The recently established congregation in Corinth struggles to maintain unity. Its basic problem is spiritual immaturity.
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? (1 Corinthians 3:1-4).
“There is jealousy and strife among you.”
These baptized believers are in Christ, covered by Christ, and spiritually “one in Christ” (Galatians 3:26-28 cf. 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 3:11). Therefore, Paul’s letter to the Corinthians acknowledges that they are washed, sanctified and justified (1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11). However, they have not grown into Christ-likeness as they should. Their lives are not reflecting the heavenly reality given to them in Christ. They bring old habits of the flesh into the church, many of which contribute to conflict.
The works of the flesh includes divisions.
The works of the flesh are evident …enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy.… I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).
In Corinth, Satan is sowing seeds of discord: Factions naming themselves after favorite preachers, brother against brother in a lawsuit, disputes about foods, disorder during assemblies, class differences at the Lord’s Supper and competitive gifts.