1 Cor 3:1; And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
1 Cor 3:2; I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
1 Cor 3:3; for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
There men are "infants"... but yet they infants "in Christ". not unbelievers. Yet Paul says they "still fleshly".
He likely wouldn't say this to a mature Christian. (as they are overcomers) but even so, he acknowledges that they
are "in Christ".
So the argument about we cannot be in Christ and fleshly at the same time doesn't hold water here.
Not only does Paul say these men are infants "in Christ". He goes on to say....
1 Cor 3:9; For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
You are God's field.. or building. You are God's vessel to work with. Paul acknowledges that these "fleshly", "infants in Christ" are also "God's property". These men are not unbelievers.
The idea that Christians have to be perfect 100% of the time is not accurate.
1 Cor 3:2; I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
1 Cor 3:3; for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
There men are "infants"... but yet they infants "in Christ". not unbelievers. Yet Paul says they "still fleshly".
He likely wouldn't say this to a mature Christian. (as they are overcomers) but even so, he acknowledges that they
are "in Christ".
So the argument about we cannot be in Christ and fleshly at the same time doesn't hold water here.
Not only does Paul say these men are infants "in Christ". He goes on to say....
1 Cor 3:9; For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
You are God's field.. or building. You are God's vessel to work with. Paul acknowledges that these "fleshly", "infants in Christ" are also "God's property". These men are not unbelievers.
The idea that Christians have to be perfect 100% of the time is not accurate.