Why did the Corinthian believers need a time of nurturing and growth?
The Corinthian believers had been saved out of abject paganism, idolatry, and immorality, so they could not instantly become mature or share the spiritual discoveries of older Christians. Like infant believers, they needed a time of nurturing and growth, and that growth could come only by the grace of God.
Les explains that when studying Corinthians, we must remember these were people saved out of abject paganism, idolatry, and immorality. Infant believers cannot suddenly be mature or have the same spiritual apprehensions or discoveries as longer and older Christians. So there was going to be a time of nurturing and growth, but only by the grace of God. Every person saved by God's grace experiences all of God's grace at salvation, but still has a long way to go in growth. We grow in grace, we do not grow into grace. All of God's grace is poured out the moment we believe, and from that position in grace we grow. Since grace is not law, nothing is forced upon us.