1 Corinthians 3:1–2
Memory Verse
And I, brethren, was not able to speak to you as spiritual men but as carnal men, as inarticulate babblers in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not food, for you were not yet able. But still now you are not able, for still you are carnal, 1 Corinthians 3:1–2.
A grace believer who is carnal is emanating the things of the flesh; his conduct originates from the desires of the flesh. The strong desires of the flesh contrast with the desires from the Spirit; therefore, this believer is unable to mature in Spiritual understanding (Galatians 5:18).
This Greek word, translated as ‘babe’ in this passage, is a nēpios. Nēpios describes someone, of any age, who does not understand what they are talking about. Hence, this one is an inarticulate babbler. In 1 Corinthians 13:11, Paul describes putting away the things of an inarticulate babbler and becoming a man, now that we have the full revelation in Scripture of God’s testimony.
Law is for the inarticulate babbler. The grace believer is not under law, and, therefore, is not treated by God as an inarticulate babbler, but as a son: one that can mature in righteousness, leaving behind the things of the inarticulate babbler (Galatians 4:3).
When Christians follow leaders who focus on worldly and fleshly desires, they are not able to mature in Christ or their Spiritual understanding. We are in the period of the Church on earth described as the Laodicean assembly. The predominant focus on what is perceived as Christianity today is on wealth and numbers, not doctrine. Therefore, many assemblies and teachers claiming to be Christian emphasize what makes you feel good over understanding Scripture and the life of a Christian in Christ. Because of their worldly wealth, they do not see their poverty, which is a lack in basic doctrinal understanding of the Christian life (Revelation 3:17).
Maturity begins with a mind framed on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1–2). This type of mindset sets its boundaries on Spiritual things, which are logical in nature, enabling the believer to discern the desires from the Spirit and thereby walk (govern his life) accordingly (1 Corinthians 2:15; Galatians 5:16). This type of walk then produced maturity by applying Spiritual understanding (Galatians 5:18). Since we live by the Spirit, let us learn to take each step according to the righteous desires He produces in us so that we are no longer inarticulate babblers tossed around by every wind of teaching by the trickery of men.