” not another personality follower. Even if that person is a great Christian like Paul or Apollos was, they are not Christ. Notice the emphasis to God and Christ in I Cor. 3:

• I Cor. 3:1 “…babes in Christ.”
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• vs. 5 “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?”
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• vs. 6 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
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• vs. 7 “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”
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• vs. 9 “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
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• vs. 10 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me…”
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• vs. 11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
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• vs. 16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
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Because we are Christ’s, we are to live according to Christ’s Word. Jesus is “the Word” (Jn. 1:1), therefore, we are to live “according to” the Bible.

To live according to people and not according to Jesus is “carnality” (I Cor. 3:1-4) which is living according to the things, pleasures, and people of this world. “Spiritual” believers live according to the Spirit of Christ by cleaving to the Spirit’s sword “which is the Word of God.” (Eph. 6:17)

In conclusion, let us close with God’s Words through Paul in I Cor. 3:21 and 23:

• I Cor. 3:21 “Therefore let no man glory in men….
• 23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”
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• (This article is from the “According To Thy Word” series.)